{Semi-Homemade} Thai Chicken Noodle Soup

5 from 1 vote
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When you need a warm, comforting, satisfying meal, but don’t have a lot of time, combine a few basic (but still healthy) convenience foods, and maybe even some leftovers, with a bit of Asian flair for a quick, easy, almost instant, steaming bowl of {Semi-Homemade} Thai Chicken Noodle Soup.

{Semi-Homemade} Thai Chicken Noodle Soup

{Semi-Homemade} Thai Chicken Noodle Soup | cupcakesandkalechips.com | #semihomemade #comfortfood

You all know Cupcakes & Kale Chips is a happy place. OK, sure I whine a bit (you’re gonna get some of that today – if you don’t want to hear it, just scroll down to the super-fabulous recipe), but I try not to spark controversy, so let’s not get into it today, mmm-kay? But I get a flu shot every year. Back when I was younger, any time I didn’t get the flu shot, well, I got the flu. So I get it, The Hubby gets it, the kiddies get it. This year, I didn’t. Can I just tell you, I am hating myself for that?

Honestly, I don’t know if I had the flu. I have no idea if the flu shot would have prevented whatever death illness I had, but seriously, fever, chills, hot, cold, sweats, shivers, aches, pains. I did not want to move for about four days, except I had to because, you know, darn kids, no daycare, blah blah blah. I was going to bed before The Bug. I was almost heaving the baby into his crib because I barely had the strength to lift him over the sides. Then I started to feel a little better. I rested over the weekend. The Hubby did the heavy baby-lifting. By Sunday, I was feeling pretty good.

So Monday I started the usual routine – 5am working, baby feeding, breakfasts for boys, Bug to pre-school, baby for nap, blogging, laundry, lunch, prep Tuesday’s breakfasts and lunches, make dinner, photograph dinner (#foodbloggerproblems)… keel over and die. I was shot for the rest of the week. By Friday I managed to get a light workout in. I was kind of making dinner – scrambled eggs, hot dogs, and the like. But oh my goodness, this stupid thing knocked me on my butt for nearly two weeks. I can’t remember the last time I felt that bad for that long.

I just wanted my mommy! And soup.

{Semi-Homemade} Thai Chicken Noodle Soup | cupcakesandkalechips.com | #semihomemade #comfortfood

This {Semi-Homemade} Thai Chicken Noodle Soup is just what you need when you aren’t feeling well. Some basic pantry ingredients, frozen or leftover veggies, chopped chicken (cook some up fresh, grab a rotisserie chicken from the store, or poach up a few breasts, or, heck, grab some of those pre-cooked chicken strips – your sick/tired/busy/starving), and throw it all in a pot. This has quickly and easily become a family favorite – even for Mr. I Don’t Like Soup! He loves this soup. He will even count it as a meal, not just a side dish. Clearly this soup works miracles!

The secret ingredient here is Swanson Thai Ginger Chicken Broth. This is not a sponsored post or a review. They didn’t send me samples. I just wanted to try it. So a little disclaimer for my strictly gluten-free folks – this broth has soy sauce in it, so it isn’t gluten-free. I’m planning to try making my own by adding some garlic, ginger, tamari, and sriracha or red pepper to basic chicken stock or broth, just to make it completely gluten free for those folks that need to be concerned about that, but I haven don’t it yet. But seriously, I am LOVING the Swanson broth. It makes this meal come together so quickly and easily with lots of chopping and measuring and sautéing and simmering. And sometimes you just need to chuck a bunch of stuff into a pot.

Like when mama has been sick for two weeks.

Here is my other disclaimer – I used rice noodles, since I do have to keep my gluten intake down, and to make it a bit more “authentically” Asian-inspired. These photos look great, right? Well, if you let rice noodles sit, they absorb a lot of the liquid, so by the time we ate dinner, the noodles were breaking apart. A couple options – serve it right away, cook your rice noodles on the side, then ladle the broth, chicken and veggie cover the noodles in individual bowls right before serving, use wheat noodles or rice… or just eat it mushy. It still tastes delicious and none of us minded at all. In fact, I was quite happy to eat the leftovers the next day.

And one other recipe note – I put a range for the peanut butter. I am sure it is delicious if you leave it out due to an allergy or whatever. Adding a quarter cup gives a light background peanut flavor, which I liked. The Hubby wanted me to add more. With a half cup, the flavor is a bit more pronounced, but not overwhelming, and it adds a little more creamy richness. I personally think the quarter cup added just enough peanut flavor, so why add the extra calories? But I’ll leave that to you. The Hubby liked the full half cup.

{Semi-Homemade} Thai Chicken Noodle Soup | cupcakesandkalechips.com | #semihomemade #comfortfood

Have you been sick this winter, or are you managing to stay healthy?

5 from 1 vote

{Semi-Homemade} Thai Chicken Noodle Soup

Combine basic (but still healthy) convenience foods with Asian flair for an almost instant bowl of comforting soup.
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 25 minutes

Ingredients

  • 32 oz carton Asian style chicken stock, such as Swanson Thai Ginger Chicken Stock (not gluten free) or brands like Simply Asia or Kettle & FIre that are gluten free
  • 1 can coconut milk I used light
  • About 2 cups cooked shredded chicken
  • 12-16 oz. bag frozen mixed vegetables I like to use a Asian blend with broccoli, snap peas, carrots, and water chestnuts, but any mixture will do, or leftover veggies you have on hand
  • Up to 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter see Note*
  • 2-4 oz. brown rice noodles see Note**

Instructions

  • Combine the chicken broth, coconut milk, chicken and frozen vegetables in a saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat.
  • Simmer until vegetables have heated through, about 15 minutes.
  • Stir in the peanut butter.
  • Add the rice noodles, cover, remove from heat, and let sit for about 5 minutes, until the noodles are tender. If you are not serving right away, you may want to cook the noodles per package instructions separately just before serving, and ladle the soup over the cooked noodles in individual bowls. You can do the same with cooked wheat pasta (such as egg noodles) or cooked rice.

Notes

*The peanut butter can be left out if you have an allergy. I like the hint of peanut flavor from a quarter cup, the full half cup gives a bit more peanut flavor and richness.
**Can substitute regular wheat pasta or rice, but you will need to cook it longer, or add it already cooked.

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Enjoy!

{Semi-Homemade} Thai Chicken Noodle Soup | cupcakesandkalechips.com | #semihomemade #comfortfood

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10 Comments
  1. Almost-instant?!?! Healthy AND delicious!?!?!? I am so all over this! Pinning super-fast! I have to admit I haven’t tried the flavored broths, although I’ve eyeballed them in the grocery aisle – now I realize I’ve been missing out! Love this post, although so bummed for you having to endure the “death illness” – glad you’re on the mend! 😀

  2. My trainer was just telling me about this stock yesterday. Glad you are feeling better. I learned my lesson last year about getting a flu shot. I got the flu for the first time last year. This year, I had the shot. Recipes sounds perfect for a quick week night meal.

  3. Tina Muir

    This looks wonderful! I love the addition of the peanut butter in there! This would be so perfect for a chilly winters evening (which there seems to be a lot of) after I get back from a run, and my hands are freezing. Could warm them on the bowl, and enjoy this delicious soup! Thanks for the recipe! Yum!

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