Asian Chicken Noodle Soup

Better than your favorite restaurant Thai Chicken Soup

This Thai Noodle Soup this is one of my favorite soups I have ever tasted let alone made! Its way better than takeout with layers of warm, comforting aromatic coconut broth infused with red curry, ginger, garlic, lime and sriracha all bursting with pulled chicken, rice noodles, carrots, bell peppers, mushrooms and cauliflower!  You can skip the takeout. forever.

Thank you Nuts.com. for sponsoring this Thai Noodle Soup post!  All opinions are my own.

WATCH: How to make Thai Chicken Noodle Soup

ONE POT Thai Chicken Noodle Soup - this is one of my favorite soups I have ever tasted let alone made! Its way better than takeout with layers of warm, comforting aromatic flavors and I love all the veggies! I had never cooked with rice noodles and the texture was outstanding, even in leftovers!


 

This Thai Chicken Soup will not disappoint!

Thai food is my FAV so I’ve created several of my restaurant favorites into takeout fakeout versions from Pad ThaiPanang Curry, Red Curry (one of my Most Popular Recipes of 2017), Yellow Curry, Coconut Curry Chicken, and Tom Kha Gai.  If you like Thai food even the slightest, I can guarantee you will be obsessed with those fakeout takeout recipes.  They are bursting with flavor and on your table in 30 minutes!

This Thai Noodle Soup has been on my “to create/make/share bucket list” for quite some time, and this fragrant, obsessive worthy version did not disappoint!

Patrick was out of town when I concocted this new favorite so I literally slurped each delectable spoonful all. by. myself.  And couldn’t have been happier about it.

This Thai Noodle Soup is creamy, packed with complex, bold, vibrant flavors and textures and is surprisingly easy to make in ONE POT even though it tastes like its been simmering for days to build its truly complex flavor profile.  

So, if you are a Thai food lover or just a flavor lover, get ready to excite your taste buds with this drool worthy Thai Chicken Noodle Soup!  And just a quick note – don’t let your excitement die when you see the somewhat lengthy list of ingredients – I promise they are mostly dump and run, and the soup comes together very quickly.

ONE POT Thai Chicken Noodle Soup - this is one of my favorite soups I have ever tasted let alone made! Its way better than takeout with layers of warm, comforting aromatic flavors and I love all the veggies! I had never cooked with rice noodles and the texture was outstanding, even in leftovers!

