This vegetarian chicken noodle soup taste just like the real thing - but it's meatless! If you're looking for a big bowl of comfort food, this recipe will do the trick.
Whenever the weather goes back and forth between cooler days and warm ones, do you ever find yourself getting sick? There's something about this kind of temperature fluctuation that makes people sick.
We've been getting that kind of weather lately, and what can we do? Obviously, there's only one solution: chicken noodle soup.
So how does one go about making vegetarian chicken noodle soup? Well, in the past, We've avoided this question entirely by purchasing Amy's canned no-chicken noodle soup.
But that is cheating, and really nothing beats a home cooked soup.
We adapted this recipe from Tyler Florence's popular Chicken Noodle Soup, because it is awesome. I thought about using seitan in place of the chicken, but went with tofu instead.
A Few Tips
By freezing the tofu first, it gives it a nice chewy texture - don't skip this step! We also reduced the amount of noodles to cut calories a little.
To replace the chicken broth, we used a chickenless chicken broth-- you can find these at most natural food stores. (Oh, and if you want to make vegan chicken noodle soup, use noodles that aren't made with eggs. Like these rice noodles!)
If you prefer a homemade broth, try your hand at making your own vegetable broth from kitchen scraps. So tasty and easy!
Clearly tofu is not chicken, but the texture comes pretty close to the chicken bits in canned soup. This might not be chicken noodle soup that your grandma makes it, but it's pretty darn close.
More Tasty Recipes
If you love this vegetarian chicken noodle soup, be sure to check out these other delicious ideas:
📖 Recipe
Equipment
- dutch oven or large stock pot with lid
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp. olive oil, chopped
- 2 medium onions
- 6 garlic cloves, minced
- 4 medium carrots, sliced
- 4 celery ribs, sliced
- 8 fresh thyme sprigs
- 2 bay leaves
- 14 oz firm tofu, frozen overnight, thawed, pressed for 30 minutes (I use the Tofu Xpress), and cut into bite-sized pieces
- 4 quarts vegetable broth
- 12 oz egg noodles
- ½ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Heat oil in large Dutch oven over medium heat.
- Add onions, garlic, carrots, celery, thyme and bay leaf. Cook and stir for 3 minutes; add tofu. Cook for an additional 5 minutes or until vegetables are softened, but not browned.
- Add broth and bring to a boil. Once the mixture is boiling, add egg noodles and simmer for 8 minutes. (The noodles will be slightly undercooked, but don't worry--they'll continue cooking after removed from heat. This way, the noodles won't be mushy.)
- Season with salt and pepper and garnish with parsley before serving.
Beth says
Love this soup so much - as does my 15 mo old. The only difference is I baked small tofu pieces in the toaster oven with garlic powder and a little soy sauce for about 15 mins at 375. adding the tofu pieces in at the very end. yum!
Kiersten says
I love the idea of baking the tofu first! 😀
Claire says
Does this freeze well?
Kiersten Frase says
Yes, I've frozen this soup many times and it freezes beautifully!
Sheila says
love this soup! it's what I crave whenever I'm sick.
Kiersten Frase says
It's perfect for when you're under the weather, isn't it? 🙂 I'm glad you enjoy it!
Darlene Ahearn says
Best Vegetarian Chicken Noodle Soup I have made. All my non vegetarian friends love it as well.
Rottenham says
I gave up meat voluntarily. I do not look for recipes that are "almost like meat." If I wanted chicken, I would eat chicken. If I want tofu, I'll eat tofu. This recipe would be just as good without the tofu.
However, I would use LS chicken broth, as it is healthier and tastier.
My 2 cents.
Kiersten Frase says
Well then by all means, make the recipe without tofu!
Natalie says
I've made this soup several times, and it hits the spot, and sorry, Rottenham, but there ARE some voluntary vegetarians who crave comfort foods of their past at certain times, chicken soup while sick is one of them. And the last time I checked, tofu isn't simply a meat replacement like mock meats. I like the inclusion of it in this soup to add protein, which helps a lot when you're feeling down and achy. But to each their own -- no need to be nasty about it. This is why carnivores think vegetarians are super judgmental mega douches. Kiersten, thank you for sharing your fantastic recipe. It has helped both veggies and meat-eaters in my family feel better.
Kiersten Frase says
Yeah, in my years of blogging, I've learned that it's impossible to make everyone happy! 🙂 I don't find myself craving meat, but I do find myself craving the comfort foods I ate when I was a kid, which is why I love doing vegetarian remake recipes. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the recipe!
