Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup with mini croutons and crispy bacon

Recipe ⬇️⬇️⬇️ or PRINT: https://www.recipetineats.com/creamy-...

Homemade version of cup-a-soup! Except, well, you know. This is made with real chicken and real vegetables, it's much heartier and better for you!

CREAMY CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP with mini croutons and crispy bacon

400g/10oz chicken breast (2 small), cut in half horizontally to form 2 thin steaks
1/4 tsp EACH salt and pepper
Soup:
4 strips streaky bacon (cover base of pot!)
30g / 2 tbsp unsalted butter
1/2 onion, finely diced
2 garlic cloves, finely minced
2 sprigs thyme or 1/2 tsp dried thyme (optional)
2 celery stalks, chopped (~0.5 x 1.2 cm / 1/5 x 1/2" pieces)
1 carrot, chopped (0.5 x 1 cm / 1/5 x 1/2" pieces)
3/4 cup corn kernels (frozen thawed or canned drained) (120g)
4 tbsp flour
3 cups milk, preferably full fat but low fat ok
2 cups low sodium chicken stock/broth
2 cups water
1 tsp cooking salt
1 1/3 cups (100g) short cut angel hair pasta OR angel hair pasta or spaghetti broken into 6 pieces, or small pasta like risoni/orzo, ditalini etc
3/4 cup frozen peas (100g)
1/2 tsp finely chopped parsley, optional
MINI CROUTONS – toss and bake 180°C/3450°F (160°C fan) 10 min or until golden:
1 cup bread (crustless) cut into 7mm / 1/4" cubes - sourdough type is crunchier, regular sandwich bread is fine too
2 tsp olive oil + pinch of cooking salt / kosher salt

1. Put bacon in un-heated pot (no oil) on medium high, cook bacon until golden. Remove, once cool & crisp, chop.
2. Sprinkle chicken with the salt and pepper then cook each side 1 1/2 minutes in the bacon fat. Remove then dice small.
3. Melt butter, cook onion, garlic, celery, carrot and thyme 5 min until carrot is soft (don’t let onion brown). Stir in flour 1 min, then while stirring slowly pour the milk in. Stir in stock, water and salt. Simmer 5 min. Add pasta and corn, cook 5 min, adding chicken and peas halfway through.
4. Ladle into bowls, sprinkle with croutons, bacon and parsley. Eat!

Make-ahead/leftovers: separate noodles from broth (I drain in colander). Fridge 3-4 days, freezer 3 months.