This vegan chicken noodle soup tastes like the real deal! I've made it for countless people who are not vegan and they loved it too. It's the perfect soup for when you're sick or when you just want delicious vegan comfort food! Filled with healthy veggies, turmeric, protein, and a delicious broth, this soup is sure to warm your heart.
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❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
- It tastes like real chicken noodle soup!
- It hits the spot on those winter days when fighting a cold or the flu!
- Chicken noodle soup just like your mom would have made for you when you were sick, but with no animal ingredients!
- A savory broth with herbs and turmeric and hearty bites of “chicken” and noodles.
- You can make it gluten-free and/or soy-free too to fit your dietary needs.
- It's simply delicious vegan comfort food at its best!
🐔 How to substitute chicken
You have a few choices when making vegan chicken noodle soup. Seitan, Butler Soy Curls, store-bought chicken strips, or chickpeas.
Seitan - You can buy chicken-style seitan in most major grocery stores, or you can easily make it yourself with my vegan chicken recipe. This is also known as wheat meat. It's made from gluten and obviously not gluten-free.
Butler Soy Curls - My favorite vegan chicken replacement to use in this soup is Butler Soy Curls! (They are dehydrated soy protein that has a taste and texture that is unbelievably close to chicken when they are re-hydrated in the broth). Soy Curls are super easy and gluten-free. Soy curls have a great flavor and texture, but they're also great because they're shelf-stable. I love to have them in my pantry to add protein to soups or stirfries as needed.
Beyond Meat Chicken Strips - If you are looking for a gluten-free and soy-free vegan chicken alternative, Beyond Meat Chicken Strips is a great option.
Chickpeas - if you want a whole foods more natural alternative to chicken, you can simply use a can of drained and rinsed chickpeas instead of chicken.
🧾 Ingredients and substitutions
- Olive Oil - to saute the veggies in.
- Onion - optional, but recommended.
- Salt - for flavor. Feel free to adjust the amount to suit your taste.
- Carrots - optional, but recommended.
- Celery - optional, but recommended.
- Garlic - cloves give the best flavor, but you can use garlic powder instead.
- Poultry Seasoning - for an authentic flavor.
- Parsley - for flavor
- Turmeric - for color and flavor.
- Black Pepper - optional for flavor.
- Broth - I highly recommend that you use a vegan chicken-style broth like Not Chick'n Broth or Better than Bouillon No Chicken. You can also easily make your own chicken-style seasoning with this recipe from healthier steps.
- "Chicken" - use any of the vegan chicken substitutes mentioned above.
- Noodles - any shape or type of pasta that you wish.
- Fresh Parsley - optional for a great fresh flavor.
🥄 Instructions
- Start by sauteing a diced onion in olive oil on very low heat and sprinkle with some salt. (Sautéing the onion very slowly to gives a slight sweetness to the broth.)
- While the onion is slowly cooking, chop up the celery and carrots. Then toss them in after the onion has become slightly translucent.
- Give it a stir and add the herbs and spices.
- Then add the water and Not Chick’n broth cubes and let it simmer for about 20 minutes. You can use any vegan chicken flavored broth, but this one is my favorite. (Soy curls soak up the broth so reduce the water by 1 cup if you are not using soy curls).
- Once the veggies are soft, add the butler soy curls or other vegan chicken products, stir and simmer for 5 more minutes.
- Finally, dump in 2 cups of dry noodles of your choice. Allow the soup to simmer for about 8-10 more minutes until the noodles are just barely cooked, then turn off the heat. (Gluten-free noodles will start to fall apart if they are cooked too long).
- If you like the taste of fresh parsley, chop up a handful and toss it in at the end to give it an added boost of nutrients and a fresh flavor!
👩🏻🍳 Pro tips
- Saute the onions slowly to bring out their sweetness and help flavor the broth.
- Make sure to simmer the veggies for about 20 minutes before adding the noodles to ensure the vegetables are cooked and you won't overcook the noodles.
- Turn off the heat as soon as the noodles are al dente to make sure that they don't get soggy and fall apart.
- If using soy curls, note that they are dehydrated and when added to the soup, they will absorb about 1 cup of broth.
- If you are using my homemade vegan chicken recipe, you can toss in the raw seitan dough and cook it in with the soup. Just be sure that it simmers for 25 minutes before adding the noodles. (Raw seitan needs to simmer for at least 30 minutes to fully cook.)
