You know how some days you just want something warm and comforting? I had one of those days the other day but didn’t want to throw myself off plan.
It had been a particularly stressful day with the kids and I just wanted something that would comfort me but also give me some energy as well. I love soup and had chicken already defrosted. So then it hit me, I’ll just make chicken noodle soup, but make it THM friendly.
The result was super satisfying, despite it being an E meal and I didn’t feel the least bit guilty about going in for seconds. 🙂 The flavor tasted like it had been simmering on the stove all day long, but in reality, it took me only about 45 minutes from start to finish.
I like to cook whole chickens in my Instant Pot from time to time. They are so much cheaper than buying just boneless skinless chicken breasts and chicken thighs separately. I then make bone broth from the bones. For this soup (or any E meal) just make sure you use the breast meat.
On to making the soup…
In a Dutch oven or large stockpot heat the oil over medium heat. Add the celery, carrots, and onion and saute until the onions become translucent. This should take about 8 minutes or so. I like to sprinkle salt and pepper occasionally as the vegetables cook.
Once the vegetables are cooked add the cooked chicken, stock and water to the pot. Add the seasonings and noodles (or brown rice) and bring to a rolling boil.
Reduce the heat to low and allow the soup to simmer until the noodles are cooked or brown rice is warmed up about 20 minutes. Remove the bay leaf before serving.
Comforting Chicken Noodle Soup (THM: E, low-fat)
Yield 4-6 servings
Ingredients
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced into bite-size pieces and cooked in 1 t. oil and seasoned with salt and pepper
- 2 large stalks of celery, diced
- 3 carrots, peeled and diced
- 1 large onion, diced
- 6 c. Fat-free chicken stock or broth
- 2 c. water
- 1-2 t. salt
- black pepper, to taste
- bay leaf
- 3 oz. noodles (I used Dreamfields) OR 1 c. cooked brown rice
- 2 T. dried parsley or 1 T. fresh parsley
Instructions
- In a Dutch oven or large stockpot sauté celery, carrots, and onion in 1 t. oil until the onions become translucent.
- Add the cooked chicken, stock and water to the pot. Add the seasonings and noodles and bring to a rolling boil.
- Reduce the heat to low and allow to simmer until the noodles are cooked or brown rice is warmed up about 20 minutes. Remove the bay leaf before serving.
Hi, do you think this could be done with some rice instead of the noodles?
Sure! I would just fully cook it ahead of time and then throw in at the end.
Hi Darcie! What exactly makes this an E? I don't think there are enough carbs in the carrots? is it the combined carrots and the onion? I"m thinking since I am down with a cold I am making this for dinner, but I might make it with barley instead of noodles. Do you think that would be okay? Thank you!!
It's the noodles that make it an E. If you wanted you could sub quinoa or brown rice. If you want to leave out all of those you could eat it as an FP. Hope you feel better soon. 🙂
Forgive me, but I am led to understand that Dreamfields are neutral and it is the either a fat meal, with more butter and oil for instance, or a carb meal, with using a fuel from the E chapter. Like chunks of sweet potato? I'm thinking I will make this an S with more oil and butter, but would like to have this as an E option too.. Does that make sense?
good sharing
Delicious yummy…your recipes….
Chowringhee Kamla Nagar
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This was super good and made a lot. Thank you!!
Glad you liked it!
Quick question. 1 t. of oil? Teaspoon? That seems a scant/impossible amount to sauté or soften vegetables in. Did you mean tablespoon, or would a tablespoon be ok?
I do only use 1 teaspoon, but I cook mine in a dutch oven that is mostly non-stick on its own. You may use a tablespoon if needed.
I don't know if I am the only one with this problem, but I have always had trouble printing out your recipes. When I use the 'print' option, it prints in a long column with the list of recipes on the left side. Is it an issue with my computer, or do others experience this also? Love the recipes and would like to find an easier way to print them.
yes! Me too! I do love all of the recipes though
If you can select the text, then copy and paste into Word or Pages, it's much better. Or even going to the google docs to copy and paste the entire shopping list/menu plans in this way.
If I saute the veggies & then throw it all into a crockpot on high, would that work? Or is it important to boil it? I’ve actually never made homemade soup before & am somewhat new to THM as well. Thanks!
That would work, just check the noodles so they don’t get over done.
Ok, great. Thank you!
this was very delicious and had made first time last week and defiantly comfort soup ! thank you for this yummy recipe l! it remind me of chicken soup when was little girl but wasn’t healthy and yeah now have thm yummy healthy one again !!! thank you all hard work put in here darcie !
Do you think this could be made and frozen?
Yes. With the rice iption you could freeze it. If you want to use noodles I wouod suggest not adding them umtil you’re ready to reheat it.