Can I make this soup and store it in the fridge?

Absolutely, and that’s the beauty of it! Who wants to cook when they’re feeling sick? This soup can be prepared 4 to 5 days in advance, so at the first signs of fatigue, you can whip up a batch of soup and store it in an airtight container in the fridge. Then, begin to portion it out for various meals and reheat it in the microwave on Medium for about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.

What should I serve with Sick-Day Chicken Soup?

Depending on how you're feeling or how your loved one feels, you could pair it with a side of plain crackers or Crackers with Peanut Butter . Alternatively, you might want something more substantial, like a grilled cheese sandwich. Some of our favorite grilled cheese recipes include 5-Ingredient Brie and Blackberry Jam Grilled Cheese and Spanakopita Grilled Cheese Sandwiches .

Sick Day Chicken Noodle Soup

Name: Sick Day Chicken Noodle Soup
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon avocado oil; 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into ½-inch pieces; 1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic; 2 teaspoons chopped fresh ginger; 1 tablespoon white miso; ½ teaspoon salt; 8 cups unsalted chicken broth; 3 cups whole-wheat egg noodles (6 ounces); 1 cup mixed frozen vegetables; 2 tablespoons thinly sliced scallions; ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper

Active Time:

20 mins

Total Time:

20 mins

Servings:

4

Nutrition Profile:

No Added Sugar Mediterranean Diet Sesame-Free Weight Loss Nut-Free Dairy-Free High-Protein

When you’re sick, fewer things are more comforting than a warm bowl of Chicken Noodle Soup. What makes this soup such a staple for sick days? It’s an excellent source of hydration and electrolytes from the broth and the veggies, and the nutrients in ginger may help calm any stomach upset. The fiber in the whole-wheat noodles and veggies will keep your digestive system moving, and the protein-rich chicken is great for your immune system. The best part? It all comes together in just 20 minutes. Keep reading for our expert tips for smart additions and substitutions to consider when making this soup.

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too!

Instead of egg noodles, you can use farfalle or any favorite pasta you have on hand.
Use store-bought rotisserie chicken to shorten the cooking time.

Nutrition Notes

Chicken breasts are an excellent source of protein—essential for making antibodies and maintaining a healthy immune response. Chicken also contains a nutrient called carnosine, which may help lower inflammation associated with an illness. All of that protein can also help maintain muscle mass after a natural break from exercise, which can happen when recovering from a cold.
Ginger is a root that belongs to the same family as turmeric. Ginger can help relieve nasal symptoms and nausea and soothe the digestive system. It also has antioxidants to help reduce any illness-related inflammation.
Chicken broth can help you stay hydrated—which is important for maintaining good body temperature, flushing out waste and helping to circulate all of the beneficial nutrients throughout the body. This recipe calls for unsalted chicken broth, but if you have reduced-sodium or regular chicken broth on hand, feel free to use that. Sodium is an important electrolyte that you may need if your illness causes symptoms like a runny nose, excess sweating or a poor appetite.

Whole-wheat egg noodles are a source of fiber in this recipe. When you have a cold, or any illness that zaps your energy, it’s hard to keep moving, and this can slow down your digestive system. Keeping a healthy amount of fiber in the diet, along with proper hydration, can help prevent digestive discomfort.

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Ingredients

1 tablespoon avocado oil
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into ½-inch pieces
1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic
2 teaspoons chopped fresh ginger
1 tablespoon white miso
½ teaspoon salt
8 cups unsalted chicken broth
3 cups whole-wheat egg noodles (6 ounces)
1 cup mixed frozen vegetables
2 tablespoons thinly sliced scallions
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper

Directions

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add chicken pieces; cook, stirring often, until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon garlic and 2 teaspoons ginger; cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell
Add 1 tablespoon miso and ½ teaspoon salt; stir to coat. Stir in 8 cups broth; bring to a boil over high heat. Add 3 cups noodles and 1 cup frozen vegetables; return to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium to maintain simmer; cook, stirring occasionally, until the noodles are tender and the chicken is cooked through, about 8 minutes. Stir in 2 tablespoons scallions and ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper.

Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell

Nutrition Information

Serving Size: 2 cups

Calories 338, Fat 7g, Saturated Fat 1g, Cholesterol 83mg, Carbohydrates 31g, Total Sugars 3g, Added Sugars 0g, Protein 33g, Fiber 4g, Sodium 735mg, Potassium 488mg

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this soup and store it in the fridge?

Absolutely, and that’s the beauty of it! Who wants to cook when they’re feeling sick? This soup can be prepared 4 to 5 days in advance, so at the first signs of fatigue, you can whip up a batch of soup and store it in an airtight container in the fridge. Then, begin to portion it out for various meals and reheat it in the microwave on Medium for about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
What should I serve with Sick-Day Chicken Soup?

Depending on how you're feeling or how your loved one feels, you could pair it with a side of plain crackers or Crackers with Peanut Butter. Alternatively, you might want something more substantial, like a grilled cheese sandwich. Some of our favorite grilled cheese recipes include 5-Ingredient Brie and Blackberry Jam Grilled Cheese and Spanakopita Grilled Cheese Sandwiches.

EatingWell.com, December 2024

Additional reporting by

Sarah Pflugradt, Ph.D., RDN, CSCS

and

Linda Frahm