Whether youre feeling under the weather or are just simply in need of a comforting meal, chicken noodle soup is always the answer. You can buy this famous soup in stores or make it yourself. It has been warming people up for as long as people have been trying to figure out which came first: the chicken or the egg. Chicken noodle soup is a classic, and while it is simple by nature, that doesnt mean your dish has to be boring.
Between the broth and the finishing touches at the end, there are a lot of ways to add more flavor to chicken noodle soup. Whether its adding different spices, substituting the different elements of the soup for alternatives, or infusing flavors inspired by different cultures, lets explore a variety of creative ways to take this dish to the next level. No matter the occasion or season, keep these things in mind when you find yourself in need of a flavor-packed, chicken noodle soup pick-me-up.
Even though chicken noodle soup is a popular comfort food, it can get old after a while if you keep making the same recipe. Don’t worry if your chicken noodle soup tastes bland; there are lots of easy ways to add new flavors and make this classic dish taste different.
When I’m not busy cooking at home, I love chicken noodle soup and am always looking for ways to make it taste even better. I’ve learned a lot of simple tricks and ingredient swaps that make a huge difference over the years.
So you can get out of your recipe rut, I’ll give you 12 of my favorite ways to spice up chicken noodle soup. Just try a few of these ideas, and you’ll never look at chicken noodle soup the same way again!
1. Use Homemade Chicken Broth
If you want the richest and tastiest base, make your own chicken broth instead of buying it. Put a chicken carcass in a pot with fresh herbs and vegetables that smell good, like celery, onions, and carrots. This gives your broth layers of flavor that store-bought broths can’t match.
2. Toast the Noodles
Before adding noodles to the pot, briefly toast them in a skillet with a little olive oil. This adds an incredible depth of flavor and also helps keep the noodles from getting too soggy. It’s a simple step that makes a big impact.
3. Add Fresh Herbs
Fresh herbs like cilantro, basil, dill, and parsley brighten up chicken noodle soup with their vibrant flavors. Add them at the very end so they retain their color and taste. I love sprinkling chopped herbs over individual bowls for a pop of color and fragrance.
4. Splash of Citrus
A squirt of lemon or lime juice right before serving adds a refreshing zing to chicken noodle soup. The acidity helps cut through the richness of the broth. For an even bolder citrus flavor, add some grated lemon or lime zest too.
5. Next-Level Vegetables
Move beyond the standard carrots, celery, and onions by adding vegetables like mushrooms, zucchini, spinach, broccoli, or peas. Different textures and flavors add interest to chicken noodle soup.
6. Spice It Up
Heat things up with a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes, cayenne, smoked paprika, or even curry powder. Add them early on so the spices have time to bloom in the broth.
7. Umami Bomb
Boost the savory flavor with ingredients high in umami or natural glutamates. Options like soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, fish sauce, tomato paste, dried mushrooms, and nutritional yeast work well.
8. Season Generously
Don’t be shy with the salt and pepper! Chicken noodle soup often needs more seasoning than you’d expect. Taste as you go and adjust until the flavors really pop.
9. Surprise Add-Ins
Get creative with surprise add-ins like shredded rotisserie chicken, poached eggs, diced avocado, crumbled bacon, shredded cheese, or crispy wonton strips. Top individual portions for fun mix-ins.
10. Asian Flavors
Add ginger, garlic, sesame oil, rice noodles, mushrooms, bok choy, soy sauce, hoisin, chili-garlic sauce, or sriracha for an Asian twist. The possibilities are endless!
11. Southwest Vibes
Embrace Southwest flavors with additions like corn, black beans, chopped cilantro, lime juice, cumin, chili powder, shredded cheese, crunchy tortilla strips, or a dollop of avocado. Ole!
12. Italian Herbs and Cheese
A sprinkle of Italian herb blend plus grated Parmesan or provolone cheese transforms chicken noodle soup into an Italian-inspired feast. Bellissimo!
Experiment with Confidence
Now that you’ve got 12 creative ideas for spicing up chicken noodle soup, it’s time to get cooking! Don’t be afraid to experiment with different ingredient combinations until you find flavors your family loves.
The beauty of chicken noodle soup is that it’s endlessly adaptable. Use these suggestions as inspiration to make this comforting classic your own. Before long, you’ll have a signature chicken noodle soup recipe that will be requested again and again.
So grab your favorite spices and let’s get simmering! Your bold new chicken noodle soup is waiting.
Make your own mirepoix
If the word “mirepoix” doesnt mean anything to you, let us introduce this classic combination to your repertoire. This mix of finely chopped celery, onions, and carrots is a mainstay in French cooking. Its sweet and sour flavors are meant to enhance the taste of dishes. A flavorful chicken stock is important for making sure that your homemade chicken noodle soup has a strong base. Cut these three vegetables into small pieces and cook them in any fat you like until they turn a little caramelized. Then, add the rest of the ingredients for your stock and boil them in water with them.
