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This chicken and noodles recipe is a time-saving family meal that’s made all in one pot in just 30 minutes! It has tender chicken and buttery egg noodles all smothered in a creamy sauce.
You may also like my Easy Chicken Noodle Casserole or Chicken Tortellini Soup next.
Why you’ll love it
Everyone loves an inexpensive yet cozy dinner, and there’s definitely no shame in opening up a can of soup every so often as a shortcut to help a recipe along. This homestyle creamy chicken and noodles is a stovetop classic that feeds hungry mouths with minimal effort.
This has the ultimate savory sauce that takes all the best flavors from Chicken Noodle Soup and basically concentrates them into one saucy, creamy noodle dish. Just a handful of pantry ingredients combine in this comforting meal, and using leftover or rotisserie chicken makes it that much more convenient!
What you’ll need
- Butter – for sautéing
- Onion – you can use whichever variety you have on hand, but our kitchen likes sweet (Vidalia) onions best
- Garlic – for savory goodness. Use even more if you’re a big fan
- Chicken broth – to add depth and richness to the sauce
- Heavy cream – it adds texture and luxuriousness
- Cream of mushroom soup – condensed soup is a tried and true shortcut
- Egg noodles – use extra wide (broad) egg noodles for best results. You’ll find them in the dry pasta aisle at the grocery store.
- Chicken – use any leftover cooked chicken you have, like from a Roast Chicken, or buy rotisserie
Helpful tips
- As with any one pot meal, use recipe timing as a guideline and adjust as needed since pots and stoves can vary. If liquid levels are getting low before the pasta is cooked, add a little more chicken broth or cream and/or reduce the heat, and if there’s too much liquid, simply cook it for a bit longer.
- Sensitive to salt? You may want to use reduced sodium versions of chicken broth and the condensed soup.
- I have not tested swapping the cream for something else. It adds richness and helps the sauce have a thicker texture, so I’d use caution against using something lower fat like half-and-half or milk.
How to make chicken and noodles
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
In a large soup pot or Dutch oven, sauté the onion in the butter until softened. Stir in the garlic. Add in the broth, heavy cream, and can of condensed soup. Stir until incorporated, and increase the heat.
Once boiling, add in the egg noodles. Give it the occasional stir as it simmers and cooks the noodles while reducing the sauce. Add in the chicken and warm it through. Season with salt & pepper, and garnish with chopped fresh parsley.
Tools for this recipe
Check out Natasha’s favorite kitchen essentials, gadgets, and cookware!
- I like to use this garlic press to quickly mince it since you don’t even need to peel the cloves.
- Here is the Le Creuset Dutch oven I use, and this budget-friendly Lodge Dutch oven is also a great option.
- Butter is super easy to measure out with this butter dish that has measurement markings right on it.
Substitutions and variations
- You could add some finely chopped veggies for some color. Try frozen peas and carrots and/or corn, or throw in a couple handfuls of fresh spinach towards the end of cooking time.
- If you’re not a fan of cream of mushroom soup, swap with cream of chicken or cream of celery or even condensed cheddar soup.
- Want it to be cheesy? Add in a cup or so of grated cheddar or some freshly grated parmesan!
- If using a different kind of pasta, be mindful that cooking time and/or liquids may need to be adjusted.
What to serve with chicken and noodles
- It’s a great complete meal in itself, but I wouldn’t say no to pairing it with a slice of Extra Cheesy Garlic Bread for all-out comfort food. A dinner roll works too.
- For something lighter, try a side salad with mixed greens, your favorite veggies, and my Olive Garden Salad Dressing or Homemade Ranch Dressing.
Leftovers and storage
- Leftover chicken and noodles will last 3-4 days in the fridge in an airtight container, but keep in mind the pasta will soften up and soak up the sauce over time.
- Reheat leftovers on low heat. Either the stove or microwave works.
- I don’t recommend freezing leftovers. Creamy sauces and pasta usually don’t hold up well after thawing.