🍞 Gluten-free noodles
I have tried nearly every brand of gluten-free noodles that they make. Different brands are good for different things. In soups, the Schär brand is my favorite. It holds together better than any other gluten-free brand that I have tried. You can also use any brand with corn or quinoa in it, they also stay firmer in soups. I would not recommend using brown rice pasta. They get very mushy and fall apart.
❔ Where can I find Butler Soy Curls?
I used to get mine at a local natural foods store or order them on Amazon. Now, I order them directly from Butler Foods. My family loves soy curls and we go through a lot, so I just buy a huge 12-pound box. This way we have plenty on hand to make vegan soy jerky, vegan Buffalo chicken sandwiches, vegan pulled pork sandwiches, or vegan green chile stew.
🥣 More vegan soups
- Creamy Vegan Pumpkin Bean Soup
- Vegan Minestrone
- Coconut Curry Soup
- Creamy Vegan Bean Soup
- Classic Vegan Cream of Mushroom
📌 Be sure to follow me on Pinterest for new vegan recipes!
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 medium carrots peeled and chopped into pieces
- 3 stalks celery washed and chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic peeled and minced
- 1 tablespoon poultry seasoning
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
- 11 cups of water
- 2 Not Chick’n bullion cubes or equivalent vegan chicken flavored broth
- 1 ½ cup dry Butler soy curls or 3 cups of your favorite vegan chicken substitute
- 2 cups pasta noodles of choice
- ¼ cup fresh chopped parsley optional
- more salt and pepper to taste
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Peel and chop one medium onion and sauté it in 1 tbsp olive oil on low heat. Sprinkle with 1 tsp salt.
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While the onion is cooking slowly, peel and chop 3 carrots, 3 stalks of celery, and 2 cloves of garlic.
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Toss in the veggies to the pot and give a stir.
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Add all of the spices to the veggies (1 tbsp poultry seasoning, 1 tbsp dried parsley, 1/2 turmeric, 1/4 tsp ground pepper) Sauté on low for another 3 minutes.
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Put in 11 cups of water (10 if not using soy curls) and 2 bullion cubes, increase heat to medium.
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Simmer for about 20 minutes until veggies are just barely cooked.
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Add 1 1/2 cups soy curls or vegan “chicken” substitute of choice (reduce water by 1 cup if not using soy curls).
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Continue to simmer for 5 more minutes, then add 2 cups of dry pasta.
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Cook for about 8-10 more minutes until the pasta is just barely cooked and then turn off heat. (Pasta will continue to cook slightly while sitting in the hot soup).
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Toss in some fresh chopped parsley.
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Add salt and pepper to taste.
- If using soy curls, note that they are dehydrated and when added to the soup, they will absorb about 1 cup of broth.
- Saute the onions slowly to bring out their sweetness and help flavor the broth.
- Make sure to simmer the veggies for about 20 minutes before adding the noodles to ensure the vegetables are cooked and you won't overcook the noodles.
- Turn off the heat as soon as the noodles are al dente to make sure that they don't get soggy and fall apart.
Using homemade chicken seitan:
- If you are using my homemade vegan chicken recipe, you can toss in the raw seitan dough and cook it in with the soup. Just be sure that it simmers for 25 minutes before adding the noodles. (Raw seitan needs to simmer for at least 30 minutes to fully cook.)
Superb.... I did add 1 bay leaf, also cooked and added the soy curls and noddles separate. Every bit as good and the chicken soup I ate before going vegetarian. Have to share the little laugh I had at my own expense, I first read through the recipe and wondered why I had to peel and chop the carrots slowly, then read it again with the comma....lol.
Delicious! Just the comfort food I needed. It has quickly become a family favorite. Thank you for the recipe!
You are very welcome! It's my go-to soup every time I'm feeling run down. I'm so happy that you liked it! 🙂
Monica, I have loved every recipe of yours that I have tried, but I think I did something wrong with the chicken noodle soup. The soup tasted delicious, but the soy curls were spongy. I used soy curls to make your pulled pork and it was soooooo good. Can you help with the texture of the curls in the soup.
Thanks so much for your recipes and your help.
Katharine
Hi Katharine, I'm so happy that you like my recipes! The soy curls will soak up a lot of broth. In the other recipes that you mention, there isn't as much broth and then the soy curls are cooked to dry them out a little more. You could do the same with the soup and just add a little to the bowl before you eat it or add the soy curls as the end of cooking so they don't have as much time to get soft. Enjoy!
So good and warming. Have no gf chicken replacement in stock during these times. Added chickpeas instead and highly recommend! Added avocado slices on the side to eat with the soup and garlic toast.
