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33 Noodle Soups That'll Put Regular Ol' Chicken Noodle On The (Literal) Back Burner

Chicken noodle is so last year.

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sopa de fideo
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Let it be said: It's high time to dethrone chicken noodle when it comes to winning the #1 spot in the all-time most comforting noodle soup competition year after year. In my eyes, if you just start to flirt with other noodle shapes, different broths, and all kinds of toppings, you'll find that there's bowls upon bowls of cozy, warming soups (like ramen, pho, minestrone and more) you've yet to enjoy. Even if you're just looking for ways to make slight tweaks on your tried-and-true chicken noodle soup recipe, or want to get very adventurous with a project like a beef pho-making marathon, these 33 noodle soup recipes are all a hug in a bowl.

Chances are, you've got more than a few favorite noodle and pastas that deserve the soup treatment. If you're anything like me, that means a stockpile of kitchen MVP gnocchi. What's so special about gnocchi is how it makes an otherwise regular ol' bowl of broth into an event, especially when you're trying to doll up a classic like our French onion gnocchi soup. Think of it this way: If you're wondering what your soup is missing, it's probably gnocchi. Try our recipes for caprese chicken gnocchi soup and chicken marsala gnocchi soup and you'll get the gnocchi love.

Got other noodles on hand? Bust those boxes out! Udon noodles are a dream in our nabeyaki udon, soba adds heft and chew to our soba cod and mushroom soup, and rice noodles are key to our vegan pho and Instant Pot pho recipes. If you've got a bunch of mismatched boxes from pasta nights past (been there!), you can use up those lasagna sheets in our clever lasagna soup, tortellini in a creamy minestrone, and orecchiette in our super savory chickpea noodle soup. Looking for even more soup season recipes? Check out our favorite easy soups and vegetable soups next.

1

Creamy Chicken Marsala Gnocchi Soup

creamy, marsala spiked soup packed with pan fried chicken, sauteed mushrooms, and pillowy gnocchi
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Creamy chicken Marsala and French onion gnocchi soup are already at the top of our easy weeknight dinner list, so it's only right to combine them. The result is a hearty, Marsala-spiked soup packed with pan-fried chicken, sautéed mushrooms, and pillowy gnocchi. The slightly sweet and savory broth is made of cremini mushrooms, aromatics, Marsala wine, and heavy cream, setting the stage for our favorite potato dumpling and plenty of juicy shredded chicken thighs.

Get the Creamy Chicken Marsala Gnocchi Soup recipe.

2

Sopa De Fideo

sopa de fideo
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Sopa de fideo is a low-lift Mexican-style soup consisting of toasted fideo noodles in a base made of pureed tomato, onion, and garlic. If you love chicken noodle or tomato soups, then consider this version as its fabulous cousin. It’s a fragrant and simple soup you can turn to in the winter via canned tomatoes or summer with tomatoes off the vine.

Get the Sopa De Fideo recipe.

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3

Italian Penicillin Soup

italian penicillin soup with acini di pepe egg drop and chicken broth and parmigiano
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

During the cold winter months, soul-healing comfort food is what the doctor ordered, and that's exactly what this cozy noodle soup is. Italian Penicillin soup (also known as Nonna's Penicillin soup) gets its name from how nourishing and comforting every spoonful is. It heals you when your body hurts, eases those winter blues, or comforts you when you’re a little homesick for nonna.

Get the Italian Penicillin Soup recipe.

4

Vegan Pho

vegan pho
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Countless bowls of pho have prepared us to make a satisfying vegan version of this Vietnamese classic, and this recipe and its 30-minute broth has cracked the code. The trick to a super-flavorful vegan pho broth is to toast the whole spices—star anise, cinnamon, and cloves. For umami, we added white miso and dried shiitakes to amp up the savoriness that would otherwise come from fish sauce in traditional pho. All of these ingredients come together with veggie stock and get simmered for just 20 minutes before serving with pho noodles, mushrooms, bok choy, tofu, or any other vegetables you enjoy!

Get the Vegan Pho recipe.

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5

Chicken Noodle Soup

chicken noodle soup with carrots and egg noodles
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Chicken noodle soup is one of the world’s most beloved comfort foods. Chunks of juicy chicken mingle with carrots, celery, and tender egg noodles in a deep, savory broth for a soup that will transport you right back to Grandma’s table after just one spoonful.

Get the Chicken Noodle Soup recipe.

6

Chicken Curry Noodle Soup

noodle soup with chicken and curry paste

Classic chicken noodle soup gets a makeover in this recipe, inspired by a Thai curry noodle soup. The base is enriched with coconut milk and curry paste, which adds more flavor and heat, as well as a rich creaminess to the traditional broth-based soup. This easy soup still fills every role that a chicken noodle soup does: It’s a warm and cozy comfort food that is perfect on a cold snowy night, and is the boost you need when you’re feeling under the weather.

Get the Chicken Curry Noodle Soup recipe.

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7

Creamy Tuscan Chicken Soup

creamy chicken soup with spinach and sun dried tomatoes
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

While a steamy bowl of classic chicken soup will always be a go-to, sometimes a few upgrades are needed to switch up the staple soup. Here, we upgrade the classic with a creamy broth infused with Italian ingredients inspired by Tuscany: pasta, Parmesan, sun-dried tomatoes, kale, and basil. Rich and flavorful, this gorgeous soup serves a crowd, and it’s fit for any occasion.

Get the Creamy Tuscan Chicken Soup recipe.

8

Birria Ramen

birria ramen
Joel Goldberg

We could keep eating the same soups, but why not combine our two favorite winter warmers (ramen and stew), and give them a little warm weather inspiration? While Birria is traditionally a Mexican stew made with chiles and warm spices like cinnamon, it’s been popping up everywhere lately as tacos, and that’s the energy we’re bringing into this dish. We want it to be hearty and comforting, while also full of flavors that remind us of sipping margaritas in the hot summer sun over a plate of Mexican food.

