1lb.boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts (organic, pasture-raised when possible // or sub 2-3 cups leftover roasted chicken // or two 15-oz. cans drained white beans for a fiber boost)
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add 1 Tbsp salt to the water for more flavorful pasta. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Then drain, toss in a little olive oil to prevent sticking (optional), and set aside.
While the pasta is cooking, chop the veggies. Or if they’re already chopped, you can cook them in a separate pot while the pasta is cooking to speed up the process.
Heat the (now empty) large pot over medium heat. Add the olive oil, onion, celery, carrots, garlic, and ginger (optional) and sauté for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened.
Stir in the thyme, turmeric (optional), salt, and pepper and cook for 1 minute.
Add the chicken broth, raw chicken thighs or breasts (if using pre-cooked chicken, add it in step 6), and white beans (if using). Bring the soup to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for 5-8 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through (cook time will depend on the size of the chicken thighs or breasts and how quickly the broth comes to a simmer).
When the chicken is cooked, remove it from the pot and shred or dice into bite-sized pieces. Return the chicken to the soup and cook for 1-2 minutes longer. If using pre-cooked chicken, add it at this time. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste.
Divide the pasta between bowls, ladle in the soup, and garnish with fresh parsley (optional). Enjoy warm.
Leftovers will keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or in the freezer up to 1 month — store noodles and soup separately for best texture. Reheat soup in a saucepan until warm.
Video
Notes
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated with gluten-free brown rice noodles, store-bought chicken broth, chicken breasts, and without optional ingredients. It was also calculated with less salt because not all the salt in the pasta water gets absorbed. *Inspired by Food Front Co-Op's Medicinal Chicken Noodle Soup and adapted from our 1-Pot Chickpea Noodle Soup.