I'm so happy that you liked it! 🙂
Nice soup! Added 1tsp of dried basil, 2 bay leaves, and 1 can of chickpeas (in addition to the soy curls). Hit the spot!
I'm so happy that you liked it! 🙂
Wow! I made this on Saturday and finished the whole pot Monday morning for breakfast. I pretty much ate it all weekend until it was gone. This was my first time using the Butler Soy Curls and this was the perfect recipe. I think the poultry seasoning and tumeric add so much flavor and nutrition. I did add a bay leaf, but other than that followed the recipe to a T. Thank you so much for sharing.
You're very welcome Amy! I'm so happy that you liked it! It is my go-to soup every time anyone is sick or when I just want brothy comfort food. Butler Soy Curls are pretty awesome! I hope you check out my other recipes with them too. I use them all the time! 🙂
Hi Monica - Since I first discovered your recipe a week and a half ago, I made my third pot today. I wanted to share though that with my last pot, I accidentally dumped too many curls and chickpea rotini pasta in the pot and I was a afraid that it would soak up all the broth, so I separated the broth from the curls and noodles and just combined them when I was ready to eat a bowl. When all the broth was gone, I still had some of the solid ingredients so I steamed some broccoli and and made a chicken, pasta and broccoli dish, it was so good.
Chicken noodle soup was one of the hardest things for me to give up when I quit eating meat and I am so grateful I found your recipe. I do add fresh parsley and I think this is better than my old chicken noodle soup recipe.
Do you reconstitute the soy curls first?
Hi Susie, No, I just throw the soy curls in with the soup and let them soak up the broth. Just made this again last night for my little one who is home with the flu! It just hits the spot! I hope that you enjoy it! 🙂
Oh wow... this soup is so good!! I just bought the Butler Soy Curls and coincidentally I have 2 sickies in the family today, so I searched for a no-chicken chicken noodle soup and found your recipe. I adapted it for the instant pot, but otherwise followed your recipe exactly and it came out amazing. Thank you so much for sharing!!
I'm so happy that you liked it! Great idea to make it in your Instant pot! It's my go to soup whenever anyone is sick in my house! Hope your sickies get better soon! 🙂
How did you adapt this for the instant pot? I'm new to IP cooking, but love the simplicity of it! Thanks 🙂
That's what I'd like to know too!!!
Sorry, somehow I missed Jessica's question before. To make it in the instant pot, set the pot to saute, and cook the veggies in oil for about 5 minutes. Then the remaining ingredients (except for the pasta) and set the IP to pressure for 5 minutes. Allow the pressure to come down so you can take off the lid and then set the IP to saute again. When the soup begins to boil add the pasta and let it boil for about 7-8 more minutes until the pasta is al dente. Add fresh chopped parsley and serve. I hope that helps. 🙂
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Love how loaded this is! I am in love with hearty soups!
It is pretty loaded! The perfect winter meal!
Wow, this soup looks so comforting and flavorful! Yummm!
Love soup... So nourishing for the gut and soul
I haven't made a noodle soup since my celiac diagnosis, it's good to know that Schar pasta can hold up for the task. Looks perfect for a sick day or just as a comfort meal!
I've tried nearly every type of GF pasta in soups and Schar is one of the few that hold together.
Oh wow, this really is a full substitute for chicken noodle soup! I've never tried soy curls, but they sound intriguing.
It is amazingly similar to the real thing. I've fooled my kids' friend with it a few times. They had no idea that it was vegan or gluten free!
Soy curls are magical! Your soup looks wonderful - I bet better than the original!
I love soy curls too! So many ways to use them, but this is definitely one of my favorites!
The soup looks so satisfying....and I really want that bowl!
Thanks Leslie!
This is an amazingly hearty soup. I love all the noodles!
Thanks Amanda!
I was planning to make a noodle soup today for a friend who is sick... perfect timing!
I hope that you made it and that your friend is feeling better! Our family favorite when anyone is sick!
I love this idea! I never think to buy poultry spice for my soup! such a great idea!
Thanks! I love poultry seasoning! It really gives the soup a chicken broth flavor!
I've never used soy curls in recipes but you've got me tempted now.
You will have to give them a try, they're delicious!
I have a pot of soup boiling away as I type! Nothing like a homemade soup to cure a cold.
Hope you feel better!
This looks incredible! I kind of want to get sick so I can get my boyfriend to make this for me. Actually I should just get him to make it anyway so I can have a break. Haha. Love how you used soy curls as a chicken substitute!
I hope that your boyfriend makes it for you! My favorite every time I'm under the weather!