Get the Birria Ramen recipe.

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9

Swedish Meatball Soup

swedish meatball soup with cream beer cheddar cheese
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI ; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

If you love Italian wedding soup, then you’ll appreciate this Swedish-inspired twist on the classic. In it, the broth base is just as important as its meatball counterpart. Spicy mustard for a little back-end punchiness, cream, and melted sharp cheddar cheese give the broth a light richness you'll love.

Get the Swedish Meatball Soup recipe.

10

Creamy Chicken Ramen Soup

ramen chicken noodle soup
ETHAN CALABRESE

When we're in the mood for something that has a bit more flavor than your run of the mill canned soup or packaged ramen, we turn to creamy chicken ramen soup. This recipe packs a flavorful punch and then some! You get some spiciness from the curry powder, a rich creaminess from the coconut milk, and a burst of citrus with a squeeze of lime.

Get the Creamy Chicken Ramen Soup recipe.

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11

Homemade Shoyu Ramen

homemade ramen   delishcom
Parker Feierbach

Braised pork belly, aka a little slice of heaven, is the star in this amazing homemade ramen. Making ramen from scratch is pretty darn elaborate, but we promise your patience will be more than rewarded.

Get the Homemade Shoyu Ramen recipe.

12

French Onion Gnocchi Soup

french onion gnocchi soup
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Forget bread and croutons, we've found an even more delicious way to enjoy French onion soup—by adding gnocchi! Marrying the French classic with the convenience of store-bought gnocchi means you can have the most comforting dinner on the table in just under an hour.

Get the French Onion Gnocchi Soup recipe.

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13

Nabeyaki Udon

nabeyaki udon
ERIK BERNSTEIN

We love dishes high in flavor, low in commitment. And if it comes together in one pot, like this Japanese noodle soup? We're all in!

Get the Nabeyaki Udon recipe.

14

Khao Soi

khao soi
LINDA XIAO

Chef Leah Cohen, who owns the restaurants Pig & Khao and Piggyback in New York City, showcases her recipe for khao soi, a textural Northern Thai noodle soup that layers crispy noodles over soft noodles in a savory curry. Cohen, who appeared on Top Chef season 5, says that khao soi was the first dish on the menu at Pig & Khao, and that 10 years later, it’s still a featured dish that won’t be leaving the menu any time soon.

Get the Khao Soi recipe.

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15

Mini Meatball and Pasta Marinara Soup

mini meatballs and anelletti ring shaped pasta sit inside two bowls of marinara soup
Andrew Bui

This recipe uses store-bought marinara to form the foundation of a delicious pot of soup that has all the pasta and meatballs of Chef Boyardee and more. This recipe is super flexible. Anelletti is the preferred pasta cut here for the ultimate nostalgia factor, but any small cut—like elbows or bowties—will do.

Get the Mini Meatball and Pasta Marinara Soup recipe.

16

Vegan Ramen With Roasted Red Miso Veggies

vegan ramen with roasted red miso veggies
Lucy schaeffer

Great ramen comes in many shapes, sizes, and flavors but is most commonly known as the rich, creamy, porky version. This completely vegan version uses layers of umami-packed flavor to mimic the depth complexity of traditional ramen, and edamame for a protein boost. As a bonus, if you can multitask, it all comes together in about an hour, making this an ideal weeknight go-to.

Get the Vegan Ramen with Roasted Red Miso Veggies recipe.

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17

Creamy Parm Tomato Soup

creamy parm tomato soup with fresh basil
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI

This easy tomato soup is perfect for those chilly fall evenings when you want something a bit more filling (and what better solution than adding pasta?). If you prefer a heartier greens, kale or broccoli rabe can be added 5 minutes after the tortellini!

Get the Creamy Parm Tomato Soup recipe.

18

Red Curry Shrimp & Noodle Soup

red curry soup with shrimp and noodles with avocado slices, cilantro and toppings
PHOTO: DOAA ELKADY; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

If you're looking for a soup that will warm you up in more ways than one, turn to this red curry shrimp and noodle soup. Marinated shrimp and glass noodles are served in a red curry, coconut milk, and mushroom broth topped with bean sprouts, avocado, scallions, and cilantro. No boring, bland flavors here—this recipe is sure to satisfy each of the 5 taste sensations. The broth has the perfect amount of spice, and is sure to keep you warm and cozy all year long.

Get the Red Curry Shrimp & Noodle Soup recipe.

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19

Chicken Curry Laksa with Shrimp

chicken curry laksa with shrimp
Lucy schaeffer

Laksa, the spicy and aromatic coconut curry noodle soup that hails from Malaysia, is one of our favorite ways to get our fill of noodles. Laksa paste is a type of curry paste traditionally found in Southeast Asian cuisine, best known as the flavorful base for the rich and spicy coconut broth soup. Broadly speaking, laksa paste typically contains chilis, nuts, shrimp, lemongrass, and spices. And while it can be made from scratch, we streamlined this version using the prepared kind to make this a weeknight winner.

Get the Chicken Curry Laksa with Shrimp recipe.

20

Beef Noodle Soup

beef noodle soup with beef shank, chili oil, daikon, and scallions
PHOTO: LUCY SHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: SPENCER RICHARDS

Many versions of beef noodle soup exist, all delicious in their own right, though the bowl that has lately stolen our heart is Lanzhou-style, with its signature hand-pulled noodles. Time is the star ingredient: You must set aside 4 hours for the broth to work its magic, or you’ll risk not extracting all of the delicious flavor hiding inside the marrow.

Get the Beef Noodle Soup recipe.

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