Description
This Crack Chicken Noodle Soup recipe is a hearty and comforting meal featuring crispy bacon, tender chicken, creamy cheese, and delicate angel hair pasta simmered together in a flavorful ranch-seasoned broth. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner that the whole family will love.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Dairy
- 12 ounces bacon (cut into small pieces)
- 4 cups chicken (cooked, shredded)
- 8 ounces cream cheese (softened, cubed)
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese (shredded, plus extra for garnish)
- 1 cup milk
Vegetables
- ½ medium sweet onion (diced small)
- 3 stalks celery (diced small)
- 2 carrots (peeled, diced small)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- parsley (for garnish)
Pantry Items
- 1 ounce ranch seasoning (1 packet)
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 10.5 oz cream of chicken soup (condensed)
- 8 ounces angel hair pasta (broken in 2–3 pieces)
Instructions
- Cook the bacon: In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the bacon pieces until crispy and the fat has rendered out. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain; set aside.
- Sauté vegetables: Using the bacon fat in the pot, add the diced onions, celery, and carrots. Cook for a few minutes until the vegetables begin to soften.
- Add garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Season veggies: Sprinkle the ranch seasoning over the vegetables and stir well to coat evenly.
- Deglaze the pot: Pour in the chicken broth, stirring to loosen any browned bits from the bottom of the pot for extra flavor.
- Add soups and dairy: Incorporate the condensed cream of chicken soup, shredded cooked chicken, milk, and softened cream cheese into the pot. Stir thoroughly to combine and help the cream cheese melt smoothly into the soup base.
- Bring to a boil: Increase the heat and bring the soup mixture to a rolling boil.
- Simmer: Reduce heat to low and let the soup simmer gently for 15 minutes to develop flavors.
- Cook noodles and cheese: Stir in the broken angel hair pasta and shredded cheddar cheese (reserve some cheese for garnish). Continue to cook for about 5 minutes or until the noodles are tender.
- Finish with bacon: Remove the soup from heat and stir in the crispy bacon pieces, keeping some bacon aside for garnish.
- Season and serve: Taste the soup and adjust with salt and pepper if needed. Serve the soup warm, garnished with reserved bacon, shredded cheddar cheese, and fresh parsley.
Notes
- You can substitute angel hair pasta with other thin pasta such as vermicelli or small egg noodles.
- If you prefer a thicker soup, let it simmer a few minutes longer uncovered to reduce slightly.
- For a lower fat version, use reduced-fat cream cheese and milk.
- Make sure to stir frequently after adding noodles to prevent them from sticking to the pot.
- Leftovers store well refrigerated for up to 3 days and can be reheated gently on the stovetop.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Crack Chicken Noodle Soup, bacon soup, creamy chicken soup, easy chicken noodle soup, ranch seasoning soup