Thai Chicken Soup Recipe Ingredients

  • chicken: you can use either chicken breasts or chicken thighs for this Thai Noodle Soup recipe.  I tend to use chicken breasts because they are leaner and emerge wonderfully juicy in this preparation, but you are welcome to use chicken thighs as well.   You can also use shredded rotisserie chicken and add it to the soup at the end, when you would add the cooked, shredded chicken.
  • red curry paste:  red curry paste packs a huge flavor punch because its made of finely ground coriander, peppercorns, Kaffir lime leaves, lemongrass, galangal, lime leaves, cilantro, shallot, garlic, and fresh chiles – all combined for you.  Note that some curry brands are spicier than others.  If you are using a more mild brand like Thai Kitchen then I would start with ¼ cup curry paste.  If you are using a spicier brand like Mae Ploy, I would start with 2 tablespoons.  You can add more curry paste to taste once the soup is simmering or add sriracha to taste at the end of cooking.
  • onion:  use yellow onion for its more pungent flavor
  • ginger: adds a warm spicy, almost pepper taste.  You can add more or less ginger to taste.
  • garlic:   You can use more or less garlic depending on your garlic love.
  • vegetables:  I use carrots, bell peppers cauliflower and mushrooms but you can swap them out for your favorites
  • chicken broth:  make sure you use low sodium chicken broth so you can control the salt in the Thai Noodle Soup
  • coconut milk:  quality coconut milk is essential for maximum creaminess and flavor.  My favorite brand is Chakoah.  This is not a paid endorsement, they are simply the best!  You may substitute lite coconut milk, but I suggest whisking it with 2 tablespoons cornstarch.
  • soy sauce:  use low sodium soy sauce so you can control the saltiness of the soup.
  • Fish sauce: I promise fish sauce will not be detectable or make your Thai Noodle Soup taste fishy!.  It simply adds the balance of savory and salty flavor.  You may substitute fish sauce with soy sauce.
  • brown sugar:  adds sweetness to balance the soy and vinegar.  You may need more or less brown sugar depending on personal preferences.
ONE POT Thai Chicken Noodle Soup - this is one of my favorite soups I have ever tasted let alone made! Its way better than takeout with layers of warm, comforting aromatic flavors and I love all the veggies! I had never cooked with rice noodles and the texture was outstanding, even in leftovers!
  • kaffir lime leaves:   Kaffir lime leaves are a staple in Thai cooking as well as in Indonesian, Cambodian and Lao cuisines.  Kaffir lime leaves are responsible for the distinctive earthy lime-lemon, refreshing flavor in many Thai soups, curries recipes, stir fries and even salads.  This exotic ingredient can be very difficult to find, but seeing as Thai  Noodle Soup has been on my bucket list for some time,  I did not want to use any substitutes.  Thankfully, I found my dried Kaffir Lime Leaves at Nuts.com.  I love that their dried so they can become a pantry staple to lend their wonderfully fresh citrus zing to any Asian dish at a moment’s notice.
  • rice vermicelli/thin rice noodles:   The rice noodles (sometimes called rice sticks) are one of my favorite noodles to use as they are made from rice flour and maintain their perfectly al dente texture for days, if not overcooked initially, making the soup perfect leftovers!  You should be able to find rice noodles in the Asian section of your grocery store.
  • cilantro:  adds the fresh, zesty, citrusy kick.
  • lime juice:  awakens the entire soup.  You can also add more lime juice to your individual servings. 
  • sriracha:  if your Thai Noodle Soup is missing something, it is heat!  Add chili sauce to taste.  If you aren’t sure how much to add, you can start with less then stir in more at the end if needed.

How to make Thai Chicken Soup

STEP 1:  To make our wonderfully delectable Thai Noodle Soup, we start by first slicing our chicken breasts through the equator to create thin fillets.  This will ensure they cook evenly and in the same amount of time as the rest of our ingredients.

STEP 2:  Next, brown both sides of your chicken, but don’t cook through, because protein color = flavor.  Next, we are going to remove our chicken but add it back in later to simmer in our spiced coconut broth.   I love cooking chicken in soups this way because you don’t have to chop or dice raw chicken and it remains incredibly juicy and tender instead of becoming overcooked and drying out because the pieces are too small.  If do you happen to have leftover chicken on hand,  this soup is an excellent to use it in – just throw it in at the very end.

STEP 3:  Next, saute your onions and carrots for a couple minutes then we truly enliven this Thai Chicken Noodle Soup by adding our red curry paste, garlic and ginger and sauteing a few minutes.  Using curry paste infuses the soup with the concentrated flavors of traditional aromatics while sauteing it unlocks the flavor and allows it to permeate the entire dish.

ONE POT Thai Chicken Noodle Soup - this is one of my favorite soups I have ever tasted let alone made! Its way better than takeout with layers of warm, comforting aromatic flavors and I love all the veggies! I had never cooked with rice noodles and the texture was outstanding, even in leftovers!

STEP 4: Add the chicken back to the pot along with chicken broth, coconut milk, soy sauce, fish sauce, kaffir lime leaves, brown sugar, basil, salt and pepper and simmer for 15 minutes or just until the chicken is tender enough to shred.

STEP  5:  Add add our mushrooms, bell peppers, cauliflower and rice noodles to pot.  I love the combination of textures and flavors from these veggies, but feel free to mix it up with whatever veggies you have on hand.

