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Warm and soothing! Flu-fighting chicken noodle soup is loaded with all your noodle soup favorites plus tons of ingredients that help you fight that cold or flu even faster! The perfect home remedy for flu season!
Soul healing. Flu-fighting chicken noodle soup.
This chicken noodle soup is the first recipe I make whenever either of us feels like we’re coming down with something.
It’s always the same, right? It all starts with a sneeze or a slight tickle in the back of your throat that you can’t kick. And before you know it, it’s the full-on flu. Fever, cold chills, no appetite, and congestion. You get the picture.
Nothing feels the way a warm bowl of soup does when you’re sick. Especially when it’s a comforting bowl of chicken noodle soup. Tons of al dente veggies cooked in olive oil, tender chunks of chicken, warm chicken stock and pasta spirals – the wider the noodle, the better.
To amp it up and make more of a ‘flu-fighting chicken noodle soup’ I used a ton of ingredients that help boost your immune system naturally.
Ingredients in flu-fighting chicken noodle soup:
- Olive oil:I use olive oil to sauté the veggies before adding in the fresh herbs and spices.
- Mirepoix:Mirepoix is just a combination of diced onions, carrots, and celery. We’ll give the onions a few minutes head starts before adding in the other veggies.
- Fresh ginger:sliced medallions of ginger go in with the carrots and celery so they start infusing the oil with all that goodness.
- Garlic cloves:Minced or pressed garlic goes in with the fresh herbs and seasonings to help flavor the soup.
- Fresh Herbs:I use fresh or dry bay leaf, fresh or dried thyme, and a handful of fresh parsley to give this soup tons of bright color and flavor. Feel free to add a sprig of rosemary or any other herbs you might have on hand!
- Seasonings:I use ground turmeric, adobo seasoning, as well as a salt-free all-purpose seasoning (such as Mrs. Dash) to help flavor the soup. Adobo seasoning in this case is a combination of garlic powder, onion powder, lots of black pepper, dried oregano, and more turmeric. If you don’t happen to have any on hand, there are tons of recipes on the internet where you can just make your own!
- Chicken Broth:If you’re using store-bought broth, I suggest using low sodium chicken broth to help control the amount of sodium in the soup. It’s easy to add more salt, but you can’t take it away! You can also make your own chicken broth at home easily, and then shred the chicken and use it for this recipe.
- Egg Noodles:I use regular wide egg noodles and cook them for 1-2 minutes less than what’s stated on the package. Feel free to add more or fewer noodles to your liking! You can also use extra-wide noodles if you like those better!
- Cooked chicken:I usually just poach chicken breasts with some onions, garlic cloves, salt, and a handful of black peppercorns. Then just shred with two forks before adding it to the soup. You can also use a store-bought rotisserie chicken and just shred that up!
- Lemons:I stir in both lemon zest and lemon juice into the stockpot right at the end to give this soup a little acid! It makes the soup experience even better!
A chicken noodle soup recipe that’ll make you feel better.
- Sauté the veggies.Add oil to a large Dutch oven or a large stock pot over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot add the onions and give them a few minutes head start before adding the celery, carrots, and ginger slices. Cook them for a few minutes before you add the garlic, along with bay leaves, turmeric, adobo, all-purpose herb seasoning, and thyme. Allow the herbs and spices to bloom in the oil before adding the chicken broth.
- Simmer.Simmer the soup until it just starts to boil. Then add the egg noodles and allow them to cook in the broth. This will help thicken your soup a bit. When the noodles are almost done, stir in the chicken and heat it through. Add more broth or a splash of water if the soup is getting too thick.
- Finish and serve.Turn the heat off. Fish out and discard the bay leaves (and thyme if it was fresh.) Stir in the lemon zest, a couple of tablespoons of lemon juice, and fresh parsley. Taste and adjust with more salt and pepper to your taste.
Why this is the best Flu fighter chicken noodle soup:
- Ground Turmeric: this ingredient may have become trendy in recent years but its healing properties date way back. The anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric help combat the common symptoms of the flu.
- Black pepper:has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Black pepper also contains an abundance of vitamins C which will help boost the body’s immune system.
- Ginger: helps reduce inflammation in the body and aids in soothing a sore throat.
- Garlic: If you’ve cooked one or more things from this blog, you know that we really love our garlic. And although garlic may not be an ingredient used commonly in chicken noodle, it’s something I always use as it helps regulate the guts flora which then helps rid the body of bacteria or viruses.
- Carrots and Onions: the beta-carotene in carrots help combat respiratory infections. The onions aid in riding the body of viruses. Some people believe leaving 1/2 an onion in each room of the house while you have the flu can help get rid of the virus entirely! I don’t know if it’s true, nor am I willing to let my house smell like a blooming onion. But adding it to soup, that’s easy enough.
