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8 Restaurant Chains with the Best Chicken Noodle Soup
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8 Restaurant Chains with the Best Chicken Noodle Soup

You can dip your spoon in a wide range of hearty soups in popular restaurant chains across the country, from broccoli cheddar and Zuppa Toscana with baked potatoes and tomato bisque and beyond, but nothing beats a steaming bowl of chicken noodle soup. This rich, cozy broth is the definition of classic comfort.

Humans have been simmering chickens to make soup for thousands of years, and it’s hard to imagine a future without it. Whether you want to eat something soothing when you’re sick or want to warm up quickly after a cold weather outing, chicken soup has that certain I don’t know what it makes people want to enjoy it again and again.

Of course, the best chicken soup is homemade, but that takes time and energy, and both of those things can be in short supply, especially when you’re hungry. Fortunately, many chain restaurants offer satisfying renditions of this classic soup, some of which taste just as good as homemade. Even better? Some restaurants even put their own twist on the recipe, ensuring that diners never get bored.

From a seriously flavorful broth made with rotisserie-style shredded chicken to an inventive twist featuring gnocchi instead of egg noodles, here are ten chain restaurants that serve the best chicken soup.

Panera Bread

person holding panera chicken noodle soupperson holding panera chicken noodle soup
Panera Bread / Facebook

Nutrition (per bowl of homemade chicken noodle soup):
Calories: 100
Fat: 1 g (Saturated fat: 0 g)
Sodium: 1280 mg
Crabs: 13 g (Fiber: 0 g, Sugar: 4 g)
Protein: 9g

It turns out Panera excels at more than just sandwiches and salads. Beyond its applause-worthy Bravo Turkey and Bacon Sandwich and Green Goddess Cobb Salad, the wildly popular chain also offers a wide range of soups, including everything from its signature soup to broccoli and cheddar to its seasonal vegetarian soup with fall butternut squash.

Another notable option is the Homemade Chicken Noodle Soupfeaturing perfectly prepared tender pieces of white chicken in a rich, seasoned broth with egg noodles, chopped carrots, celery and herbs. Enjoy it with a piece of freshly baked bread and that’s it.

I’ve tried every soup at Panera and you can’t beat it

Culver’s

Culvers Chicken Noodle SoupCulvers Chicken Noodle Soup
Tara A. / Yelp

Nutrition (Medium Chicken Noodle Soup):
Calories: 130
Fat: 2.5 g (Saturated fat: 0 g)
Sodium: 1190mg
Crabs: 20 g (Fiber: 1 g, Sugar: 1 g)
Protein: 7g

It’s easy to associate this Wisconsin-founded restaurant chain with seared burgers and frozen crème fraîche — that’s what it’s known for, after all. However, the popular fast food restaurant also offers excellent Chicken and Noodle Soup. Served in the restaurant’s recognizable blue and white packaging, this fragrant broth is simmered with tender white chicken meat, thick plank-shaped noodles, and an assortment of vegetables like celery and carrots. Order it with grilled cheese, a roast beef sandwich, or a bacon and cranberry blue salad for a satisfying meal.

Noodles & Company

noodles and chicken noodle soup and companynoodles and chicken noodle soup and company
Noodles & Company

Nutrition (Per order of chicken noodle soup):
Calories: 360
Fat: 10 g (Saturated fat: 2.5 g)
Sodium: 2320 mg
Crabs: 41 g (Fiber: 2 g, Sugar: 9 g)
Protein: 30g

With the word “noodles” in the name, you should probably expect a top-notch product. Chicken and Noodle Soup from this Colorado-based chain. Available in full size or as a side, Noodles & Company’s signature soup is made with grilled chicken breast, wavy egg noodles and chopped celery, onion and carrots. If ordered as a side, it also comes with oyster crackers which add a little extra crunch.

“I honestly think their chicken noodle soup is the best, but that’s just me because I’m a soup lover,” a Yelp reviewer shared. “However, I highly recommend this place. Their food is delicious and (it’s) a family environment.”

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Au Bon Pain

chicken noodle soup with good breadchicken noodle soup with good bread
Au Bon Pain / Facebook

Nutrition (Medium Chicken Noodle Soup):
Calories: 120
Fat: 2.5 g (Saturated fat: 1 g)
Sodium: 1030 mg
Crabs: 15 g (Fiber: 1 g, Sugar: 3 g)
Protein: 8g

This Texas-based casual coffee chain sells a wide variety of items perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Guests can expect dishes like Napa Chicken with Avocado Wraps, Egg White and Cheddar Breakfast Sandwiches, and, of course, soup.