ONE POT Thai Chicken Noodle Soup - this is one of my favorite soups I have ever tasted let alone made! Its way better than takeout with layers of warm, comforting aromatic flavors and I love all the veggies! I had never cooked with rice noodles and the texture was outstanding, even in leftovers!

STEP 6:  Finally, stir in your shredded chicken, cilantro, lime juice and sriracha and garnish with plenty of crushed peanuts…

ONE POT Thai Chicken Noodle Soup - this is one of my favorite soups I have ever tasted let alone made! Its way better than takeout with layers of warm, comforting aromatic flavors and I love all the veggies! I had never cooked with rice noodles and the texture was outstanding, even in leftovers!

And dive mouth first into bowl after bowl of amazingly delicious Thai  Noodle Soup.   You may never make another soup again!

Making Thai Chicken Noodle Soup ahead of time

The flavors of this Thai Noodle Soup are  even better the next day!  If making to serve later, take extra care not to overcook your noodles.   You also may want to add an extra squeeze of lime juice to reheated soup because the fresh lime taste will mellow.

How to serve this Thai Chicken Soup Recipe

This Thai Chicken Soup recipe is exponentially better with toppings! Garnish individual servings with crushed peanuts, cilantro and freshly squeezed lime juice to taste. Serve the soup alone or with an appetizer of Chicken Satay recipe and a side of Thai Salad to complete the feast!

How to store and reheat leftover Thai Chicken Noodle Soup

HOW LONG IS THAI SOUP GOOD FOR?

This Thai Noodle Soup  should be stored in an airtight container in your refrigerator.  When properly stored, it will last for 3-5 days.

HOW DO I REHEAT THAI CHICKEN SOUP?

Stove: You can reheat large batches of Thai Noodles Soup on the stove over medium low heat, stirring occasionally until the chicken is heated through to 165 degrees F.

Microwave: For smaller batches or individual servings, you can use the microwave.  Transfer soup to a microwave-safe dish, cover with a microwave-safe lid or paper towel.  Microwave for 2 minutes, stir, then continue to microwave for 30-second intervals, if needed.

CAN I FREEZE THAI NOODLE SOUP?

I do NOT recommend freezing Thai Noodle Soup with the noodles, as the  noodles will become a funny texture.  You may, however, freeze the soup without the noodles.  To do this, you can either fish out the noodles, or prepare the noodles separately and add them to individual serving bowls.

To freeze Thai Noodle Soup: (WITHOUT noodles)

  1. Cool: Allow Thai Chicken Soup to cool completely before freezing to preserve the integrity of the ingredients.
  2. Package:  Transfer soup to an airtight freezer safe container or freezer bag.  You can even use sandwich size plastic bags for individual stew portions.  Squeeze out any excess air to prevent freezer burn and label
  3. Freeze. Freeze for up to 3 months.
  4. Defrost/Reheat. When ready to use, thaw overnight in the refrigerator then reheat in the microwave, or stove according to aforementioned instructions.
ONE POT Thai Chicken Noodle Soup - this is one of my favorite soups I have ever tasted let alone made! Its way better than takeout with layers of warm, comforting aromatic flavors and I love all the veggies! I had never cooked with rice noodles and the texture was outstanding, even in leftovers!

WHAT CAN I PREPARE AHEAD OF TIME?

You can also  prepare some ingredients of the Thai Noodle Soup ahead of time, to make dinner come together more quickly.  For example, you can slice your chicken in half, chop your onions, garlic and ginger as well as all your vegetables.  Store everything in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator until ready to use.

ONE POT Thai Chicken Noodle Soup - this is one of my favorite soups I have ever tasted let alone made! Its way better than takeout with layers of warm, comforting aromatic flavors and I love all the veggies! I had never cooked with rice noodles and the texture was outstanding, even in leftovers!

Looking for more One Pot Soups to love?

Want to try this Thai Chicken Noodle Soup?

