Looking for a cozy, comforting soup that will heal you from the inside out? This Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup is made with a slowly simmered whole chicken, garlic, ginger, turmeric, and fresh lemon for a rich, nourishing bowl that’s as healthy as it is delicious.
Growing up with a mom from another country, chicken noodle soup wasn’t really part of my childhood table. It’s something I discovered later in life and quickly fell in love with.
For me, this comforting dish is the kind of meal I turn to when I need something both nourishing and soothing, the kind of recipe that feels like a little labor of love.
What I adore about this Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup is how it strikes the perfect balance: it’s incredibly simple to make, yet still delivers that deep, rich flavor you’d expect from a long-simmered broth.
And then there’s the aroma. As it cooks low and slow all day, it fills the house with the coziest scent, one that almost feels like it has healing powers all on its own.
Why You’ll Love This Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup
There’s a reason chicken noodle soup has a reputation for being the ultimate comfort food. This version takes it up a notch with healing ingredients and a rich, slow-simmered broth you’ll crave again and again.
- Deeply nourishing – Made with a whole chicken, garlic, ginger, and turmeric for a rich, healing bone broth.
- Hands-off and easy – The crockpot does the work, giving you long-simmered flavor with minimal effort.
- Bright and fresh – Finished with lemon juice, zest, celery, and carrots for a bright finishing touch.
- Cozy and comforting – The kind of soup that soothes you on sick days, chilly nights, or anytime you need a warm hug in a bowl.
Craving something a little more hearty? My Slow Cooker Chili Recipe is a protein-packed favorite based on a family recipe.
Key Ingredients
- Whole chicken: Cooking an entire chicken in the crockpot creates a deeply flavorful, nutrient-rich bone broth while also giving you plenty of tender meat to shred back into the soup.
- Garlic and ginger: These aromatic staples infuse the broth with warmth and depth while offering natural immune-boosting benefits.
- Turmeric: A healing spice that adds anti-inflammatory properties and turns the broth a gorgeous golden color.
- Carrots and celery: Stirred in at the end, these vegetables keep their fresh crunch and sweetness, balancing the richness of the broth.
- Lemon juice and zest: Brightens the soup and cuts through the richness for a light, fresh finish.
- Noodles: A classic addition that makes the soup hearty and satisfying. You can also swap in your favorite pasta or even rice if you prefer.
Looking for more healing recipes? Try my Slow Cooker Bone Broth, perfect for sipping or cooking.
How to Make This Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup
This recipe comes together in a few simple steps, with the crockpot doing most of the work. The finishing touches keep it light, bright, and healing.
Start the broth: Place the whole chicken in the crockpot with water, onion, garlic, ginger, turmeric, bay leaves, and salt. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours or high for 3 to 4 hours, until the chicken is tender.
Remove the chicken and strain: Transfer the chicken to a large bowl, then strain the broth to remove aromatics and bones. Once the chicken is cool enough to handle, discard the skin and bones, shred the meat into bite-size pieces, and return it to the broth.
Cook noodles and vegetables: Add the noodles, celery, and carrots directly to the crockpot. Cook on high for about 20 minutes, until the noodles are tender and the vegetables are just softened.
Finish and serve: Stir in celery leaves, lemon juice and zest, and a few freshly grated garlic cloves. Taste and adjust seasoning. Ladle into bowls and top with fresh parsley, grated Parmesan, extra lemon, and chili flakes.
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Other Cooking Methods
Don’t have a crockpot, or prefer a different approach? You can easily make this chicken noodle soup on the stovetop or in an Instant Pot with the same delicious results.
Stovetop Method
- Place the whole chicken, aromatics, and water in a large stockpot.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer. Cover and cook for about 1½ to 2 hours, until the chicken is tender and falling off the bone.
- Remove the chicken, strain the broth, shred the meat, and return it to the pot.
- Add the noodles, celery, and carrots. Simmer for about 15 to 20 minutes, until the noodles and vegetables are tender.