- Chicken soup:Helps hydrate the body and the warming liquid helps soothe a sore throat And relieves blocked nasal passages. It’s a vitamin-loaded elixir for the body!
- Lemon: Vitamin C helps boost the body’s immune system and it also aids in soothing a sore throat.
If you like this recipe, you might also like:
- The slow cooker version of this soup
- Herb-Loaded Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
- Chicken Pot Pie Soup
- Comforting Chicken Sweet Corn Soup
- Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
- Lemon Chicken Barley Soup
This recipe was originally shared Jan 2018, updated with new images, minor recipe updates, and a new post Jan 2022.
Yield: 8 servings
Flu-Fighting Chicken Noodle Soup
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Warm and cozy, flu-fighting chicken noodle soup is loaded with all your noodle soup favorites plus tons of ingredients that help you fight that flu faster!
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 stalks celery, diced
- 2 medium carrots, diced
- 4 (½ inch thick) fresh ginger slices, optional
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 bay leaves
- ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
- 2 teaspoons adobo seasoning, optional
- 1 heaping tablespoons salt-free all purpose seasoning (such as Mrs. Dash)
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 8 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 5-6 ounce egg noodles (to preference)
- 2 cups shredded chicken
- Zest of 1 lemon + 2-3 tablespoons lemon juice
- ¼ cup chopped parsley
Instructions
- SAUTÉ: Heat the oil in a 5-6 quart Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onions and sauté for 3 minutes. Add celery, carrots, and ginger slices and continue to cook for 3-4 minutes. Add the garlic and let cook 30 seconds before adding bay leaves, turmeric, adobo seasoning, all-purpose seasoning, and thyme. Pour in the chicken broth.
- SIMMER: When the soup reaches a simmer, lower the heat to medium and add the egg noodles. Cook noodles 2 minutes less than package directions. Noodles should be al-dente. Stir in chicken and heat it through, about 1-2 minutes. Add more broth or a splash of water if you prefer a soupier soup.
- FINISH: Turn the heat off, discard bay leaves. Stir in lemon zest + lemon juice, and parsley. Taste and adjust with additional salt and pepper. Serve warm.
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originally published on Jan 17, 2022 (last updated Jan 18, 2023)
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49 comments on “Flu-Fighting Chicken Noodle Soup”
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Isadora Guidoni — Reply
Love these flu-fighting recipes, they’re so much better for me than drugstore medicines! Thank you for the recipe!
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Kathleen Ann McAlpine — Reply
Can you take out the adabo seasoning. I end up getting the hives
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Marzia — Reply
sure can!
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Kristina — Reply
Just made this for my husband who is sick and he liked it. I absolutely loved it 🙂 the lemon zest and lemon added so much flavor.
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Kara Wyatt — Reply
So impressed! This packs so much flavor. I personally didn’t have adobo seasoning so I used chipotle ancho Chile seasoning and it has just the right kick to keep my nose open. Would definitely make this again – oh and I added vegetable broth because I didn’t have much chicken broth left. Still so good!
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Jan Ellis — Reply
Made this for neighbors very ill with the flu. They thought it was deliouse and comforting. Will definitely be making it again and keeping some in the freezer “just in case”.
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Matt neil — Reply
I added spinach with the parsley and used chicken giblets. Didn’t have adobo so i didnt use it. Nice recipe
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Kimberly — Reply
I just wanted to say that this recipe is amazing!!! I made this yesterday for my partner, who woke up feeling very ill, out of nowhere. She wasn’t sure what to eat all day, because her stomach was giving her terrible pains. I whipped this up for her, and it was all so very easy! The flavor was SO TASTY – this is my first time using Mrs. Dash Original Seasoning admittedly, and WOW, it packs such a tasty, yummy punch! It is so hearty and heartwarming and nourishing… Finally, my partner could eat some tasty food that made her feel so better! I followed the recipe exactly and it was so, so perfect.
I usually never comment on recipes that I find on blogs, but I just wanted to thank you for posting your yummy recipe. It really made my partner feel so much better and for that, I am grateful!
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Kelly Decoteau — Reply
This was so good! I didn’t have adobo or mrs dash but use a good amount of spices I had … onion powder, thyme, oregano. parsley, salt & pepper. Also used turmeric and lemon juice … love how it thickened it up a bit!
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Karissa Kosak — Reply
Question for you: Mrs Dash vs. Trader Joe’s 21…or for that matter, Bragg’s…how do you, personally, decide which to use and when? Love your recipes. Thank you!
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Ann B — Reply
This soup is awesome! Glad I tried it, will be making it often.
One question, do I cook the noodles then add to soup, or add dry and cook in the soup?
Not sure I did that part right lol
Thanks for a great recipe!5
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Kia — Reply
Amazing amazing AMAZING…
Made 3 times now since finding this recipe. Sick and household and not.