Pin it to your SOUP, ONE POT, ASIAN or DINNER Board to SAVE for later!

Find me on Pinterest for more great recipes!  I am always pinning :)!

©Carlsbad Cravings by CarlsbadCravings.com

ONE POT Thai Chicken Noodle Soup - this is one of my favorite soups I have ever tasted let alone made! Its way better than takeout with layers of warm, comforting aromatic flavors and I love all the veggies! I had never cooked with rice noodles and the texture was outstanding, even in leftovers!

One Pot Thai Chicken Soup

ONE POT Thai Chicken Noodle Soup – this is one of my favorite soups I have ever tasted let alone made! Its way better than takeout with layers of warm, comforting aromatic coconut broth infused with red curry, ginger, garlic, lime and sriracha all bursting with pulled chicken, rice noodles, carrots, bell peppers, mushrooms and cauliflower!  You can skip the takeout. forever.
Servings: 8 -10
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes

Save This Recipe To Your Recipe Box

You can now create an account on our site and save your favorite recipes all in one place!

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts sliced through the equator to create thin fillets
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 medium carrots, sliced
  • 2-4 tablespoons red curry paste
  • 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 5 cups low sodium chicken broth
  • 2 14 oz. cans quality coconut milk (I love Chaokoh)
  • 2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons fish sauce
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 5-6 kaffir lime leaves (find at nuts.com)
  • 1 tablespoon dried basil
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 8 oz. cremini mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 cup chopped bite size cauliflower florets
  • 3 oz. rice vermicelli/thin rice noodles/sticks broken into pieces**
  • 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
  • 2-3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons sriracha or more to taste

Garnish

Instructions

  • Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large Dutch oven/soup pot over medium-high heat. Add chicken and brown on both sides, approximately 2 minutes, but don’t cook through. Remove to a plate.
  • Add one tablespoon olive oil to now empty pot and heat over medium high heat. Add onions and carrots and saute 3 minutes.
  • Add curry paste, ginger, garlic and sauté for 2 minutes.
  • Add chicken BACK TO POT followed by chicken broth, coconut milk, soy sauce, fish sauce, kaffir lime leaves, brown sugar, basil, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to medium-low and gently simmer for 15 minutes or until chicken is tender enough to easily shred.
  • Remove chicken and let rest until cool enough to shred or chop. Meanwhile, add mushrooms, bell peppers, cauliflower and rice noodles to pot. Simmer approximately 5 minutes OR just until your noodles are short of al dente. You want them undercooked as they will continue to cook once removed from heat. Stir in shredded chicken, cilantro, lime juice and sriracha. v
  • Discard kaffir lime leaves. Taste and add additional sriracha for spicier or lime juice for tangier. If you would like a less “chunky” soup, stir in additional broth or coconut milk. Garnish individual servings with crushed peanuts and/or cilantro and freshly squeezed lime juice to taste.

Video

Notes

Don’t miss the “how to make” recipe video at the top of the post!
*Some Curry brands are spicier than others.  If you are using a more mild brand like Thai Kitchen then I would start with ¼ cup curry paste.  If you are using a spicier brand like Mae Ploy, I would start with 2 tablespoons.  You can add more curry paste to taste once the soup is simmering or add sriracha to taste at the end of cooking.
**If you find it too difficult to break the uncooked noodles, then I like to use kitchen shears to to cut the noodles directly in the soup pot right after they are cooked.

Did You Make This Recipe?

Tag @CarlsbadCravings and Use #CarlsbadCravngs

Leave a Review, I Always Love Hearing From You!

©Carlsbad Cravings Original

Reader Interactions

leave a review

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

165 Comments

  1. Lisa Kelly says

    Absolutely incredible!!!! The flavours were so amazing. We will make this regularly for sure. Loved it!

    • Jen says

      Thank you so much Lisa! I’m so pleased this is a new favorite!

