Jazz Up Your Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe with Herbs and Turmeric

This chicken noodle soup recipe is the perfect meal for warming up a winter. The addition of turmeric makes it great for cold and flu season.

If you love soup, be sure to try this roasted tomato soup with garlic and basil, too!

golden chicken soup in a white bowl from above.

Golden Chicken Noodle Soup

The addition of turmeric gives this soup a rich golden color, but turmeric is good for you, too!

Turmeric has become an important herbal ally in recent years, especially for those who have excess inflammation, such as arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome or old sports injuries. Turmeric root is in the same family as the more commonly found ginger and is a powerful natural anti-inflammatory. — Colleen Codekas in Healing Herbal Infusions

Whether you grow your own turmeric as we do, or rely on a quality source for purchasing turmeric powder, it’s a great addition to soups and stews.

Other Ingredients

Chicken — The recipe as written calls for chicken breasts. There’s no reason you couldn’t use cooked, shredded chicken leftover from a roasted bird

Chicken broth — I keep homemade chicken broth on hand, either in the freezer or in the pantry. You can use homemade broth or store bought. 

Carrots — Slice the carrots into rounds or cut them smaller if you prefer. Either way is fine. 

Pasta — The recipe calls for whole wheat pasta, but you can use what you have. Macaroni and fusili are good shapes. 

Aromatics  — This recipe uses both garlic and green onions. Finely chopped garlic adds that spicy zing we all love so much. Peel the cloves and leave them whole. Can you use powdered? You could, but… 

Herbs & Spices — Flavor this delicious homemade soup with fresh thyme, fresh sage, salt, and pepper. If you don’t care for cilantro, use parsley.

Making this Soup

Saute the green onion in olive oil, stirring until fragran, then add the garlic and carrots. 

Add the chicken, salt, pepper, thyme, sage, and turmeric. Brown the chicken for 8-10 minutes or until mostly white (not pink) on the outside. If using cooked chicken, shorten this time frame to just a minute or two. 

Pour in the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Once boiling, add the macaroni and simmer for 6-7 minutes or until the carrots are softened, the pasta is al dente, and the chicken is fully cooked and no longer pink in the middle. Add the cilantro and stir.

healthy chicken noodle soup in a white bowl

★ Did you make this chicken noodle soup recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!

golden chicken soup in a white bowl from above.

Golden Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe

This chicken noodle soup recipe is the perfect meal for warming up a winter.
4.60 from 5 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Author: Amy Godiwalla

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon green onions sliced
  • 2 cloves fresh garlic minced
  • 3 carrots (peeled and sliced into ½-inch thick rounds)
  • pounds organic chicken breast (cut into 1-inch by 1-inch pieces)
  • teaspoons kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme minced
  • 1 teaspoon fresh sage minced
  • ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 6 cups chicken broth (Try this homemade recipe!)
  • ¼ cup fresh cilantro minced, (you may substitute with parsley if preferred)*
  • 1 cup dry whole wheat pasta such as macaroni or fusilli

Instructions

  • In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium high heat. Once hot, add the green onion and stir until fragrant, about one minute. Add the garlic and stir continuously for 30 seconds to prevent burning. Stir in carrots and sauté for 3-4 minutes.
    2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, 1 tablespoon green onions, 2 cloves fresh garlic, 3 carrots
  • Add the chicken, salt, pepper, thyme, sage, and turmeric. Brown the chicken for 8-10 minutes or until mostly white (not pink) on the outside.
    1½ pounds organic chicken breast, 1½ teaspoons kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper, 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, 1 teaspoon fresh sage, ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
  • Pour in the stock and bring to a boil. Add the macaroni and simmer for 6-7 minutes or until the carrots are softened, the pasta is al dente, and the chicken is fully cooked and no longer pink in the middle.
    6 cups chicken broth, 1 cup dry whole wheat pasta
  • Add the cilantro and stir. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed. Serve!
    ¼ cup fresh cilantro

Notes

  • To preserve fresh herbs, fill a single well (or more if needed) of an ice cube tray about half full with finely chopped herbs, then top off with water and freeze. Once solid, pop out the cubes, place in an airtight freezer bag, and freeze.

Nutrition

Calories: 194kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 1206mg | Potassium: 461mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 3904IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @attainablesustainable or tag #attainablesustainable!

What a Good Eater! 

In What a Good Eater!, Amy and Alessandra have compiled a large collection of flavorful recipes that the entire family — including the kids — will love. All of these recipes are simple to pull together and most use fresh ingredients, herbs, and spices.

You can find out more about the book here.

Originally published February 2017; this post has been updated.

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About the author: Amy Godiwalla is co-author of the What a Good Eater! cookbook, available on Amazon. She writes for the What a Good Eater! food blog and versions of her work have appeared elsewhere online.

2 comments… add one
  • Michelle Mar 24, 2018 @ 18:43

    Very tasty and easy to make!

  • Abby Smas Apr 30, 2017 @ 3:48

    A few shakes of cayenne make this complete. Among it’s many virtues, cayenne pepper’s antioxidents and beta carotene support the immune system.

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