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!)
Tara 12.02.2021
What should I substitute for milk if I am dairy free? I have tried oatmilk and coconut milk in things and they change the flavor too much. Any suggestions?
Kristin 12.02.2021
Unsweetened almond milk! Read the label to ensure they haven’t tried to sneak any sugar in there even though it’s marketed as unsweetened.
Mark 02.29.2020
Your website does not work on this recipe. You select jump to recipe or print recipe and nothing occurs.
Kristin 03.01.2020
Hi Mark! That is super strange – thank you so much for bringing this to my attention. I will work on a fix ASAP.
Paul Wilson 01.30.2019
Didn’t add the flour (wanted 2b more soupy for this -36 degree windchill) and for meat just used 5 wings. Everything else to the T and taste wonderful.
Paul Wilson 01.30.2019
no milk and flour
Marsha McComas 09.16.2017
Remes Noodles are made with wheat flour and having Celiac Disease I didn’t think one could use these noodles.
Kristin 09.16.2017
Hi Marsha! This recipe was written before I was diagnosed with CD. All gluten-free recipes will have a “GF” icon in the recipe card. If you’re looking for a GF homestyle chicken and noodles recipe, I love this one! https://iowagirleats.com/2015/02/25/gluten-free-homestyle-chicken-and-noodles/
Carie 11.02.2016
I have been meaning to write this comment for at least 3 and a half years. My son, Henry, had severe food allergies as an infant and toddler. We had to avoid dairy, eggs, peanuts, rice and oats. He has thankfully out grown most of them (he still cannot have dairy or rice).
This recipe was the very first recipe that I was brave enough to convert to “Henry friendly” standards. I used soy milk in place of skim milk and alphabet shaped noodles in place of the frozen egg noodles. It tasted AMAZING! My son’s first “real” meal was with your recipe! :) I must have made dozens of times since then.
As he passed his food challenges, and we have been able to safely expand his palate, I have not made your recipe in sometime. I am writing today because he specifically asked me tonight for his “chicken with the alphabet pasta”! I finally wanted to let you know how much your recipe effected our lives, and how much it has meant to us as a family. I appreciate you so….Much love to you and your family! THANK YOU!
Kristin 11.11.2016
Love hearing this amazing success story, Carie (both that this recipe is Henry-friendly AND that he likes it!!) If you ever want to try a different, gluten-free/dairy-free version, give this recipe a go – he could even help roll/cut out the noodles! https://iowagirleats.com/2015/02/25/gluten-free-homestyle-chicken-and-noodles/
Mark 02.02.2016
Yeah. Do the planet a favor and delete this blog entry inmediately.
Your ratios of liquids to flour-slurry are way off. Now I have a Dutch oven filled with chicken and veg in a thin milky colored broth.
Waste my mone and my time.
At best: Pathetic.
barb 12.19.2015
I Made this for dinner tonight! It tastes as good as it looks and easy to prepare!!
Shari Morgan 02.18.2015
Does this freeze well?
Kristin 02.22.2015
Hey Shari! I’ve never tried freezing this dish before, but I think it might get mushy when defrosting. Let me know if you give it a try though – I’m curious to know how it turns out!
10 Quick and Easy Sunday Dinner IdeasEquipping Godly Women 02.16.2015
[…] 1. Homestyle Chicken and Noodles by Iowa Girl Eats […]
Brittany @ Equipping Godly Women 12.18.2014
Made this before, and can’t wait to make it again! Perfect home-cooked comforting Sunday dinner. Yum!!!
Jessica 11.16.2014
I made this today. I had to make a couple minor tweaks since I had the idea to make chicken & noodles after I was already back from the grocery store. Even using dried Amish noodles (cooked separately & then added back to broth) I’m pleased with the results. Next time I’ll look for the frozen noodles. I didn’t even realize there was such a thing. Thank you for sharing this recipe. I know have plenty of comfort food to sustain me thru this first snow of the season. I couldn’t help but chuckle when I saw you mentioned snow in your post. :)
Elizabeth 10.23.2014
This recipe rocks!
Lily 09.23.2014
I made this last night using a 1/2 cup brown rice instead of noodles, and gluten free flour blend. It was EXCEPTIONAL. Love this recipe so much, and I even use the dutch oven I won!! Thank you :D
Dotted 03.19.2014
I stumbled on your recipe while looking for Chicken noodle recipes. I clicked because your from Iowa. :D Looks like a great recipe. I’m off to try it.
-Iowan, in Mexico.
:)
Cayla 01.09.2014
The recipe was EXTREMELY runny. I removed two cups of liquid and added flour, which changed the entire taste of the recipe. Disappointed.
abby 11.19.2014
I had the same problem! Extremely disppointed!