Sick Day Chicken Noodle Soup

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.