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Last Updated on February 2, 2024

What says “comfort food” when you’re sick? For me and mine, it’s a big bowl of soup (chicken noodle soup, to be precise). It has always been my children’s favorite comfort food. This easy AIP chicken noodle soup will not dissapoint, I promise!

AIP Chicken Noodle Soup

With our grain-free lifestyle, real noodles are out. Being on the AIP diet isn’t so difficult when you get creative though. We’ve replaced noodles with something healthier – something I call “zoodles” or zucchini noodles. It’s an easy substitution, you simply use spiralized zucchini instead of gluten pasta.

Noodles & AIP

I’ve tried using spaghetti squash as an AIP pasta substitute. However, though I adore all types of squash, I prefer to grab zucchini when I want the taste of the sauce or broth to shine through, instead of competing with the squashy flavor of “noodles”.

Chicken Bone Broth

Homemade broth is the STAR of any soup and the key to all the healing benefits that comes with paleo chicken noodle soup.

When someone shows the first signs of sickness, I get a whole chicken out of the freezer and make roasted chicken. Then I pick all the meat off the bone and add the carcass, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, ginger, turmeric and a splash of apple cider vinegar (with mother) to my Instant Pot to make homemade bone broth.

This makes the chicken broth as fresh and nourishing as you can getand give it a lot of flavor!

Simple Ingredients for AIP Chicken Noodle Soup

This version of chicken noodle soup is easy to make, especially if you already have the broth made. I like to make it in large batches and freeze it for when I want to make homemade soup.

Homemade Chicken Stock
extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil
yellow onion, diced
diced carrots
diced celery
zucchini, made into noodles
garlic clove
sea salt and black pepper to taste
shredded chicken or cubed into bite-sized pieces

How to Make AIP Chicken Noodle Soup

A spiralizer works well to make the zuchinni noodles (or zoodles as we like to call them), but you can also use a vegetable peeler to make flat ribbons like fettuccini. I personally prefer the spaghetti-like noodles because they don’t stick together like the fettuccine kind, but that’s just me.

Here are the simple steps to making this healing chicken zoodle soup:

Heat a soup pot or Dutch oven on medium to medium high. Add olive oil, then onion, carrots, and celery.
Saute until vegetables begin to soften.
Remove pot from heat and add garlic, salt and pepper. Stir for 30 seconds or until fragrant.
Add chicken stock and bring to a low boil.
Add zucchini noodles and chicken and just heat through.

Soup Tips & Suggestions

You can use any type of chicken, such as the dark meat from chicken thighs. You can also make shredded chicken breast using the Instant Pot, or even use a rotisserie chicken.
You can cook this on the stove top as the instructions on the recipe card indicate, but it also works in a slow cooker.

Variations

If you want to mix up the flavors, here are some suggestions for a good chicken soup:

My daughter LOVES when I add white sweet potatoes, fresh ginger, and bok choy! It gives the soup great flavor. When we do this, I skip the zoodles.
Add some turmeric for its anti-inflammatory properties.
Add in cauliflower rice in lieu of the zoodles for a chicken and faux rice soup.
Add other fresh vegetables, such as spinach or kale for extra nutrients.
Garnish with green onions.
Top with your favorite fresh herbs (fresh parsley or cilantro work well).

How to Store AIP Chicken Noodle Soup

Let the soup cool down to room temperature before storing it. This will help prevent bacterial growth.
Transfer the soup into airtight containers or freezer bags. Make sure to leave some space at the top of the container or bag for expansion during freezing.
Label the containers or bags with the date of preparation. This will help you keep track of how long the soup has been stored.
Place the containers or bags in the refrigerator if you plan to consume the soup within 3-4 days. If you want to store it for a longer period, place them in the freezer instead.

How to Freeze AIP Chicken Noodle Soup

Ensure that the soup is completely cooled before freezing.
Divide the soup into individual portions or freeze it as a whole.
If using containers, make sure they are freezer-safe and seal them tightly to prevent freezer burn and maintain freshness.
If using freezer bags, remove as much air as possible before sealing them to prevent ice crystals from forming and affecting the quality of the soup.
Place the containers or bags in a flat position in your freezer so they freeze evenly and take up less space.
Remember to label each container or bag with the date of freezing to keep track of its freshness.

Reheating Frozen Soup

Thawing overnight in the refrigerator is recommended for best results, but you can also thaw it using a microwave on low power or by placing it in a bowl of cold water (in its sealed container) and changing the water every 30 minutes until thawed.
Once thawed, transfer the soup into a saucepan or pot and heat it over medium-low heat on your stovetop until it reaches a gentle simmer. Cook until heated through and serve, about 3-4 minutes.

Chicken No-Noodle Soup (a/k/a Chicken Zoodle Soup – Paleo, AIP, GAPS, SCD)

Print Recipe

Author: Jen/ My BIG FAT Grain Free Life

Instructions

Heat a stockpot on medium to medium high. Add olive oil, then onion, carrots, and celery.
Saute until vegetables begin to soften.
Remove pot from heat and add garlic, salt and pepper. Stir for 30 seconds or until fragrant.
Add chicken stock and bring to a simmer.
Add zucchini noodles and chicken and just heat through.