Although the place offers eight different choices, from baked potato soup to Italian wedding soup, the one that always hits the mark is its comfort side. Chicken and Noodle Soup. Made with hearty chicken breast, this pick features perfectly seasoned chicken broth, tender egg noodles, and chopped carrots, onion, and celery. This is an exceptionally well-made chicken noodle soup base recipe.

Garden of Olives

bowl of olive garden chicken and gnocchi soupbowl of olive garden chicken and gnocchi soup
Olive Garden/Facebook

Nutrition (Per order of Chicken Gnocchi Soup):
Calories: 230
Fat: 12 g (Saturated fat: 4.5 g)
Sodium: 1290 mg
Crabs: 22 g (Fibre: 1 g, Sugar: 4 g)
Protein: 11g

Soup, salad and endless breadsticks, what do you think? The colossal Italian-American restaurant chain, which has more than 900 establishments around the world, is making a chicken soup unlike any other. For starters, Chicken Gnocchi Soup doesn’t use traditional egg noodles but instead uses gnocchi. Italian dumplings give this soup extra heft. The broth is also creamier than a traditional chicken soup and includes cooked spinach in place of carrots and celery.

For those who are already fans of Olive Garden’s chicken gnocchi soup and might want to try other flavors, there’s also the Zuppa Toscana, which features spicy Italian sausage, fresh kale and russet potatoes, and pasta e fagioli, which incorporates white and red beans, salted ground beef, fresh tomatoes and tube-shaped pasta.

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Chick-fil-A

Chicken Noodle Soup with Chick Fil-AChicken Noodle Soup with Chick Fil-A
Chick-fil-A

Nutrition (for 1 cup of chicken noodle soup):
Calories: 170
Fat: 4 g (Saturated fat: 1 g)
Sodium: 1220 mg
Crabs: 25 g (Fiber: 1 g, Sugar: 1 g)
Protein: 5g

Chick-fil-A is considered one of the best places to get fried chicken, so it makes sense that the bustling fast food chain does excellent chicken noodle soup. Sold in a cup or bowl, the restaurant’s option is made with shredded Chick-fil-A chicken breast (score), chopped carrots, diced celery and egg noodles; all simmered in clear chicken broth. Each order comes with a side of saltine crackers that are perfect for dipping or crumbling.

Although Chick-fil-A’s chicken noodle soup recipe is pretty standard (no gnocchi or creamy broth here), it’s still a great choice for customers looking for a hot dish that strays from the usual offers of the brand.

Café Zupas

Zupas Coffee Chicken Noodle SoupZupas Coffee Chicken Noodle Soup
Café Zupas / Facebook

(n-black)Nutrition (per half serving of chicken noodles):
Calories: 130
Lipids: 3 g (Saturated fats: 0.5 g)
Sodium: 950 mg
Carbohydrates: 16 g (Fiber: 1 g, Sugar: 1 g)
Protein: 9 g(/nutriinfo-black)

Café Zupas translates to “soup café,” so it’s a no-brainer that they’ll have some great soups. The restaurant chain has more than 55 locations across eight states and focuses on creating dishes made from the finest ingredients. Its menu is full of innovative options, including pumpkin chorizo ​​soup, mushroom bisque, chickpea and vegetable soup, and a mind-blowing mac and cheese “soup” made with egg noodles and a creamy, cheesy cauliflower base.

If you want something more traditional, try it Chicken and Noodle Soup made with juicy grilled chicken, chopped carrots, diced celery, egg noodles, fragrant herbs and spices and warm chicken broth. The chain emphasizes on its website that this option is dairy-free and low-calorie, making it a good choice for those who may be lactose intolerant or want a lighter meal.

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Boston Market

Boston Market Chicken Noodle SoupBoston Market Chicken Noodle Soup
Jamie R. / Yelp

(n-black)Nutrition (per 13.9 oz chicken noodle soup):
Calories: 230
Lipids: 8 g (Saturated fats: 2 g)
Sodium: 1,300 mg
Carbohydrates: 22 g (Fiber: 2 g, Sugar: 2 g)
Protein: 20 g(/nutriinfo-black)

Thinking of Boston Market Rotisserie Chicken Noodle Soupone word comes to mind: wow. What sets Boston Market’s Chicken Noodle Soup apart from others on this list is that it’s made with shredded, all-natural roasted chicken breast—yes, the chain’s signature rotisserie chicken makes a welcome appearance . The soup also highlights dumpling-style noodles, giving this dish more substance, various garden vegetables including carrots and celery, and a rich chicken broth full of flavor.

Perfect as a side or main dish, Boston Market’s flavorful Chicken Noodle Soup was one of my favorite fast food chain soups growing up, and, to this day, I’m still a fan.

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