Homestyle Chicken and Noodles is hearty, cozy, and perfect for a blustery fall or winter evening!
Well, the time has finally arrived – the first snow storm of the season is heading our way in just under 24 hours – eek!
Ben is THIS EXCITED, as he’s a snow guy and, well, we haven’t seen much of the white stuff ’round these parts in about 2 years. Last winter it snowed approximately three times, accumulating to, like, 6 inches total. This year has been pretty much more of the same, and overall about as balmy as Fall was!
Wait, do you hear that? Oh, right, it’s just the collective snores of hundreds of readers.
Anyway! Since there’s talk of this storm being pretty nasty, with blizzard-like winds and enough snow to finally shake a stick at, I thought I’d whip up a cozy meal to hunker down with over the next couple of days: Homestyle Chicken & Noodles.Â
Oh yes! Channel your inner lunch lady, and whip up a batch of this thick, creamy, and filling comfort food, chock full of veggies, and one of my favorite ingredients – frozen egg noodles – which turn plump and chewy as they cook. The whole family will love this one!
Start the Homestyle Chicken & Noodles with 2 chicken legs (the thigh + drumstick piece) plus 2 chicken wings. I had a whole chicken, so I used this combo, but you can purchase 3 chicken legs at the store if you don’t have one on hand. Remove the skin then place the chicken in a big, enamel Dutch oven (like the one I’m giving away at the end of this post!)
To the chicken pieces add 3 cups water, 2 cups chicken broth, and a bunch of herbs and seasonings including 2 bay leaves, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, and lots of salt & pepper.Â
I added the chicken broth in here instead of cooking the chicken in all water because the skin gives the broth a lot of flavor, but adds TONS of fat too. Since we removed it from the chicken, adding pre-made chicken broth kind of evens everything out.
On top of that, add 1 whole onion (chopped if you like onions, left big if you have onion-haters in your family!) 4 chopped carrots, and 2 chopped ribs of celery. Bring the mixture to a boil then place a lid on top of the Dutch oven, turn the heat down, and simmer for 30 minutes, or until the chicken meat is falling off the bone.
Remove the chicken and shred it, then add 12oz frozen egg noodles (I used Reames brand) to the broth and veggies, and cook according to package directions. Next, stir in 3/4 cup frozen peas. Ben’s favorite part!
Finally, in a container with a screw-top lid, shake 1 cup milk with 2 Tablespoons flour. Like a polaroid picture.
Drizzle the mixture into the Dutch Oven, let it bubble and thicken for 3-4 minutes, then stir the shredded chicken back in and season with more salt & pepper if necessary.
Let the Chicken & Noodles thicken off the heat for 10 minutes, then you are good to go!
Homestyle Chicken & Noodles is something I vividly remember being plopped onto my lunch tray at the cafeteria in high school, but let me tell you, this tastes nothing like that! Ok, that was actually oddly delicious back in the day but, although this is thick and hearty, it actually tastes really light and fresh!
Bring on the snow! (Until Christmas day, then, BEAT IT!)
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl 12.18.2012
I am so excited to finally see some snow! We are not supposed to get as much in my part of Iowa, so I am a bit jealous of you! ;)
julia 12.18.2012
that looks so warm & comforting! like chicken noodle soup, but thicker and stew-ier (?!). thanks kristin!
xo julesinflats.com
Jess 12.18.2012
We live on the eastern side of the state, and NWS said we could get 13 inches :)
Debby G. 12.18.2012
This looks amazing! Can’t wait to try it!
Jennifer Johnson 12.18.2012
Cant wait until I can make this recipe. I so need a dutch oven!
Julia 12.18.2012
This looks so comforting and yummy! It is supposed to snow in Chicago too…I am in denial! :)
L in DSM 12.18.2012
Also looking forward to snow! So long as it melts immediately after Christmas and is never seen again (until next year, of course).
This recipe reminds me so much of my Grandmother’s Chicken and Noodles.
Tracy 12.18.2012
This looks sooo cozy! And I have that Dutch Oven is on my Christmas list!
Chris Hoebelheinrich 12.18.2012
This reminds me of my mom’s recipe…reminds me that i really need to make this!
abby 12.18.2012
my mom would love this!
Mindy 12.18.2012
I had already pinned the recipe before I got to the end of the post & to the contest – I got a chuckle out that. Pretty much automatically pin all of your recipes and then put them on the menu for next week because we’ve loved everything of yours that we’ve made. Thanks so much!
Sorry, not looking forward to the upcoming weather in DM (that “S” word is a 4 letter word in our house!).
Melissa 12.18.2012
Can you make this recipe without a dutch oven? What about a large pot?
Iowa Girl Eats 12.18.2012
You bet – a heavy-bottomed soup pot should work just fine!
Mandy 12.18.2012
Looks so good … will have to experiment with a vegetarian version.
Amanda G. 12.18.2012
Looks delicious, saw this on Pinterest and HAD to repin. Can’t wait to try this recipe!
On another note, I’m having the same issue as Kim, the +1 is not showing for me, I have tried Chrome and Firefox :/
Iowa Girl Eats 12.18.2012
Let me know if it’s showing up for you now! (and thank you for telling me! :) )
April Lopez 12.18.2012
I pinned this even before seeing the contest. This looks tummy warming.
Kim 12.18.2012
I can never see where the +1 button is.
Iowa Girl Eats 12.18.2012
Hey Kim, shoot me an email and we’ll try and get it working for you! iowagirleats@gmail.com
Sarah 12.18.2012
That looks wonderful!
Katie @ Blonde Ambition 12.18.2012
I loooove how creamy this looks, and it feels so healthy with skim milk and fresh veggies!
Jess H 12.18.2012
We’re excited for the first big snow in Denver too. I’m making Real Simple’s Chicken Posole Soup to warm our house but this in on my list for next week….if I can wait that long:).
Blog is the New Black 12.18.2012
YES PLEASE! ;)