Asian Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe: Cozy & Flavorful

Asian chicken noodle soup tantalizes taste buds with its complex, layered flavors that dance between savory and bright.

Delicate broth carries whispers of ginger and garlic, creating a warm embrace that soothes and invigorates simultaneously.

Tender chicken pieces nestle among silky noodles, changeing a simple meal into a comforting culinary journey.

Fragrant herbs and subtle spices weave through each spoonful, promising depth and nuance beyond traditional soup recipes.

Lightweight yet satisfying, this dish balances nutritional goodness with remarkable taste sensations that feel both familiar and exotic.

Unexpected ingredients elevate the classic comfort food, offering a refreshing twist on a beloved classic.

This soul-warming soup delivers an extraordinary dining experience that connects you to vibrant asian culinary traditions.

Why You’ll Crave Asian Chicken Noodle Soup Again and Again

• Burst with Exotic Flavors: This Asian chicken noodle soup combines a symphony of bold tastes from curry paste, ginger, kaffir lime leaves, and sriracha, creating a vibrant flavor explosion that dances on your taste buds.
• Customize Your Comfort: The recipe offers incredible flexibility, allowing you to adjust spiciness with sriracha, tanginess with lime juice, and consistency by adding extra broth or coconut milk to suit your personal preference.
• Quick and Nourishing One-Pot Wonder: Prepare a hearty, nutritious meal in under 30 minutes using a single pot, packed with protein-rich chicken, vegetables, and rice noodles that make it a perfect weeknight dinner solution.
• Sensory Texture Adventure: Experience a delightful mix of tender shredded chicken, soft rice noodles, and crunchy vegetables, complemented by the optional garnish of crushed peanuts for an added textural dimension.

What Goes Into Asian Chicken Noodle Soup

• Chicken: Tender meat that forms the heart of the soup, choose boneless skinless chicken breasts for easy shredding.
• Soy Sauce: Adds deep umami flavor and classic Asian seasoning.
• Fish Sauce: Provides rich saltiness and authentic Southeast Asian depth.

• Onions, Carrots: Classic soup base vegetables that build foundational flavor.
• Ginger, Garlic: Essential Asian aromatics that create robust fragrant profile.
• Curry Paste: Brings complex spicy and warming undertones.
• Kaffir Lime Leaves: Authentic Thai herb with bright citrusy essence.

• Chicken Broth: Primary soup liquid with savory base.
• Coconut Milk: Creamy component that adds richness and slight sweetness.
• Brown Sugar: Balances overall flavor profile with subtle sweetness.
• Rice Noodles: Quick-cooking Asian noodle that absorbs soup flavors.
• Mushrooms, Bell Peppers, Cauliflower: Fresh vegetables adding texture and nutrition.
• Cilantro: Fresh herb for bright finishing garnish.
• Lime Juice: Adds tangy brightness and balances heavy flavors.
• Sriracha: Optional spicy element for heat lovers.
• Crushed Peanuts: Crunchy textural topping with nutty flavor.

How to Make Asian Chicken Noodle Soup at Home

Step 1: Sear The Chicken

Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Cook chicken on both sides until lightly golden, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to a plate, keeping the flavorful drippings in the pot.

Step 2: Sauté Aromatic Vegetables

• Onions
• Carrots

Sauté the vegetables in the drippings for 4 minutes. Stir in curry paste, ginger, and garlic. Cook for additional 2 minutes until vegetables soften and become fragrant.

Step 3: Build The Soup Base

• Chicken broth
• Coconut milk
• Soy sauce
• Fish sauce

Add kaffir lime leaves, basil, brown sugar, salt, and pepper.

Step 4: Simmer And Tenderize

Bring liquid to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Gently simmer for 15 minutes until chicken becomes tender and easily shreddable.

Step 5: Add Vegetables And Noodles

• Mushrooms
• Bell peppers
• Cauliflower
• Rice noodles

Simmer for 5 minutes, ensuring noodles are just short of fully cooked.

Step 6: Finish And Season

• Cilantro
• Lime juice
• Sriracha

Step 7: Adjust And Customize

Remove kaffir lime leaves. Taste and adjust seasoning. Add more sriracha for heat or lime juice for tanginess. If soup seems too thick, incorporate additional broth or coconut milk.

Step 8: Serve With Garnishes

• Crushed peanuts
• Fresh cilantro
• Lime wedges

Tips for Slurp-Worthy Asian Chicken Noodle Soup

• Sear with Confidence: Get a golden-brown exterior on chicken by patting it dry before searing and ensuring the pan is hot enough to create a perfect crust.
• Layer Flavor Strategically: Add curry paste, ginger, and garlic in sequence to build complex, aromatic depth without burning delicate ingredients.
• Simmer Gently: Maintain a low, steady heat when cooking chicken to keep it tender and prevent tough, rubbery texture.
• Noodle Timing is Key: Add rice noodles near the end of cooking to prevent overcooking and maintain their ideal texture and bite.
• Balance Your Broth: Adjust final seasoning with extra lime juice, sriracha, or coconut milk to create a perfectly harmonized soup that suits your taste preferences.

How to Store and Reheat Asian Chicken Noodle Soup Perfectly

• Refrigeration: Store leftover soup in an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Cool the soup completely before sealing to prevent bacterial growth.
• Freezing: Transfer cooled soup to freezer-safe containers, leaving some space for expansion. Freeze for up to 2 months. Avoid freezing noodles separately as they may become mushy.
• Reheating: Thaw frozen soup overnight in the refrigerator. Warm gently in a pot over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Add a splash of chicken broth if the soup seems too thick. Avoid boiling to prevent overcooking the noodles and chicken.

