Crack Chicken Noodle Soup

Why You’ll Love This Crack Chicken Noodle Soup

• Easy. Your Instant Pot will cook the chicken thighs until they are perfectly tender, then all you have to do is crisp up some bacon and mix a few ingredients in your soup pot.
• Flavorful. I know I keep referencing how good this soup tastes, but it is just so so so good.
• Creamy. Cream cheese is added to the soup base and gives the broth an irresistible creaminess.
• Hearty. With fall-apart tender chicken meat, noodles & crispy bacon bits on top, this soup will satisfy even the hungriest bellies.
• SO GOOD. I know, I know, I keep saying this – but for real!

Why is it called “crack” chicken soup?

Because you can’t stop eating it. With every spoonful of this soup, your brain will be saying: What is this amazingness happening in my mouth? Why have I never tasted this before?

Substitution Notes

Here’s a quick look at some ingredient substitutions. Make sure you scroll down to the recipe card for the full ingredient list.

• Chicken thighs – Boneless and skinless. You can also use boneless, skinless chicken breasts that have been cut in half width-wise so they are about the same size as the thighs.
• Chicken stock – You can also use vegetable broth.
• Cream cheese – You can use an 8 oz block of light cream cheese or 10 oz of whipped cream cheese.
• Spaghetti – You can use any kind of noodle, just make sure you adjust the cooking time to account for how long the noodles need to cook until tender.

Tips for Success

• Watch the bacon. It is easy to get distracted while the bacon is crisping up so make sure you are stirring frequently and keeping an eye on it. This way you can immediately remove the bacon when it hits the perfectly crispy stage.
• Mix the cream cheese with hot liquid in a bowl. When you add the cream cheese to the soup you need to first place the cream cheese into a large bowl, and then ladle some hot soup into the bowl. Then you whisk the two things together until you have a creamy liquid. Don’t just add the cream cheese directly to your soup pot or it will be difficult to get it to fully dissolve and combine with the liquid evenly.

How to Store and Reheat Extras

• Fridge: Crack chicken noodle soup is best right after it is made, but you can store extras in the fridge for up to 3 days. Let the soup cool to room temperature, then ladle it into an airtight container.
  • Note that the noodles will absorb the soup liquid during storage, which is totally normal.
• To reheat: Ladle your desired amount into a small pot and add some additional broth to account for the liquid the noodles have absorbed. Warm over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until the soup has reached your desired temperature.