One pot vegan chicken noodle soup

Nothing soothes quite like vegan chicken noodle soup.

You’ve got a flavorful broth, nourishing veggies, satiating vegan chicken, and toothsome noodles.

So comforting.

It’s the perfect antidote to a chilly day. And of course, it’s basically a necessity when the sniffles strike.

Many of us grew up on the canned, non-vegan variety.

But homemade is so much more delicious with chunks of carrots, celery, onions, and garlic.

This easy soup comes together in one pot, noodles and all, which is very convenient.

Finish with a handful of crackers or warm bread for the ultimate comfort meal.

Oil: My preferred option is avocado oil. But you can choose any cooking oil that you enjoy like olive oil or organic canola oil.

Standard soup ingredients: Garlic, onion, celery, carrots, and water.

Herbs & seasonings: Dried parsley, dried basil, dried thyme, bay leaves, salt & black pepper. If you like, you can finish with an optional garnish of fresh parsley.

Bouillon: I recommend Better Than Bouillon, no chicken base. They really nail that old school flavor that takes you back to childhood.

Or you can replace water + bouillon with vegetable broth/veggie stock.

Noodles: Usually chicken noodle soup is made with egg noodles. Walmart sells Great Value egg-free ribbons that work beautifully here.

That said, you can use any small, bite-sized noodles that you like. Farfalle or fusilli work well.

Or you can break long noodles like spaghetti or lasagna noodles into smaller sections.

Vegan chicken: There are tons of vegan chicken options available. Tofurky lightly seasoned chick’n is my go-to option. It’s sold in the refrigerated section of the grocery store.

But you can use any vegan chicken you like.

I’ve made it with bite-sized pieces of homemade vegan chicken seitan and store-bought seitan like Upton’s traditional. It works well with either.

You could use Soy Curls. Or you can replace vegan chicken with 1 ½ cups of chickpeas, Great Northern beans, or cannellini beans.

Step by step instructions

Here’s how to make this recipe at a glance. For complete ingredient amounts & instructions, keep scrolling to the recipe card below.

1. In a large soup pot, sauté the following in oil:

• Minced garlic
• Chopped onions
• Sliced celery
• Sliced carrots
• Pinch of salt

2. Once the onions are fragrant & translucent, add the following:

• Dried parsley
• Dried basil
• Dried thyme
• Pepper

3. Add the following:

• Water
• Better Than Bouillon, no chicken base
• Bay leaves

4. Bring to a boil.

Then add the following:

Boil noodles until al dente (about a minute shy of what’s on the package). Then lower heat, cook for a couple minutes more, and ladle into bowls.

If you like, garnish with chopped fresh parsley.

You can make this soup your own by varying the ingredients.

Vary the broth: Instead of using Better Than Bouillon no chicken base + water, use vegetable broth or veggie stock.

Vary the shape of pasta: Try fusilli, penne, farfalle, rotini, or macaroni. Or break spaghetti or lasagna noodles into smaller pieces.

Vary the protein: Use homemade or store-bought seitan chicken, Tofurky chick’n, Soy Curls, garbanzo beans, cannellini beans, or Great Northern beans.

Vary the veggies: Add red bell peppers, mushrooms, spring peas, cubed potatoes, leeks, and/or kale.

Be aware that if you add a lot more ingredients (especially ones that absorb liquid like potatoes), you’ll likely need to add more broth and seasonings.

Add a delicious finish: For brightness, finish with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Sprinkle on vegan parmesan cheese. Or add a handful of freshly chopped parsley or cilantro.