If youre not making a homemade stock, a mirepoix can still be used as an easy way to upgrade any store-bought broth. While it might sound too good to be true, this minimalist approach truly is the simplest trick out there to ensure that your chicken noodle soup is off to a flavor-packed start. With this trifecta, it really is as easy as one, two, three.
When it comes to sneaking flavor into chicken noodle soup, dont forget that seasoning is always on your side. Were not just talking about your basic dry seasonings, but the fresh herbs that can be added at various stages in the soup-making process to elevate its flavor. Recipes will list some of the basic seasonings to use, such as salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and Italian seasonings. These additions are a given, but were here to advise on the best freshly chopped herbs to take your soup a level above the rest.
At the beginning of the soup-making process, add fresh thyme stems and rosemary to flavor your broth with their notably strong scents and flavors, allowing them to soak into the soup early on. To top your herb-infused soup off, chopped parsley is the garnish that we all know and love. While its mainly recognized for its vibrant green color, a handful of parsley to finish off chicken noodle soup will liven up your dish and freshen up the rest of your flavors. As a rule of thumb, if your recipe calls for these herbs as dry seasonings or powders, youll want to use three times as much if using the fresh version.
Were no longer associating chicken noodle soup with gloomy, sick days. If youve been searching high and low for the missing ingredient in your homemade chicken noodle soup, a squeeze of citrus may be the final piece of the puzzle. Lemon can bring brightness to your dish to compliment the rest of the otherwise saltier flavors. The acidity of the lemon can cut through those other savory flavors, and bring a little bit of balance to your soup.
You might be thinking that something as strong as citrus might add too much of a punch to a soup that isnt known to have the most intense flavors, but we are here to advise on exactly how much, and when, you should be adding lemon juice to your chicken soup. Of course, there are some dos and donts when it comes to lemon in soup. Recipes incorporate anywhere from 1 to 4 tablespoons of lemon juice, at the discretion of the cook. However, if one thing is for certain, its that lemon juice should always be added at the very end of the cooking process to avoid turning the lemon juice bitter. Give this tip a try and watch your chicken noodle soup come to life.
Be creative with your vegetables
While many of us associate chicken noodle soup with a classic combo of celery, carrots, and onions, whos to say that you cant use other vegetables to boost the flavor of your soup? The beauty of chicken noodle soup is its neutrality, which creates plenty of opportunities for new flavor combinations.
Seasoning is not the only way you can change the flavor of your dish, so lets explore some other creative options. You might consider using more umami-forward vegetables, such as mushrooms, that also pair well with chicken to tie together the richer flavors in the dish. Alternatively, vegetables like corn, peas, and tomatoes will bring out some sweeter notes to the soup. If you want to go the more herbaceous route, asparagus or green peppers will add both a vibrant color and a very different depth of flavor to the soup that youll appreciate.
Now, this next tip requires some flexibility, but hear us out — consider inspiring new flavors in your chicken noodle soup by substituting basic pasta with other noodle options. As mentioned above, substituting a rice noodle to achieve a more Asian-inspired dish is one option for changing up your chicken noodle soup. In line with Asian flavors, you can use ramen noodles as another alternative. Some store-bought ramen noodles even come with flavor packs, which could be used to flavor your soup in a unique way to create a chicken ramen soup. If you want to add a more earthy taste to your soup, use soba noodles to balance out the saltier, richer nature of chicken noodle soup.
For the grand finale, try using a noodle alternative that isnt a noodle at all. Matzo ball soup-inspired chicken noodle soup is the ultimate fusion of comfort foods, with the matzo balls present to soak up every ounce of flavor in your broth. You could even make your own matzo balls for an added homemade element.
How to Make Old-Fashioned Chicken Noodle Soup
FAQ
What to add to chicken noodle soup to make it taste better?
Fresh thyme, rosemary and bay leaf are my standbys. Also minced garlic with your veggies. Butter is your friend. Salt and pepper. Jan 30, 2020.
What to add to chicken soup to spice it up?
Add peppercorns, bay leaves, thyme, poultry seasoning, basil, and parsley.
What can I add to chicken soup to make it tastier?
Veggies: I keep it simple with onion, celery, carrots, and garlic. Thyme, Bay leaves and parsley: All three are classic flavors for chicken soup. Apr 21, 2025.
How to improve a bland chicken soup?
Add some fresh herbs and a bit of acid, like vinegar, lemon juice, or lime juice. Heat can also wake up your tastebuds, so a little sprinkle of cayenne pepper will help. Not enough to make the broth too hot, just enough to boost the flavor. A vinegar based hot sauce, like Tobasco or Chalula would also work.