4 Best Chicken For Chicken Noodle Soup: What Part Of Chicken Is Best For Noodle Soups?

There is nothing better than a warm and hearty bowl of chicken noodle soup.

It is the perfect way to soothe your stomach and your soul on a cold day or when you are feeling under the weather.

But do you know what kind of chicken to use in your noodle soup? Today, we are going to review some of the best cuts of chicken that are great for chicken noodle soups.

How to choose chicken for chicken noodle soups?

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The key to making a good chicken noodle soup mainly relies on the chicken you use in the recipe.

Instead of using store-bought chicken broth or granules, cooking with fresh chicken is much better.

However, not any cut of chicken can work great in this dish, that’s why you should refer to our tips below to choose the best chicken for chicken noodle soups:

1.     Choose a bone-in, skin-on cut of chicken for more flavor

Although many people prefer a boneless cut of chicken because it is easier to handle, in this case, a bone-in, skin-on cut of chicken will be a better option.

The reason is that with the bones and skin intact, the chicken will release more flavor and texture to the soup.

2.     Buy organic chicken if possible

You should also buy organic chicken instead of factory-raised chicken to make chicken noodle soup.

In most fast-food chains in the world, the regular commercial chicken is used for breading and deep-frying recipes because the crispy crust and strong flavor from the batter can cover the real texture and flavor of the chicken.

On the other hand, a chicken noodle soup is obviously different if it is made from organic chicken.

The flavor is sweeter and more fragrant while the texture of the chicken meat is firmer.

Chicken is often boiled in this recipe.

After that, the bones are removed from the meat and kept simmering to result in a flavorful broth.

Boiled chicken meat should be left at room temperature and when served with the soup, you can feel the crunchiness of the skin if it is made from organic chicken.

This kind of chicken is often pricier, but it is definitely worth the price.

3.     Buy a whole chicken to save money

Another tip to have chicken for a noodle soup recipe is to buy a whole chicken to save money.

A whole chicken is always cheaper per pound, and it also produces a sweeter taste.

You can use the meat from some cuts of the chicken, meanwhile, the rest can be used for other dishes like salads, burgers, or tacos.

Best chicken for chicken noodle soups

There are not too many cuts of chicken due to the small size of this poultry.

In general, a white meat cut or dark meat cut can both work in a chicken noodle soup.

Let’s see what cuts of chicken work great in this noodle soup:

1.     Chicken thighs

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Chicken thighs are a classic cut of chicken for making chicken noodle soups.

This cut is affordable, juicy, and very flavorful.

Chicken thighs are considered dark meat chicken, which means it is higher in fat but this is also the reason why chicken thighs taste much better than white meat chicken like chicken breast.

Remember to use bone-in and skin-on chicken thighs so that your noodle soup will taste much better.

2.     Chicken drumsticks

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Chicken drumsticks are quite similar to chicken thighs.

They are two parts of chicken legs that can be sold separately.

Chicken drumsticks are also dark meat chicken with a more flavorful taste and firm texture.

This cut is also economical and easy to remove the meat from the bones.

3.     Chicken breast

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If you are looking for a healthier diet and want to cut down the fat intake, you can use chicken breast to make chicken noodle soups.

However, remember to opt for a bone-in, skin-on chicken breast instead of buying the more common boneless, skinless version.

Chicken breast is white meat chicken that contains very little fat.

It is the leanest cut of chicken, that’s why the taste is quite bland.

Therefore, to have a flavorful broth for your chicken noodle soup, it is essential to purchasing a bone-in, skin-on chicken breast.

4.     A whole chicken

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As already mentioned, you can buy a whole chicken as an economical way to enjoy a chicken noodle soup, especially if you are living in a big family.

Instead of buying several chicken thighs or breasts, buying a whole chicken is definitely more affordable.

Boiling the whole chicken will also result in a more flavorful soup.

After that, you can pull the meat from the whole chicken and mix it well.

By doing this, each serving of noodle soups will contain both white meat and dark meat chicken.

The bottom line

It is no secret that chicken noodle soup is a perfect dish to enjoy on cold days.

There are different cuts of chicken that can make the best broth for the soup as well as provide some meaty mouthfeel while enjoying this dish.

In fact, the most common and favorite cut for this dish is a skin-on chicken thigh.

However, depending on your preference, you can choose between white meat chicken or dark meat chicken when it comes to a chicken noodle soup.