  2. Lisa says

    Incredible soup! Thank you!

    • Jen says

      You’re so welcome Lisa, I’m so pleased you loved it!

    • Tammy says

      This was an easy soup to concoct, and a pleasure to consume! The flavours were amazing, and my family could not stop raving about the flavour!

      • Jen says

        YAY! Thanks so much for the awesome review Tammy!

  3. Joanne says

    Love this recipe and was wondering if you happen to have the nutritional information for it

  4. Kim says

    Hi Jen! I have made this soup several times and LOVE IT! I want to try it with shrimp instead of chicken. Would you just add the Shri p at the end since they don’t take long to cook? And would I need to thaw them first? Thanks!

    • Jen says

      Thanks Kim, I love hearing this recipe is a favorite! It would be fabulous with shrimp. Your exactly right-no need to thaw, just add the frozen shrimp at the end to cook a couple minutes. Good luck!

  5. Mary Jo Reynolds says

    I made this, didn’t change a thing and it was delicious. I ordered the kaffir lime leaves from Amazon (arrived within a few days). I used chicken thighs and the lesser amount of curry paste….just right for my palate. I did prepare the noodles separately so I could freeze leftover soup & will add noodles when ready to use at a later date. I love curry & this was only the 2nd recipe I’ve attempted. Both were great & I’m so happy I can prepare at home & know exactly what I’m getting. The ingredients melded perfectly, nothing overpowered the others. Thank you!!!

    • Jen says

      You’re so welcome Mary Jo, thank you so much for the awesome review! I hope you enjoy exploring my other curry recipes!

  6. Karen Johanson says

    I made this tonight, and my son, who is an excellent Asian cook, said, “This one’s a keeper!” Nearly every recipe I make anymore is from your blog.

    • Jen says

      Thank you so much Karen, you made my day! I’m love hearing that!

  7. Stacy says

    Another wonderful dinner – thank you! This Thai Chicken soup is amazing. Didn’t change a thing.

    • Jen says

      Thanks so much Stacie, I’m so pleased you loved it!

  8. Stephanie says

    We love this soup. The only reason I don’t make it more often is the prep takes longer than my norm. But it is soooo good!

    • Jen says

      Thanks Stephanie, I’m so pleased it’s a favorite!

  9. Maggie says

    one of my favorites! a quick and easy go to dinner

    • Jen says

      Thanks Maggie, I love hearing it’s a fav!

  10. Suzanne says

    I’m making this tonight. How big are the servings and calories?
    Thanks!!

  11. Sara says

    My husband loves this dinner. It is so good. We do not have any Thai or asain cuisine in my little town, so to have wonderful recipes like this, dinner is better than going out. Thank you….

    • Jen says

      You’re so welcome Sara, I’m so pleased it hit the spot!

  12. Nicole says

    Made this last night, OMG so much flavor! It made a lot for the three of us, however not a whole lot left! Will be putting this one in our rotation. As usual you do not disappoint with your recipes. BTW is there a trick to chop or cut the rice noodles shorter? I tried to cut them with sheares they fly all over the kitchen and were still too long.

    • Jen says

      Thanks Nicole, I love hearing this is a new family favorite! You can try cutting the noodles after they’ve cooked 😉

  13. Jessi says

    So delicious! I subbed green Curry paste for red (that’s all I had). I used gluten free soy sauce to make mine gluten free. Thank you for this! Hit tge spot!

    • Jen says

      Thank you, Jessi! I am so happy you enjoyed it! It has been great soup weather! I hope you have a wonderful week and find more recipes to enjoy!

  14. Meredith says

    This recipe was delicious! We couldn’t find keffir lime leaves so we used some lime zest (and later the fresh lime juice) but that broth was amazing – my husband and I both slurped up the whole bowl.

    • Jen says

      Yum! I’m so glad you both loved it!

  15. Sheryl says

    Making this tonight!!!

See More Comments