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Copycat Panera Bread Chicken Noodle Soup

Copycat Panera Bread chicken noodle soup with a clear, richly seasoned golden broth and perfectly al dente egg noodles. Tender chicken, diced carrot and celery, and a well-balanced herb blend come together in one pot.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 560
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken and vegetables
  • 1.5 lb chicken breast Cut into 1-inch pieces.
  • 3 carrots Dice into 1/2-inch pieces.
  • 3 celery Slice the stalks.
  • 0.5 onion Dice small.
  • 3 garlic Minced.
Broth and seasonings
  • 8 cup high-quality chicken broth
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 0.5 tsp dried rosemary
  • 0.5 tsp poultry seasoning
Noodles and finishing
  • 8 oz egg noodles Break into shorter pieces.
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley Chopped.
  • salt To taste.
  • pepper To taste.

Equipment

  • 1 Dutch oven

Method
 

Sauté the aromatics
  1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat, then sauté onion, carrots, and celery for 5 minutes until softened and glossy.
Build the broth
  1. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, then stir in chicken broth, thyme, rosemary, and poultry seasoning.
  2. Bring the soup to a boil, then add diced chicken and reduce to a gentle simmer, cooking for 12 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and no longer pink.
Cook the noodles and finish
  1. Add egg noodles and cook for exactly 6-7 minutes until just al dente with a tender bite.
  2. Stir in fresh parsley, then season generously with salt and pepper to taste so the broth stays clear and well balanced.

Notes

For Panera-style clarity, keep the simmer gentle after the boil so the broth stays clean-looking. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 4 days; the noodles will soften as they sit, so reheat gently and consider adding a splash of broth. Freezing is not ideal because egg noodles can turn mushy after thawing. If you want a lighter option, swap half the oil for an additional ladle of broth and use low-sodium chicken broth, then adjust seasoning at the end.