Chicken noodle soup is one of the most timeless soups in the world. If you’re feeling under the weather or just need a bowl of comfort during a cold day, nothing beats a steaming hot bowl of soup that’s rich in proteins and other important nutrients. The recipe for the best chicken noodle soup can be passed down through generations, but sometimes a premade product can be just as good if you find the right one!
The best remedy for a cold is rest and recovery, yet many people will still try to “power through” their symptoms. In a survey of 2,005 respondents conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Mucinex, 1 in 4 Americans say they prefer to “power through” common symptoms of illness, with coughing (58%), stuffy noses (57%), and sore throats (55%) coming out as the symptoms least likely to make a person alter their day. The survey also found the top reasons they power through are being able to ignore the symptoms (46%), being afraid of repercussions at work or school (43%), and feeling like they have no other choice (41%). The next time you’re feeling under the weather, it might be a better idea to take the day off and curl up with a bowl of soup!
Chicken soup may not be a magical cure-all for every time you feel ill, but this comfrting dish has been around for centuries. The earliest recorded mention of chicken soup was made by Dioscorides, who was an Army surgeon general in Rome. A study conducted in 2000 even found that chicken soup may help relieve inflammation – when chicken is cooked it releases an amino acid resembling properties in medicine used to fight infections such as bronchitis.
If you’re interested in stocking your pantry with the best chicken noodle soup ready to go for the next time you’re sick, we’ve done the research and selected the five best chicken noodle canned soups. Our list is based on the top recommendations across ten expert websites. Is your favorite on the list? Let us know in the comments below!
The List: Best Chicken Noodle Soups, According to Food Experts
1. Annie’s Organic Chicken Noodle Soup
Pure Wow rates Annie’s a 91 out of 100. This brand is great for kids or pick eaters. “When it comes to store-bought soup for the kids, lean on this beloved bunny-bearing brand. Each can is packed with lots of soft pasta (aka your picky eater’s favorite part) and easy-to-chew, bite-size pieces of chicken. The broth and meat were a tad on the bland side, but that’s part of what makes it such a safe bet for little ones.”
“This organic brand was a dark horse in the race. Normally known for its snacks and mac and cheese, Annie’s surprised our team with a really great and uniquely-flavored chicken noodle soup, landing it a spot in our top three,” remarked reviewers at Eat This. One taste-tester said they “loved the savory taste in this soup—the blend of spices was very pleasant,” and added they “would eat a whole bowl of this and feel comfortably full.”
“Organic Annie’s brand soup faered better than most in our soup test. This canned chicken soup got rave reviews for its seasoning and the quality of the chicken inside. Testers picked up a fair amount of oregano along with sage and thyme—all great herbs to pair with chicken. This soup was a bit on the thin side, however, making it better as an accompaniment than the star of a quick meal,” Taste of Home writes.
2. Healthy Choice Chicken Noodle Soup
Mashed ranks this brand in second place and says, “Healthy Choice only managed to squeeze one soup onto our list. The brand’s traditional soups really aren’t anything to write home about and, if you want a diet-friendly soup, you’d do best to look toward Campbell’s or Progresso. However, when it comes to Healthy Choice’s Chicken Noodle Soup with Bone Broth, the brand has a clear winner on its hands. Bone broth has been trendy for a few years now, touted for its health benefits and undeniably rich and tasty flavor. Typically, though, bone broth isn’t exactly cheap (at least not compared to traditional broth) and making it yourself at home can be both messy and smelly. So, if you can find a canned chicken noodle soup with a bone broth base that’s both budget-friendly and delicious, you jump on it — and that’s exactly what Healthy Choice is offering.”
Canned chicken noodle soup can often be full of extra sodium and additives, but Healthy Choice beats the others in nutritional value. “Some other soups on our list may be slightly lower in calories per serving than Healthy Choice’s offering, but this one is significantly lower in sodium than them all. It’s also low in fat and boasts solid amounts of protein and potassium (7 grams and 15 percent of your daily recommended, respectively), along with 1 gram of fiber per serving,” writes PureWow.
“Made with bone broth, this broth had a richer flavor than most of the soups we sampled. It also had the best chicken from a consistency factor. There was plenty of chicken, carrots and celery, as well as noodles. Slightly bland in the herb department, but the natural ingredients make this a good one when you are feeling under the weather or want some warmth in a bowl,” says Cleveland.