- Finish with lemon juice, zest, celery leaves, and fresh parsley.
Instant Pot Method
- Add the whole chicken, aromatics, and water to the Instant Pot. Seal the lid and cook on Manual High Pressure for 25 minutes. Allow pressure to release naturally.
- Remove the chicken, strain the broth, shred the meat, and return it to the pot.
- Add the noodles, celery, and carrots. Use the Sauté function to cook for 8 to 10 minutes, until the noodles and vegetables are tender.
- Stir in lemon juice, zest, celery leaves, and fresh parsley before serving.
Storage & Meal Prep
This crockpot chicken noodle soup is perfect for making ahead and enjoying throughout the week.
- Refrigerator: Store in airtight containers for up to 4 days. For best texture, keep the noodles separate and add them just before serving.
- Freezer: Freeze the soup without noodles for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then reheat and add freshly cooked pasta before serving.
- Meal prep: Portion the broth and shredded chicken into jars or containers, then add the fresh lemon juice, zest, and herbs right before eating to keep the flavors bright.
Want more cozy dinner ideas? Check out these 9 Comforting & Healthy Cold-Weather Dinner Ideas to warm up your week.
FAQ
Yep, but it’s best to freeze the soup without the noodles since they can get mushy. Store in airtight containers or freezer bags for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, thaw overnight in the fridge, reheat, and add freshly cooked noodles before serving.
Swap the noodles for a gluten-free pasta or rice. Just be sure to adjust the cooking time since gluten-free noodles often cook faster.
This soup combines several nourishing elements: a whole chicken slowly cooked into a mineral-rich bone broth, garlic and ginger for immune support, turmeric for its anti-inflammatory benefits, and lemon for brightness and vitamin C. Together, these ingredients make it both comforting and restorative.
Fresh herbs like parsley and dill, extra garlic or ginger, and a sprinkle of cayenne for a little heat are all great options. You can also stir in baby spinach at the end for an extra boost of greens.
Totally! On the stovetop, simmer the whole chicken with aromatics for 1½ to 2 hours until tender, then strain, shred, and finish the soup as directed. In an Instant Pot, cook on high pressure for 25 minutes, allow a natural release, then proceed with the recipe.
More Slow Cooker Recipes
Healing Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup
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Equipment
Ingredients
Instructions
- Start the brothPlace the whole chicken in the crockpot with 12 cups water, 2 carrots, 2 celery stalks, 1 onion, 1 halved head of garlic, sliced ginger, 1 tbsp turmeric, 2 bay leaves, and 2 tsp salt. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours or high for 3 to 4 hours, until the chicken is tender.
- Shred the chicken & strain the brothRemove the chicken from the crockpot and transfer to a large bowl. Be careful as the chicken might be so tender that it starts to break apart. Skim off excess fat from the top of the broth with a spoon, then line the colander with paper towels to absorb additional oil if desired. Strain the broth through a colander to remove the onion, ginger, bay leaves, and any small bones. Return the clear broth to the crockpot.Once the chicken is cool enough to handle, discard skin and bones, shredding the meat into bite-sized pieces. Return shredded chicken to the crockpot.
- Cook noodles and vegetablesAdd 8 oz noodles or pasta, 3 bias-cut celery stalks, and 2 sliced carrots to the broth. Cook on high for about 20 minutes, or until the noodles are tender and the vegetables are just softened.
- Finish and serveStir in the ½ cup celery leaves, juice and zest of 1 lemon, and 2 to 3 freshly grated garlic cloves. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt.Ladle into bowls and top with fresh parsley, grated Parmesan, extra lemon wedges, and chili flakes (optional).
Nutrition
Notes
- Store soup in the refrigerator for up to 4 days; keep noodles separate to prevent them from soaking up broth.
- Freezes well without noodles; add fresh pasta when reheating.
- Can also be made on the stovetop or in the Instant Pot (see “Other Cooking Methods”)
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This healed me! Had this when I had a cold and it was perfect!