Flavor Pairings That Work with Asian Chicken Noodle Soup

• Boost Beverage Pairing: Crack open a crisp Thai Singha beer or a chilled Sauvignon Blanc to complement the soup's spicy and complex flavors, cutting through the richness with a refreshing finish.
• Enhance Side Dish: Serve alongside crispy spring rolls or a light green papaya salad to add textural contrast and amplify the Asian-inspired profile of the noodle soup.
• Balance Flavor Companion: Add a small dish of pickled vegetables or quick cucumber salad to provide a tangy, cool counterpoint that brightens the warm, spicy soup and cleanses the palate between bites.
• Texture Elevation Partner: Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds or additional crushed peanuts on top to introduce a delightful crunch that elevates the soup's overall sensory experience and adds nutty depth.

Asian Chicken Noodle Soup Variations You Should Try

• Spicy Thai Coconut Chicken Noodle Soup: Increase the curry paste and add extra sriracha for a fiery kick. Swap rice noodles with thin egg noodles for a different texture and enhance the heat with fresh chili peppers.
• Vegetarian Mushroom Noodle Soup: Replace chicken with firm tofu or additional mixed mushrooms. Use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth and add extra umami with miso paste for depth of flavor.
• Seafood Southeast Asian Soup: Substitute chicken with shrimp or white fish. Incorporate additional seafood like scallops or squid. Reduce cooking time to prevent overcooking delicate proteins and add fresh lemongrass for an aromatic boost.
• Light Herbal Ginger Noodle Soup: Reduce coconut milk for a lighter broth. Add more fresh herbs like mint and Thai basil. Include julienned zucchini or bok choy for extra vegetables and nutrition.

Asian Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.7 from 37 reviews

• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

Print Recipe

Description

Comforting Asian chicken noodle soup brings warmth from traditional kitchens across East Asia. Fragrant ginger, tender chicken, and silky noodles create a soul-soothing meal that connects you with generations of culinary heritage.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Proteins:

• 1 pound boneless chicken thighs
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 tablespoons minced Thai or regular basil

Vegetables and Aromatics:

• 1 onion, diced
• 2 medium carrots, sliced
• 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
• 8 ounces cremini mushrooms, sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 cup bite-size cauliflower florets
• 5–6 kaffir lime leaves

Liquids, Sauces, and Seasonings:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 5 cups low sodium chicken broth
• 2 (14 ounces) cans quality coconut milk
• 2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• 2–4 tablespoons red curry paste
• 3 ounces rice vermicelli
• ¼ cup chopped cilantro
• 2–3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 1 ½ teaspoons sriracha

Garnish:

• Crushed peanuts
• Chopped cilantro
• Fresh lime juice

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Preheat a large Dutch oven or soup pot over medium-high heat, adding oil to create a sizzling surface. Expertly sear the chicken pieces, developing a golden-brown exterior for approximately two minutes on each side. Transfer the chicken to a separate plate, preserving the flavorful drippings in the pot.
2. Introduce onions and carrots into the aromatic drippings, sautéing them vigorously for four minutes. Incorporate curry paste, minced ginger, and crushed garlic, continuing to cook until the vegetables soften and release their fragrant essences.
3. Reintroduce the seared chicken to the pot, creating a foundation for the soup. Pour in chicken broth, creamy coconut milk, umami-rich soy sauce, pungent fish sauce, aromatic kaffir lime leaves, fresh basil, brown sugar, and a balanced blend of salt and pepper.
4. Elevate the liquid to a robust boil, then immediately reduce the heat to a gentle simmer. Allow the ingredients to meld and the chicken to become tender, approximately 15 minutes, ensuring the meat can be effortlessly shredded.
5. Carefully extract the chicken and allow it to cool slightly. Simultaneously, incorporate sliced mushrooms, vibrant bell peppers, and cauliflower florets into the simmering liquid. Add rice noodles and cook until they approach al dente texture, maintaining a slight firmness.
6. Delicately fold the shredded chicken back into the soup, enhancing the dish with fresh cilantro, zesty lime juice, and a kick of sriracha sauce. Blend the ingredients thoroughly to distribute flavors evenly.
7. Remove and discard the kaffir lime leaves. Taste the soup critically, adjusting the heat with additional sriracha or brightening the flavor with extra lime juice. If desired, thin the consistency by introducing more broth or coconut milk.
8. Present the soup in individual serving bowls, garnishing with a generous sprinkle of crushed peanuts and additional cilantro. Offer a wedge of fresh lime on the side for diners to customize their culinary experience.

Notes

• Layered Flavor Strategy: Searing chicken first creates a rich, deep flavor foundation that infuses the entire soup with a robust base.
• Spice Balancing Trick: Combining curry paste, ginger, and garlic creates a complex aromatic profile that transforms a simple soup into a vibrant culinary experience.
• Protein Preparation Technique: Shredding chicken while noodles cook ensures tender meat and maximizes cooking efficiency.
• Liquid Adjustment Hack: Adding extra broth or coconut milk allows customization of soup consistency based on personal preference.
• Textural Contrast Magic: Incorporating crushed peanuts and fresh cilantro at serving time introduces delightful crunch and bright, fresh notes.
• Heat Control Wisdom: Gentle simmering prevents protein toughening and maintains delicate ingredient integrity throughout cooking process.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: Asian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 450
• Sugar: 6 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 24 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 38 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 22 g
• Cholesterol: 100 mg