If you want to leave a review, talk to me in the comments below! You can always tag me #saltandlavender on Instagram as well with your S&L creations.
Easy One Pot Chicken and Noodles
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 medium onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy/whipping cream
- 1 (10.5) ounce can condensed cream of mushroom soup
- 3 cups uncooked egg noodles extra wide size
- 2 cups cooked chicken I used rotisserie
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Chopped fresh parsley optional, to taste
Instructions
- In a Dutch oven or pot, sauté the onion in the butter for 4-5 minutes over medium heat.
- Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Add in the chicken broth, heavy cream, and cream of mushroom soup. Stir until combined and increase the heat to high.
- Once it's boiling, add in the egg noodles. Cook for 10 minutes, uncovered, stirring fairly often. Turn the heat down (to medium or even medium-low) to maintain a rapid simmer (not a furious boil). You don't want the liquid to reduce too much before the pasta has cooked. See notes below for troubleshooting tips.
- Stir in the chicken and let it warm through, then season with salt & pepper as needed and top with fresh parsley if using. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Pots and stoves can vary so timing may need to be adjusted. If the noodles aren’t yet cooked and the liquid level is getting too low (like they’re in danger of sticking and burning), turn the heat down and/or add a splash more broth or cream. If there’s too much liquid, cook for a little longer.
- You may want to use low-sodium versions of the cream of mushroom soup and the chicken broth if you’re sensitive to salt.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Excellent! Thank goodness for people like you that can take ingredients in the house and turn it into something good. I have run out of imagination! I made it, substituted cream cheese for the cream. Added some mixed veg. Hubby liked it too.!
Wonderful!! 😀
It was simple and delicious! I did use 4 oz cream cheese instead of the heavy cream as I didnt have any. I also added some mushrooms, paprika, and 1 1/2 c mixed veg!
Thank you!
You’re very welcome, Leanne! 🙂
Can I make ahead of time to reheat. I am looking for meals to take to my i laws
Hi! See the “storage and leftovers” section of the blog post.
I made this tonight and it was very good! I just wanted something simple and easy and that was this dish. I used evaporated milk vs heavy cream. So good! Very comforting
Wonderful! Thanks, Becky!
Great recipe! I added celery and carrots and my husband added Tabasco to his serving lol. It’s a winner! Quick, easy clean up and makes plenty for leftovers which we love.
I’m thrilled you liked it, Stefanie! 😀
This was amazing just like it’s written! Thank you for making this meal so easy and delicious, we all loved it😊
You’re very welcome, Joyce! Thank you so much for your review! 🙂
I read the trouble shooting and it was STILL soooo bland.
One and done for me. Will go back to my old fashioned flavorful recipe!
This was delicious!!!
I added some Parmesan cheese, truffle salt and a little extra cream. The family loved it. Hubby even had seconds and he is a picky eater!!
Two thumbs up 👍🏻
That’s awesome!! Thanks so much for your review! 😀
Great recipe if a person knows how to cook. Thanks for the idea but timing was way off. Continued to add broth and time so the noodles weren’t chewy. Also added a dash of oregano and basil, recipe was very bland. I wish people would just be honest about cooking time. Noodles definitely took longer, plan on adding beoth as you cook. Recipe is so bland use your imagination to make it taste better. I also sautéed some broccoli to add more flavor. I’d give it a good rating if you would have been honest about time. Two stars. It’s a recipe that needs to be fixed without adding any extras. Thanks for helping me with a quick dinner that took almost a half hour longer.
Hi Tamara. Sorry it didn’t work out for you. Other readers love it as written. It sounds like you skipped over reading the troubleshooting tips in the blog post for one pot meals that address how stoves, timing, cookware, and ingredients will of course vary from my kitchen to yours. The timing is accurate for when we make it. You’re welcome to adjust the seasonings and add veggies, as we suggest in the substitutions and variations section, to your liking.
Made today. Added carrots and celery with a dash of hot sauce. Very good and easy to adjust Thanks
You’re very welcome!!