This homemade Chicken and Noodles recipe is quick and easy to make for a creamy, comforting dinner. You only need a handful of ingredients, like egg noodles, shredded chicken, peas, and cream of chicken soup, to whip up these cafeteria noodles.
This post may include affiliate links that earn us a small commission from your purchases at no extra cost to you.
What’s in this Chicken and Noodles Recipe?
Pantry staples like chicken broth, bouillon, egg noodles, and cream of chicken soup combine with freshly shredded chicken, frozen peas, and butter to create a simple comfort food meal.
- Chicken Broth: We cook the egg noodles directly in chicken broth to give them extra flavor! I like to use unsalted or low-sodium chicken broth to avoid overly salty noodles.
- Better than Bouillon: A must-have pantry ingredient. You can find it near the regular bouillon cubes in the grocery store, and it just adds so much flavor!
- Egg Noodles: I love wide egg noodles for their rich flavor, but you could use any short pasta shape you love! Just adjust the cooking time according to the instructions on the package.
- Black Pepper: Adds a bit of spice.
- Shredded Chicken: You can use homemade shredded chicken or a rotisserie chicken.
- Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup: Makes this pasta dish ultra-creamy and enhances the chicken flavor.
- Frozen Peas: Add a pop of color and sweet flavor. This is a great way to sneak in some veggies for the kids.
- Butter: Helps loosen up the sauce and adds extra creaminess! Use unsalted butter to avoid oversalting the noodles.
Pro Tip: Feel free to add in extra veggies, like frozen carrots or corn, for even healthier pasta!
Variations on Cafeteria Noodles
This old-fashioned chicken and noodles recipe is so easy to modify for just about any diet! Use gluten-free pasta and cream of chicken soup to make it gluten-free. For a vegetarian version, use unsalted vegetable broth, Better than Bouillon Seasoned Vegetable Base, and condensed cream of mushroom soup or cream of celery soup. Leave out the chicken, or swap in some roasted mushrooms. Try adding some caramelized onions for an even richer flavor!
Email This Recipe
Enter your email and we’ll send the recipe directly to you!
Chicken and noodles are high in protein, potassium, fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, and iron. However, it is also high in carbohydrates, saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium. This dish is best enjoyed in moderation.
Yes! The chicken broth acts just like regular water, but it adds so much extra flavor to the noodles!
You can make these up ahead of time, but it will not be as good. The sauce gets very thick as the noodles sit, so you will have to add a little extra chicken broth to the noodles when you reheat them.
This is up to your taste. If you don’t like it to be salty, you can use that kind. I don’t add any extra salt to the recipe, so I like the salt from the soup.
Yes, but you will have to adjust the cooking time based on your type of pasta.
This recipe is thickened by adding the condensed soup. However, if your noodles still seem too watery after cooking for a while, you can thicken them by mixing together 2 teaspoons of cornstarch with 2 teaspoons of cold water, stirring that slurry into the noodles, then cooking on low until it reaches your desired thickness.
I do not recommend freezing this dish, as the sauce will separate as it thaws, leading to a gritty texture.
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
Store leftover chicken and noodles in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a pot set over medium-low heat, or in the microwave in 30-second increments until warmed through. I do not recommend freezing this dish.
Serving Suggestions
These cafeteria noodles are a complete meal all on their own, but they’re also great served with a green goddess salad or spinach bacon salad. A side of roasted Brussels sprouts, air fryer broccoli, or creamed green beans would also be delicious. And if you really want to put the comfort in comfort food, serve it with a side of creamy mashed potatoes.
Chicken and Noodles Recipe
Email This Recipe
Enter your email and we’ll send the recipe directly to you!
Ingredients
- 32 ounces unsalted chicken broth (1 tetra-pak)
- 2 teaspoons Better than Bouillon Roasted Chicken Base
- 12 ounces egg noodles (1 package)
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 cups cooked and shredded chicken
- 10.5 ounces condensed cream of chicken soup (1 can)
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (½ stick)
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- Bring the chicken broth and better than bouillon to a boil over high heat in a large pot or Dutch oven.32 ounces unsalted chicken broth, 2 teaspoons Better than Bouillon Roasted Chicken Base
- Add in the noodles and pepper. Cover the pot and reduce the heat to a simmer. Allow the mixture to cook for 5 minutes.12 ounces egg noodles, 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- Stir the chicken, cream of chicken soup, and peas into the noodles. Cover and cook for an additional 5 minutes.2 cups cooked and shredded chicken, 10.5 ounces condensed cream of chicken soup, 1 cup frozen peas
- Mix in the butter and enjoy.4 tablespoons unsalted butter
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Becky’s tips
- You can use any short pasta shape you like; simply adjust the cook time according to the package.
- Easily make this recipe gluten-free by using gluten-free pasta and gluten-free condensed cream of chicken soup.
- To save time, you can use a store-bought rotisserie chicken.
- For a vegetarian version, use unsalted vegetable broth, Better than Bouillon Seasoned Vegetable Base, and condensed cream of mushroom soup or cream of celery soup. Leave out the chicken, or swap in some roasted mushrooms.
- Feel free to add more veggies, like frozen carrots or corn, to make this healthier.
Nutrition Information
I dint have better than bouillon…what could substitute for it?
Hi Nancy, any kind of bouillon will work. 1 teaspoon is equal to 1 traditional bouillon cube!
Delicious and so so easy! I added extra chicken and 3 cups of peas instead of 1, and my kids gobbled it down asking for seconds and thirds!
This was delicious! Fast and easy. Comfort food at it’s finest!