Only thing I dont see where to add turmeric. So I’m adding with all the spices before the summer.
I hope that’s correct. Anyways if you are checking the reviews debating on making this you should and it’s very easy with sick mom and kids.
Thanks.
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Haley Cryderman — Reply
Can you make with raw chicken? Would you just add chicken and and simmer for longer before adding the noodles?
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Marzia — Reply
I’m weird about that kind of stuff, so I would cook the chicken in a pan with a little oil before adding it to the soup. But yes, I think it could work if you aded raw chicken, you just want to be sure to cook it long enough so that the chicken cooks all the way. I also would make sure to bring the soup to a boil before adding the noodles.
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Michelle — Reply
This soup is AMAZING!!!! It’s a little different than your traditional chicken noodle soup but it has become a family favorite in our home! Definitely do not skip any ingredients in this recipe and the only thing I changed was I added more veggies than the recipe called for bc I didn’t feel like there was enough but other than that, this recipe is perfect!
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Peg Jackson — Reply
I love this recipe, and so does my husband. I’ve made it several times to your exact recipe, and several more times with variations depending on what ingredients and spices I have on hand. It turns out good every time, but the most delicious version is the one you have right here.
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Marzia — Reply
I’m so glad to hear you’ve made it so many times, Peg! ♥
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Hanna — Reply
My family had COVID and this soup literally made the difference! My friends took twice as long to recover! This soup tastes great and is so packed full of crazy amazing benefits from the spices that we felt better in half the time as my coworkers. This is my go to soup when I get sick forever now! Does not taste the same as your typical chicken noodle but honestly tastes amazing!
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Marzia — Reply
Hi Hanna! I’m so glad to hear you and your family are feeling better! And happy the soup made a difference! Appreciate you taking the time to circle back and leave a review!
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Tony Fada — Reply
Im going to cook this today for my poorly partner, shes pregnant and feeling a bit rin down this morning with bad heads and cold, can i make this in a slow cooker? Obviously heated upto full before i start. Cheers 🙂
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Marzia — Reply
Hi Tony! I think that should work. I would just hold off on adding the noodles until later. You can follow the directions for my slow cooker version here, but use these ingredients to make the ‘flu-fighter’ version if you’d like 🙂
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Rebecca — Reply
This has got to be the best soup I’ve ever had! My good friend made it for my family when we were sick and it hit the spot. Absolutely fantastic!
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Megan — Reply
I made this for my 10, 9, 8, and 7 year olds who all have the flu right now. They absolutely loved it! Saved the recipe! Thank you, so much!
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Marzia — Reply
So glad to hear it was a hit with your crew – hope they all feel better soon! ♥
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Jamie — Reply
My sweet sweet neighbor made this for me this week. It is the best most flavorful soup I have ever had and was a warm hug to my insides. The lemon and tumeric truly add depth. Delicious!
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Heather Heading — Reply
I live in Australia and am having trouble finding Adobo seasoning and Mrs Dash’s seasoning. Is there an alternative? Thanks!
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Jim — Reply
If you go to your local grocery and look at the ingredients for each item you can make your own. That’s what I do. I know it’s a pain but i9t works. Hope this hel-ps. Or better yet go online and find the ingredients
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Leslie — Reply
This soup is so delicious!! 100% favorite chicken noodle soup ever! I did substitute chicken bone broth instead and I also used rotisserie chicken seasoned with beer can chicken seasoning and emerald Lagasse’s rustic rub. But I absolutely love this recipe and the lemon and turmeric additions!!
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Angie Foust — Reply
I just made this for my 4 year old son who has been sick for the last 24 hours and hasn’t eaten anything but bananas and crackers. We both loved it! I didn’t have adobo but found a recipe for that and was able to make it as the recipe stated. The turmeric and lemon zest and juice make this amazing! My son ate 4 bowls and gives it 10,000 thumbs up!
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Christy — Reply
My husband said this was the best chicken noodle soup he’s EVER had and I agree. This was pretty easy to make. I added about 12 oz of noodles and more chicken broth. But I left out the Adabo seasoning due to not having it on hand.
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CWyatt — Reply
Wonderful soup. I make it once a month. Have a teen that packs soup every day for lunch.
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Kira — Reply
If I wanted to cook this in a crock pot would I just throw everything in and add the noodles last?
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Josie S. — Reply
This recipe is amazing! I never imagined how wonderful the soup would taste with the addition of lemon zest and lemon juice. Oh my! This is a keeper. Thank you!!
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Jason H — Reply
So goodddd! Daughter got sick so I just googled soup for flu and this popped up. It is so so good.
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Jim — Reply
Hahaha. That’s what I did. Can’t wait to make it tonight
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Yalda — Reply
So delicious! My toddlers haven’t eaten much since getting sick, but they devoured this soup.
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