The #1 Chicken Noodle Soup Mistake (2024)

There are a lot of desirable textures when it comes to food—chewy, crispy, tender, bouncy—but, unless you’re talking about jerky, it's rare that the end goal is "tough" and/or "dry." Unfortunately, chicken breasts are often both of these things, even when shredded in a bowl of beloved Chicken Noodle Soup. You know the scene: You're making your merry way through a bowl of soup when you come across a piece of meat that takes forever to chew (it's immediately followed by mushy carrot that requires zero teeth at all—that's the #2 chicken soup mistake).

Why is the meat in chicken noodle soup often the opposite of tender and juicy? Well, the problem with cooking any whole chicken is that the breasts and the legs are inherently incompatible (who invented this thing?!). By the time the legs, which consist of strong muscle fibers that take a long time to break down, are fall-apart tender, the delicate chicken breasts have gone too far, toughening up and drying out.

There are lots of ways to get around this, from choosing a fella of the right size (that is, on the small side), to tying its legs together, to taking the time to dry-brine, to performing spatchco*ck surgery, to dropping the oven temperature way down, to simply forgoing the whole chicken conceit and cooking the bird in parts, as you might a turkey.

But the solution when simmering a whole chicken for soup is to carve up the chicken before it’s completely cooked through. In Molly Baz's Classic Chicken Noodle Soup recipe, she grabs the whole chicken out of the pot once the breasts register 155° F on an instant-read thermometer. (Technically, chicken is finished cooking at 165° F but the breast meat, once shredded, is going to get returned to the pot for an additional few minutes at the end.) The whole chicken gets broken down, the breasts are set safely to the side (phew!), and the legs get returned to the pot along with the cartilage-rich wings that provide the soup with body. When the legs are finished, all of the meat gets shredded and added back to the stock.

Sure, this takes a little handiwork with your tongs and carving knife, but it ensures that neither the breast nor the legs are compromised. Your chicken soup will thank you.

Get the recipe:

The #1 Chicken Noodle Soup Mistake (1)

This chicken noodle soup recipe is about as comforting as they come.

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The #1 Chicken Noodle Soup Mistake (2024)

FAQs

Was chicken noodle soup named after a mistake? ›

In those early days of broadcast, it was common for actors to read for the commercial breaks, too. This is how, during one show in 1938, Gosden extolled the virtues of a fine flavor from Campbell's soup called Noodle with Chicken. Only Gosden didn't call it that—he flubbed his line and called it Chicken Noodle.

Why add vinegar to chicken noodle soup? ›

Add Vinegar To Begin With To Avoid Oversalting

By adding a splash of an acidic ingredient to your soup as you cook it, you'll reduce the need to add as much salt, while still highlighting and deepening the flavors in the pot.

Why do people say to eat chicken noodle soup when you re sick? ›

Compared with hot water alone, studies show chicken soup is more effective at loosening mucus. The herbs and spices sometimes used in chicken soup, such as pepper and garlic, also loosen mucus. The broth, which contains water and electrolytes, helps with rehydration.

How to make bland chicken soup taste better? ›

Add herbs and spices.

"Ground paprika, turmeric, nutmeg, ground ginger, and other powdered spices add a touch of color and spiciness to broths," she says. As a general rule, use fresh herbs at or near the end of cooking and dried herbs and spices early on.

Who invented soup? ›

Who boiled the first soup? The exact time period that soup was invented remains debatable. However according to archaeologist John Speth, our ancient Neanderthal relatives were likely to have begun boiling meat to render fat from animal bones – resulting in a meat broth that they would have drunk as soup.

Is canned chicken noodle soup healthy? ›

Store-bought chicken noodle soup isn't always the healthiest options, which is why some experts recommend making a homemade version so you can control overall nutrition content.

What is the best broth to drink when sick? ›

Bone broth serves as a great way to replenish the fluids that you're losing, while also providing your body with valuable electrolytes from the sodium in the broth. These electrolytes will also help you absorb the water more easily.

How to doctor up chicken noodle soup? ›

Add Acid. Arazi likes adding a touch of preserved lemon paste to her chicken noodle soup, which she says adds “zesty flavor” as well as a punch of umami. Alternatively, just squeeze some lemon juice into your soup, which will brighten everything up and round out the flavors.

What adds depth to chicken soup? ›

A splash of vinegar or wine can add depth and complexity to the flavors of your chicken noodle soup. Try adding a small amount of apple cider vinegar or a dry white wine for a delightful tangy note. Just remember to add it gradually, tasting as you go, to avoid overpowering the soup.

How do you deepen soup flavor? ›

Vinegar – A spoonful of vinegar is a quick fix when you find yourself with a bowl of dull, flat-tasting soup. Just a small amount of acid will brighten up the flavors. 2. Soy Sauce – Soy sauce is another item that's ideal for brightening up and adding depth of flavor to an otherwise dull soup.

How did Chicken Noodle Soup get its name? ›

In the United States and Canada, chicken soup often has noodles or rice in it, thus giving it its common name of "chicken noodle soup". The term may have been coined in a commercial for the Campbell Soup Company in the 1930s.

Who came up with chicken soup? ›

People have obsessed over chicken soup since the domestication of fowl around 7,000 to 10,000 years ago in Southeast Asia. The Ancient Greeks also had their own version of chicken broth, and believed the soup to have those healing properties I was harping on about earlier.

Why did J Hope make Chicken Noodle Soup? ›

J-Hope wanted his version of "Chicken Noodle Soup" to be featured on his debut mixtape Hope World as the track represented his passion for dance. He also wanted the track to feature another artist; but as a collaboration failed to occur, the track was not released in 2018.

What was the original name of Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup? ›

The iconic lunch and dinner staple, originally called Campbell's Condensed Noodle with Chicken Soup, turns 80 this year. The soup was created in 1934 by Campbell's head chef, Ernest Lacoutiere, as a tasty and affordable meal option.

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