When thrown together correctly, a bowl of chicken noodle soup could cure just about anything.
The broth is great for hydration.
This specific grouping of ingredients provides carbs,protein, and other nutrients and is even anti-inflammatory.
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Heck, even the steam from your bowl can help clear your nasal passages.
Nothing beats a crock of grandma’s or mom’s chicken noodle soup hot off the stove.
The look:The squiggly egg noodles certainly upped the aesthetic of this otherwise murky brew.
Photo: Megan Hageman/Eat This, Not That!
The taste:I was beginning to think there was no food the great Chick-fil-A couldn’t master.
But, I think I finally found it.
The chain’s chicken noodle soup is its Achilles heel.
Photo: Megan Hageman/Eat This, Not That!
Starting with the broth, this cup is a bit of a mess.
Made of seasoned chicken stock, it should just act as a steady base.
However, it instead plagues the entire dish with a strange artificial or even burnt edge.
Photo: Megan Hageman/Eat This, Not That!
The irony of this offering, though, is that its biggest downfall revolves around the poultry.
It’s barely there, and when it is, it provides no flavor boost whatsoever.
Tell me, how is a chicken company’s chicken noodle soup missing the chicken?
Photo: Megan Hageman/Eat This, Not That!
That means it’s had ample time to perfect classic recipes like its Homestyle Chicken Noodle.
The look:The brothiest of the bunch.
The taste:I counted two total pieces of what seemed like boiled chicken in my stew.
They were both rather bland so I suppose it was a blessing in disguise.
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The look:This cup is the epitome of chock-full.
From the top, there is no evidence at all that any broth is included in the mix.
The taste:Soup with a side of health benefits.
Plus, everything is enriched with an Italian-style seasoning blend led by oregano.
Heck, if they all come with a free chocolate dipped strawberry I’ll try them all!
A few sizable yellow egg noodles also peek out from the sides of the to-go bowl.
The taste:Theoretically, Noodles & Company should win every fast-food competition related to noodles.
And in this case, it certainly does.
A deeply richand slightly butteryflavor takes over the entire cup, drawing you in with its homemade style.
A balance is achieved between the dense pastaboiled just past al denteand the cooked-down vegetables.
I also took note of the sweet yet savory onions that finally make an impact hereit’s about time!
The final element, the poultry, was also well-received.
The chain reveals that it uses chicken breast in its soup.
However, its juiciness and profuse flavor had me second guessing if it was chicken thighs instead.
Perhaps it was simply prepared to a tee and took on extra savoriness from the briny broth.
But whatever the case may be, it adds to the overall experience in a delightful way.
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