Vegan chicken noodle soup is just like the classic chicken noodle soup we are all used to but without animal products. This is an easy recipe that the whole family will love.
I love turning perfect comfort food into a vegan version.
I have served this soup to non-vegan people, and they always love it and can't believe it's vegan... whenever I say that I can't believe it's not butter commercial pops in my head; anyone else?
Anyway, onto the recipe!
This flavorful soup is a simple recipe, perfect for an easy dinner or if you're feeling a little under the weather and want a comforting bowl of soup.
Vegan Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe Q&A
What kind of noodles should you use for great chicken noodle soup?
Chicken noodle soup is traditionally made with wide egg noodles. When you're vegan, you can't have egg noodles.
However, a few brands out there make a wide egg noodle minus the egg.
Walmarts store brand has one, and it works great in this soup.
With that being said, you can use whatever noodles you would like.
Just make sure that the noodle will not fall apart easily after being left in the warm broth for an extended amount of time.
No one wants their noodles to disappear in their soup, or maybe you do- I'm not judging.
What's the best broth to use?
I like to use this Better Than Bouillon No chicken broth (amazon affiliate link) as my broth for this soup and many other dishes.
It's a very flavorful broth, but you can totally use a vegetable broth or whatever your favorite no chicken broth is.
Is this kid-friendly?
Yes, my kids love this hearty soup. My oldest requests it frequently.
What kind of vegan chicken should I use?
I know this sounds kind of weird, but the breaded vegan chicken strips are our favorite in this vegan chicken soup.
It adds to the depth of flavor.
You can use the "naked" vegan chicken if you prefer.
Is there an oil-free option?
If you want to make this a whole foods plant-based soup, you can remove the vegan chicken pieces and make it a chickpea noodle soup recipe instead.
You will also need to remove the vegan butter, which will take out some of the rich flavors, but it will still be good if you're used to oil-free cooking.
Is there a gluten-free option for this vegan noodle soup?
If you need to make this gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta and make sure the vegan chicken you choose is gluten-free.
They do have vegan, gluten-free egg noodles on the market.
Should you cook noodles separately from the soup?
Sometimes, when making a noodle soup, the noodles suck up all the broth, get too soft, and fall apart.
A great way to avoid this is to cook the noodles separately and then serve the noodles in individual bowls.
Another option is to cook the noodle in the broth but remove it from the heat when the noodles aren't entirely done and let them finish cooking while the soup is warm.
I've done both options, but you definitely end up with less broth when you cook the noodles in the broth.
What ingredients do you need for this classic vegan chicken noodle soup?
Check out the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full recipe.
- Vegan butter or olive oil, but vegan butter is better.
- fresh garlic
- celery
- carrots
- onion
- basil, dried
- oregano, dried
- salt
- black pepper
- poultry seasoning
- thyme, dried
- noodles, dry
- water
- No chicken bullion (vegan chicken broth)or vegetable broth
- vegan chicken strips
How do you make this vegan chicken noodle soup recipe?
Start by cooking your vegan chicken strips according to the package directions.
When done, chop up into bite-sized pieces and set aside.
Get a large pot on medium-high heat and melt the vegan butter; add the chopped onion and cook down for about 5 minutes; add the rest of the vegetables, fresh garlic, seasoning, and stir.
Add broth and water.
Let this cook together for 15 minutes at a low boil until you start to get tender veggies.
Add the rest of the ingredients; your noodles and cooked chopped-up vegan chicken strips, bring to a simmer, and let simmer for around 10 minutes; this will depend on the type of noodles you use.
You may need to decrease this time; your noodles will still cook when removed from the heat, so account for that; otherwise, you will have mushy noodles.
You can also cook the noodles in a separate pot and then add the cooked noodles with the broth when you're serving.
How do you serve vegan chicken noodle soup?
This is best served warm in a bowl with a side of dinner rolls, bread, or crackers.
How do you store leftover soup?
This soup is best stored once it's cooled to room temperature, preferably separate from the noodles in their own airtight container.
You can store the noodles and everything together but the noodles potentially can get soggy and soak up a lot of your veggie broth.
Can you freeze vegan chicken noodle soup?
Yes, you can. Let it come to room temperature, place it in a freezer-safe bag, and freeze for up to 6 months.
It's better just to freeze the broth and vegetables, so all you have to do is cook fresh noodles when you want to serve them.
To reheat, let it come to room temperature on the counter from frozen, then place in a soup pan and cookie until heated through. Then add your fresh noodles when serving.
This is a great recipe to make a double batch and then freeze the other half for a later day.
Want some other vegan soup recipes?
Vegan Chicken Noodle Soup
Ingredients
- 2 TB Earth Balance Vegan Butter
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- ¾ cup celery chopped
- ¾ cup carrots chopped
- 1 onion chopped
- ½ teaspoon basil dried
- ½ teaspoon oregano dried
- 1 teaspoon salt or more to taste
- ½ teaspoon pepper or more to taste
- ⅛ teaspoon poultry seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon thyme dried
- 2.5 cups noodles dry
- 3 cups water
- 3 cups No chicken bullion or vegetable broth
- ½ bag vegan chicken strips
Instructions
- Start by cooking your vegan chicken strips according to the package directions. When done, chop up into bite-sized pieces and set aside.
- Get a large pot and melt the butter, add the chopped onion and cook down for about 5 minutes; add the rest of the vegetables, fresh garlic, seasoning, and stir. Add broth and water. Let this cook together for 15 minutes at a low boil.
- Add your noodles and cooked chopped-up vegan chicken strips, bring to a simmer and let simmer for around 10 minutes; this will depend on the type of noodles you use. You may need to decrease this time; your noodles will still cook when removed from the heat, so account for that.
Notes
Nutrition
If you loved this recipe then give it a 5 star rating and leave a comment! I love to chat with you all. Please feel free to share on social media and tag #courtneyshomestead. I would love to see you over on Instagram or Facebook.
Bryon Bromley says
I have this page bookmarked on my phone now. This soup is part of our regular rotation, and it’s a family favorite - everyone loves it!