The Best Creamy Crack Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe

Are you tired of cracking open a can and eating the same old chicken noodle soup? Do you crave something with more flavor and a little more comfort?

Then you will love this creamy crack chicken noodle soup recipe. It’s a one-pot meal that is delightful and comforting in every bite.

Traditional Chicken Noodle Soup Made Even Better

Traditional chicken noodle soup is good, but why not make it great? This recipe combines a handful of delicious hearty, and healthy ingredients and is so good you’ll want to get sick just so you can eat it.

But the good news is that you don’t have to be sick. You can easily make this and eat it year-round. And the whole family will love it, even those picky eaters.

Plus, the cooking time is approximately 20 minutes, so you should have this ready and on the table in less than an hour, from start to finish.

And the best part of this recipe is that it’s a one-pot meal. It’s budget-friendly and has tons of flavor.

Once you taste this delicious soup, you will never want to open a can of chicken noodle soup again.

Ingredients Needed For Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup

• Olive oil
• Yellow onion, diced
• Minced garlic 
• Celery, sliced
• Carrots, sliced 
• Shredded chicken (fully cooked)  
• Cream cheese, softened
• Chicken broth
• Whole milk
• Macaroni noodles 
• Shredded mozzarella cheese
• Salt and ground black pepper to taste 
• Spinach leaves

Full printable recipe with measurements and instructions listed at the bottom of the post in the recipe card.

How To Make The Best Creamy Crack Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe

1. Cut the onion, garlic, celery, and carrots, and set aside.
2. Add some olive oil to a large pot or large Dutch oven on medium heat on the stovetop.
3. Add the onions, celery, carrots, and minced garlic to the saucepan and sauté for three to five minutes or until the vegetables are soft.
4. Add the cooked shredded chicken and softened cream cheese to the vegetable mixture and stir to combine. 
5. Pour in the whole milk and chicken broth, stirring frequently. 
6. Next, add the macaroni noodles, mozzarella cheese, and salt and pepper to the saucepan.
7. Place the cover on the pot and cook for about eight to ten minutes, stirring occasionally. 
8. When the noodles are fully cooked, add the spinach and stir until wilted. 
9. Serve hot, enjoy! 

Step-By-Step Instructions For Crack Chicken Soup

Start by adding some olive oil to a saucepan or Dutch oven.

Start by cutting the onions, carrots, celery, and minced garlic and adding it to the saucepan. Sauté on medium heat for about three to five minutes or until the veggies are softer.

Next, add the cooked shredded chicken and the softened cream cheese and mix until combined. The cheese will melt later in the broth and milk while you cook it.

I like to stick the cheese on the bottom of the pan to help melt it.

You can either use leftover chicken from another meal, store-bought rotisserie chicken or cook some chicken breasts and shred them for this recipe.

I either cook them in the oven or boil them. Boiling them tends to turn out more tender chicken.

Add the broth, milk, noodles, shredded mozzarella cheese, salt, and pepper to the pan and mix well.

Place the lid on top and cook for about 10 minutes or until everything is hot and melted and the noodles are fully cooked.

For this recipe, you can use macaroni (elbow) noodles, angel hair pasta, thin spaghetti noodles, or your favorite type of noodles. I usually use what I have on hand.

Classic chicken noodle soup is usually made with spaghetti noodles, but any noodle will do.

Finally, add the spinach leaves and cook until they are wilted.

Tips For Making The Perfect Crack Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe

• To make the soup even creamier, use half-and-half or heavy cream instead of whole milk.
• If you like a thicker soup, you can add more noodles or reduce the amount of broth to the recipe. Or, add more broth if you like it thinner.
• To save time, precut the vegetables ahead of time or purchase precut veggies and minced garlic. You can also purchase pre-cooked and shredded chicken in the freezer section of the grocery store.

Variations for Chicken Noodle Soup

• Vegetarian option: Instead of using chicken, use vegetable broth and add in your favorite veggies. You can try zucchini, squash, mushrooms, or any of your favorite vegetables.
• Spicy option: Dice some jalapeños or add in some red pepper flakes for a kick.
• Gluten-free option: Use gluten-free egg noodles in this dish or substitute with rice noodles.
• Cooked bacon always adds great flavor to a dish. Cook up some slices of thick-cut bacon and add it to the soup. The crispy bacon will add a different texture to the soup. Or, you can even add some bacon bits to save on time.

Storing And Reheating The Soup

Store the leftover soup in an airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator for up to three days. To reheat, simply heat it up on the stove or pour it into a microwave-safe bowl and heat it in the microwave until hot.

Sides For Crack Chicken Noodle Soup

• Sliced French bread
• A salad from Cooking Classy
• Crackers
• 3-ingredient drop biscuits (super duper easy)
• Grilled cheese sandwich
• Homemade rolls

Can This Be Made In The Crock Pot?

Yes, you can make this in the Crock Pot. Simply add your raw chicken breasts, carrots, onions, celery, garlic, salt, pepper, and chicken broth, and cook on low for six to seven hours.

Shred the chicken and add the milk and cream cheese (dice it up into small pieces to help melt it) and cook for at least 30 more minutes or until the cream cheese has melted (stirring helps melt the cheese).

Then, add the noodles, mozzarella cheese, and spinach and cook until the noodles are tender.

A Very Easy Soup Recipe

The Best Creamy Crack Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe is so easy to make, and you end up with a homemade chicken noodle soup with fresh ingredients.

The recipe doesn’t feature anything canned and is a great way to warm up on those cold winter days.

And the one-pot meal is a delicious way to feed the family–even those picky eaters!