3. Campbell’s Chunky Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup
Prefer creamier, hearty soups? Campbell’s Chunky Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup fits the bill. “If you find the Campbell’s Chunky Classic Chicken Noodle and the Progresso Chicken Noodle soups to be a bit thin and watery for your taste, we have the soup for you: Campbell’s Chunky Creamy Chicken Noodle,” raves Mashed. “The brand calls it the ‘pinnacle of soul-warming comfort food‘ and while that might be a stretch, it’s certainly no lie that this soup is thick and hearty. The first two ingredients for this soup are chicken stock and real cream, so you can rest assured you’re not just chowing down on some mystery dried-dairy concoction.”
“This isn’t a traditional chicken noodle soup, and I actually don’t know if it qualifies as a chicken noodle soup because it’s creamy. But, hey, the label says chicken noodle, so we have to judge it as such,” remarks a reviewer at Sporked. “It’s quite good and kind of reminds me of the inside of a chicken pot pie, or a clam chowder if you replaced the clams with chicken. It gets by completely on its creaminess, but that’s okay. Just don’t buy this expecting anything brothy.”
You won’t lack either flavor or nutrients when it comes to this version. “This soul-soothing soup from Campbell’s is just the antidote for a long, exhausting day. It’s made with broth that’s extra thick and doubly comforting, thanks to a dash of cream. The soup—loaded with carrots, chicken, celery and egg noodles—boasts 15 grams of protein per can (although that’s technically two servings). The broth texture is just as creamy as you’d hope, sort of like a chowder,” states Yahoo.
4. Progresso Rich & Hearty Chicken & Homestyle Noodle
Austin American Statesman puts Progresso third on their list and explains, “this convenience food lives up to Campbell’s marketing slogan: ‘M’mm good.’ This thicker soup was seasoned well and had plenty of chicken cubes and pieces of carrots, onions and celery. The noodles are spiral and brought a nice texture. Definitely a good choice when looking for an easy lunch or snack. The container is also microwavable.”
If you prefer a more traditional broth full of hearty chicken and veggies, Progresso hits the spot. “Progresso manages to capture all the nostalgia of chicken noodle soup in one can. Plus, this is from the Rich & Hearty soup line, which means it has even more noodles, chicken, and veggies than the traditional can,” writes Mashed. “The all-white meat chicken junks are super tender and juicy, and the veggies have a lovely soft texture thanks to them soaking in the flavorful broth. There may not be any unique flavor profiles happening here, but it does exactly what you want chicken noodle soup to do.”
“Overall, this was our favorite chicken noodle soup in a can. The taste was classic and we liked the ratio of chicken to veggies and noodles. We were able to get a chicken, vegetable and noodle in every bite. This version also had seasoned chicken and broth that brought out a bolder flavor in this variety than others,” comments Food Network.
5. Campbell’s Well Yes! Chicken Noodle Soup
Mashed ranks this one at the top of their list and adds, “the soup does include an admirable amount of minerals, nutrients, and vitamins that you’ll be hard-pressed to find in most chicken noodle soups in any sort of notable amount, including Vitamin A, potassium, iron, protein, and fiber. So, for a delicious, traditional-yet-modern, hearty, comforting bowl of chicken noodle soup, look to Campbell’s Well Yes! Chicken Noodle.”
Looking for an all-around healthy version? “Campbell’s launched the Well Yes! line of soups in 2016, promoting their real ingredients and no artificial flavors. Well Yes! Chicken Noodle Soup lists lean antibiotic-free chicken, white beans and egg noodles made from quinoa flour among its ingredients,” says HuffPost. “The Well Yes! version is higher in protein and lower in sodium, but is still considered high-sodium with 28% of the daily value in half the can.”
“Don’t pass up this soup on your grocer’s shelf. This chicken soup is unique. The broth had a deep rich flavor, and a vegetable blend no other soup offered. There’s the standard carrots, onions and celery, but added to that are white beans and small dices of tomatoes, which add a deeper dimension to the flavor. The noodles were not as thick, but remained firm, bringing a nice texture to every bite. This soup will quickly become a new favorite at your house,” Cleveland concludes.
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Sources:
- Eat This
- PureWow
- Mashed
- Cleveland
- Austin American Statesman
- Sporked
- Taste of Home
- Yahoo
- Food Network
- HuffPost
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations. This post may contain affiliate links.