Cere says
Uh, Rottenham clearly isn't a vegetarian, as evidenced by the fact they state they'd use chicken broth. So you're completely wrong, because Rottenham is a judgmental and superior animal-eater (not a carnivore, as humans are not carnivorous - please revisit your science classes), not a superior and judgmental vegetarian. So not only have you smeared vegetarians by spitting a tired cliche, you've also insulted them by lumping them in with their ideological opposite simply because they act the way you think vegetarians act. A spectacular fumble all around for you.
Dee Cee says
Name says it all......rotten ham
Meg says
Then don’t look for a vegetarian soup!
Renée says
Instead of the noodles i put in 3 small potatoes and i baked the tofu before-hand also and it was super good!
Kiersten Frase says
I'm glad to hear it worked out well like that!
Jane says
What does freezing the tofu before pressing and cubing it do?
Sarah says
I found this answer on Google: Some people don't love the texture but freezing your tofu is a great way to change the texture without much extra effort. Freezing tofu removes the excess water which makes tofu able to soak up your marinade better. It also makes your tofu less 'sponge-y' and gives it a sort of 'chewier' texture.
Nicole says
It helps give the tofu a “chicken like” texture. As a vegetarian who craves meat but won’t eat it, this is a neat trick.
Jess says
I loved this soup! I made it on a really yucky winter day and just when I thought I had everything, I realized I wasoit of tofu! I didn't want to drive the bad roads, so Irwin a can of chickpeas for
Protein. Turned out great! Hank you!
Kiersten Frase says
I love the idea of adding chickpeas - I'm glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Amy says
Absolutely love this soup! Freezing the tofu definitely gives it a great texture.
Kristin says
Getting ready to make this delicious looking soup. Just wondering, does it really use 4 quarts of broth? It just seems like a lot.
Thanks!
Kiersten says
I know, it is. It makes a BIG batch of soup - but the good news is that it freezes beautifully. I make a big batch every month or two in the fall & winter for easy dinners and lunches. 🙂
Jules says
Is there a way to adapt this to a slow cooker / crockpot?
Rene' says
WONDERFUL recipe! My sister is a vegetarian, and I'm not, so I had only ever made regular chicken noodle soup for sickie friends. 🙂 When she came down with a cold, I went on the hunt for a veggie version. Yours hit the spot!
I made homemade veggie stock in my pressure cooker instead of using the No Chicken stock (though I LOVE No Chicken!!) I also used the Quorn veggie chicken breasts instead of tofu. Everything else I did the same, and it came out simply fantastic!
Kiersten says
I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I have a cold right now too and I was thinking about making it myself this week. 🙂
Rene' says
Oh, I hope you feel better! Forgot to mention I added a little fresh lemon juice and a bit of lemon zest. Something about the lemon really brings out the flavor - and a tad of Vitamin C never hurts! 🙂
sandra says
Hi this looks great. One question: when I freeze the tofu, do I take it out of its plastic container and drain it before putting it in freezer or do I just stick the container with tofu and liquid in it and freeze it? thanks for your help
Alissa says
Hi Sandra! I think you could do either. I've frozen tofu after draining it, as well as right in the package with the water, and the result is pretty much the same either way.
Anna says
Legitimate question... Why not simply call this "tofu noodle soup"? Why keep the chicken in the name, if there isn't any in it and it's meant to be vegetarian?
Katie Trant says
Good question, Anna. I think it's because chicken noodle soup is a recipe name that people can identify with, and are often looking to find a vegetarian substitute for. Tofu noodle soup doesn't have the same ring to it.
Lisa Field says
Thank you so much. My 14 year old daughter has IBS and meat has given her so many problems. For New Years she decided to try going vegetarian and now with a cold this really hit the spot for her. I have been trying to eat her specialty foods for support and she really LOVED this. I'm still learning how to cook with tofu and everything. This recipe was easy to make and and delicious to eat.
Jennifer says
I'm making this right now but kind of skeptical about 4 quarts of broth?
Rita says
Hi, I just need to comment - I've made this recipe several times and love it! I follow the recipe exactly, except instead of tofu, I use Quorn chick'n tenders.
The seasonings are spot on and my family likes it! Thank you for the excellent recipe!
Kasey says
This recipe came out amazing! I used Edward and Son's not chick'n bouillon, and the broth came out flavorless. I added some Better than Bouillon vegetable broth and it brought it to life. The tofu came out the perfect texture. Exactly what I've been craving!
Kat says
Just made this for my work lunches this week and it turned out great!
Mary Mcintyre says
Love this!!!! I use gardien chick’n strips instead of tofu
Karolina says
What’s the point of freezing and thawing