Old Fashioned Chicken and Noodles is a classic Midwestern comfort food made with tender chicken, egg noodles, and a rich homemade broth. This old-fashioned recipe is simple, hearty, and perfect for family dinners.
This post was originally published in April 2016. It was updated in June 2026 with clearer instructions, helpful ingredient notes, updated FAQs, and fresh photos.
Jump to:
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Feature Comment
- Is Chicken and Noodles the Same as Chicken Noodle Soup?
- What Kind of Chicken Is Used in Old Fashioned Chicken and Noodles?
- Ingredient Notes
- Can You Add Vegetables to Chicken and Noodles?
- How to Make Old Fashioned Chicken and Noodles Faster
- Storage and Reheating
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Try These Other Comfort Food Recipes Next!
- Old Fashioned Chicken and Noodles
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It’s budget-friendly, especially if you make it with homemade noodles. Even with store-bought noodles it’s still an affordable meal that stretches far.
- This is the kind of dish the whole family will love—kids, adults, and even picky eaters. It’s classic comfort food that never goes out of style.
- Plus, this recipe makes a big batch, perfect for feeding a crowd or ensuring you have leftovers for lunch or another easy dinner later in the week.
I usually serve this with mashed potatoes (total carb overload, but so good!) and corn to make it a complete meal. If you’re looking for a classic and comforting diner style meal, this combo never disappoints!
If you ask me, Chicken and Noodles is the ultimate comfort food. Whenever I make it, the kitchen smells amazing for hours and everyone seems to wander into the kitchen asking when dinner will be ready. It’s especially good on a cold Kansas day, but we even make it in the summer for Lee’s birthday.
Feature Comment
From Malisa: “Though I’ve been cooking for 40 years, for some reason I never thought about making my own egg noodles. I did today for this recipe, and made my own broth. Thank you for everything!! Everyone loves.”
Is Chicken and Noodles the Same as Chicken Noodle Soup?
No. Old Fashioned Chicken and Noodles is thicker and heartier than chicken noodle soup. Traditional chicken and noodles is made with chicken, egg noodles, and a rich broth that cooks down into a comforting dish rather than a soup.
For the best texture, I like homemade egg noodles, but frozen egg noodles or store-bought wide egg noodles work well too. If you’d like to make your own, try my Easy Homemade Egg Noodles recipe.
What Kind of Chicken Is Used in Old Fashioned Chicken and Noodles?
Traditionally, old fashioned chicken and noodles is made with a whole chicken simmered in water to create a rich homemade broth. While boneless chicken breasts or rotisserie chicken can be used as shortcuts, a whole chicken provides the most flavor.
Ingredient Notes
See recipe card for exact amounts.
- Chicken: One whole chicken between 3–5 pounds works best. We make our own homemade broth when cooking the chicken. See the instructions below for how to make this with chunks of uncooked chicken or rotisserie chicken, and store bought broth.
- Noodles: I use my homemade noodles for this, but a package of frozen egg noodles works great too.
- Flour: Helps thicken the base of the dish.
- Canola Oil: Combined with the flour, this makes the roux that starts the sauce.
- Milk: Just a bit of milk adds the creaminess that this old-fashioned dish is known for.
- Seasoning: It’s seasoned simply with salt and pepper, that’s all it needs!
Can You Add Vegetables to Chicken and Noodles?
If you want the broth to be heartier and more like chicken stock, you can add celery, carrots, and onion while the chicken cooks. Remove them before finishing the dish.
Traditional old fashioned chicken and noodles is usually made with just chicken and noodles. If you prefer vegetables in the finished dish, you may enjoy a homemade chicken noodle soup recipe instead.
How to Make Old Fashioned Chicken and Noodles Faster
I usually make this recipe with a whole chicken, which gives you a delicious homemade chicken broth, and I pair it with homemade noodles. This method takes about 4 hours from start to finish. But if you’re short on time, there are a couple of shortcuts you can use to get it on the table much faster.
There are a few ways to make a quicker version:
- To use chicken breasts (cut into bite-sized pieces), cook about 2 pounds of chicken in the oil first. Then add the flour, let it cook for a minute or two, pour in 6 cups of chicken broth, the milk, and add the noodles. Cook until the noodles are tender.
- To use a rotisserie chicken, heat the oil in the pot, add the flour, and cook it for a minute or two. Then add 6 cups of broth, the milk, the noodles, and 3 to 4 cups of cooked, shredded chicken. Simmer until the noodles are tender.
- To save even more time, swap the homemade noodles for frozen noodles like Reames—they’re a great alternative when you’re in a hurry.
Using these shortcuts brings the cooking time down to under an hour. I’ll admit it’s not quite as good as the fully homemade version, but I’ve made it this way plenty of times and it’s still very good!
Storage and Reheating
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- Reheat in the microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring each time, until heated through. It can also be reheated on the stove top in a skillet or saucepan over medium heat, adding a splash of broth, milk, or water if it seems too dry. Keep in mind that the noodles will break apart when stirring.
Frequently Asked Questions
Traditional chicken and noodles is made with chicken, egg noodles, broth, and simple seasonings. Some versions include a small amount of milk or cream for richness, while others are made with only broth.
We usually serve chicken and noodles with mashed potatoes and corn. Other good options include green beans, rolls, or a simple side salad.
Yes! Chicken and noodles freeze well. Let it cool completely, then store in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat on the stove with a splash of broth or water to loosen it up.
Try These Other Comfort Food Recipes Next!
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Old Fashioned Chicken and Noodles
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken 3 to 5 pounds
- ¼ cup canola or vegetable oil
- ¼ cup flour
- 1 cup milk
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- egg noodles (1 package of Reames or homemade)
Instructions
- Place the chicken in a large pot and cover it with water. I use a Dutch oven and turn the chicken over occasionally so it cooks evenly on both sides. Skim the foam off the top as it accumulates. Cook until the chicken is tender and falls off the bone, about 1 ½ to 2 hours.1 whole chicken
- Remove chicken and let it cool enough to handle. Then take the meat off the bones. Strain the broth and set it aside.
- In a Dutch oven over medium heat, warm the oil. When it’s hot, whisk in the flour and cook until bubbly, about 1 minute. Slowly add the broth, whisking until the oil and flour mixture is fully dissolved, then stir in the milk, salt and pepper.¼ cup canola or vegetable oil, ¼ cup flour, 1 cup milk, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper
- Bring it to a boil, add the noodles and stir, then add the chicken back in; reduce the heat to a simmer. If using homemade noodles, cook for about 20–30 minutes, stirring occasionally, depending on how thick you’ve made them. If using Reames noodles, cook according to the package directions.egg noodles (1 package of Reames or homemade)
Though I’ve been cooking for 40 years, for some reason I never thought about making my own egg noodles. I did today for this recipe, and made my own broth. Thank you for everything!! Everyone loves.
You’re welcome, I’m so glad you all love it!
Reminds me of my mom’s recipe ❤️
I love that — those are always the best recipes ❤️
This is so good. Reminds me of the chicken & noodles my Mother made — she was the best cook! So tasty & filling
I love the way food brings up fond memories. Thank you for commenting and rating!
The chicken fried steak n gravy is also an excellent comfort food recipe that Mindy has made and shared!
Thanks!