Vegan Chicken Noodle Soup (15 Minutes!)

This vegan chicken noodle soup is warm, comforting and ready in just 15 minutes! It’s packed with delicious noodles, carrots, celery and peas in a flavourful herby broth, with the option to add vegan chicken or tofu for extra protein.

One of my favourite things about this plant-based chicken noodle soup is that you don’t even need vegetable broth. Sautéing the vegetables with thyme and rosemary before adding the water creates plenty of flavour while keeping the recipe incredibly simple.

I also cook the noodles separately and add them to each bowl when serving. It takes hardly any extra effort and means the noodles stay perfectly cooked instead of becoming soft and soggy, especially if you’re saving leftovers.

This vegan chicken noodle soup recipe is one of the best Vegan Recipes For Kids as children love slurping the noodles and there are only a few veggies so they aren’t scared away. I’ve also got a wonderful Vegan Cabbage Soup if you fancy trying something a little different.

Why You’ll Love This Vegan Chicken Noodle Soup

• Ready in just 15 minutes. It’s a genuinely quick soup for busy weeknights or whenever you want something warm and comforting.
• No vegetable broth required. The vegetables, herbs and seasonings create plenty of flavour using simple water as the base.
• No soggy noodles. Cooking the pasta separately means the noodles stay perfectly cooked, even when you’re saving leftovers.c this is what makes this chicken noodle soup without chicken so good.
• Easy to customise. Add vegan chicken, tofu or simply leave them out and enjoy the vegetables and noodles on their own.

Essential Ingredients for Vegan Chicken Noodle Soup

• Pasta. Your choice! Almost anything works here, and we’ll talk more about noodle options below.
• Vegetables. The best part of this recipe is all the healthy veggies! I use carrots, celery, onions, and peas.
• Herbs and Seasonings. There’s no need for store-bought broth. The sautéed vegetables and seasonings flavour the water as the soup cooks.
• Vegan Chicken or Tofu. Both are optional. Use your favourite vegan chicken, tofu cubes or simply leave them out.

What Vegan Chicken Should I Use?

You can make this vegan chicken noodle soup with vegan chicken, tofu or no meat substitute at all, depending on what you prefer.

Vegan chicken: I recommend Gardein chicken from the freezer section or Tofurky chicken. Sauté the pieces with the vegetables before adding the water so they pick up plenty of flavour.

Tofu: Cut the tofu into small cubes and sauté them in the bottom of the pot before adding the water.

No chicken: Don’t have either? Simply leave it out. The vegetables, noodles, herbs and seasonings still create a flavourful and comforting soup on their own.

The Best Noodles For Vegan Chicken Noodle Soup

No lie, you can use WHATEVER noodles you want. there really is no best noodles it is whatever works for you.

I love making this vegan noodle soup recipe with long pasta noodles, springs, bow ties, large shells, and more! Basically whatever pasta you want to make goes wonderfully with this recipe.

I prefer to cook the noodles separately rather than directly in the soup. This keeps them from becoming soggy and means everyone can add as much or as little pasta to their bowl as they like.

It also makes storing leftovers much better because the noodles won’t sit in the broth and continue soaking it up

Step-by-Step: How to Make Vegan Chicken Noodle Soup

Making this chicken noodle soup vegan is sinfully easy and takes no more than 15 minutes!

Cook the noodles

Cook your pasta in a separate pot according to the package instructions. Salt the cooking water well, then drain the noodles and set them aside.

Cooking the pasta separately prevents it from becoming soggy or soaking up all that delicious broth, especially if you have leftovers.

Sauté the vegetables

Heat a little oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion, carrots and celery and sauté for about 5 minutes, or until they begin to soften.

If you’re using vegan chicken or tofu, add it at this stage and sauté it with the vegetables.

Add the seasonings

Add the peas, thyme, rosemary, salt, pepper and optional seasoning salt. Stir everything together so the vegetables are well coated in the herbs and seasonings.

This is an important step because seasoning the vegetables before adding the water helps build the flavour of the broth.

Simmer

Add the water and bay leaf, then simmer over medium-high heat for 5–10 minutes to allow the flavours to come together.

Taste the broth and adjust the salt, pepper or herbs if needed.

Serve

Add the cooked noodles to individual bowls, then ladle the hot vegetables and broth over the top.

Serve immediately with crackers or crusty bread for dipping.

Serving Suggestions for Vegan Chicken Noodle Soup

This soup is perfect on its own, but you can serve it with crusty bread, vegan biscuits, or a fresh side salad. For extra protein, stir in cooked chickpeas or lentils before serving.

How to Store and Reheat Vegan Chicken Noodle Soup

For the best texture, store the soup and cooked noodles separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator. This prevents the pasta from soaking up the broth and becoming soft or soggy.

When you’re ready to eat, reheat the soup gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, then add the cooked noodles just before serving.

The soup can also be frozen without the noodles. Store the cooled soup in a freezer-safe container, then thaw before reheating and serve with freshly cooked pasta.

It will last in the fridge for about a week and the freezer for 2-3 months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use vegetable broth instead of water is this vegan chicken noodle soup recipe?

Yes. This recipe uses water because the sautéed vegetables, herbs and seasonings create plenty of flavour, but you can use vegetable broth instead if you prefer.

How do I stop the noodles from getting soggy?

Cook the noodles separately and add them to each bowl just before serving. This also makes storing leftovers easier because the pasta doesn’t sit in the broth and continue absorbing liquid.

Do I have to use vegan chicken?

No. The recipe works with vegan chicken, tofu or neither. If you leave it out, you’ll still have a flavourful soup made with vegetables, herbs and noodles.

What noodles are best for vegan chicken noodle soup?

There’s no single best type. Long noodles, spirals, bow ties and shells all work, so use your favourite pasta or whatever you already have on hand.

This vegan chicken noodle soup is one of those simple, comforting recipes that’s perfect when you want something warm without spending hours in the kitchen. With tender vegetables, noodles and plenty of herby flavour, it’s hard to believe it comes together in just 15 minutes.

If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and star rating below, and let me know whether you made yours with vegan chicken, tofu or just the veggies.