Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Shortcut Chicken and Noodles



If this dish could carry me into the past I’d be sitting at my first grade lunch table. A long forgotten time when “lunch ladies” did the cooking and chicken nuggets were never on the menu.

I think of other times before mine. Imaginary great grandmothers stretching a Sunday chicken dinner and neighbors sharing a meal together decade after decade.

Our schools might not serve good old-fashioned comfort food anymore, but I’ve got my daughter loving chicken and noodles by making it at home. Sometimes from scratch, but more often these busy days with a few shortcuts.

A rotisserie chicken, canned broth and thick store bought noodles makes quick work of an old nostalgic favorite with little compromise in flavor. A meal worth repeating over and over again,

Shortcut Chicken and Noodles
Printer Version
A rotisserie chicken and store bought noodles makes this a fairly easy weeknight meal to throw together.


1 rotisserie chicken
1 package homemade style egg pasta or wide egg noodles
4 tablespoons butter
2 large carrots, cut into half moons
2 large celery sticks, chopped
1 onion, diced
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup flour
2 (14.5 ounce) cans lower sodium MSG free chicken broth

1. Remove chicken from the carcass and discard skin. Shred meat into bite size pieces. Set aside.

2. Cook noodles according to package directions in salted water. Strain out water and lightly coat noodles with olive oil to keep from sticking together.

3. Meanwhile, heat butter in a large skillet over medium high heat until melted and foamy. Add in carrots, celery, onion, thyme, salt and black pepper. Cook until vegetables are mainly softened.

4. Sprinkle flour over vegetables. Stir often for 3 minutes to cook the flour. Deglaze pan with some of the broth. Add the rest of the broth and bring to a high simmer for 10 to 15 minutes or until thickened to taste. Add in the chicken and cook until warmed through.

5. To serve, place noodles in individual bowls and top with chicken mixture.

Note: For even deeper flavor, if your chicken has any fat or juice in the bottom of the plastic dish go ahead and throw it in the pot after the flour.

Recipe and photograph by Laura Flowers.


22 comments:

Joanne said...

You know, if school lunches were this hearty and homemade, American would not be in the current crisis that it's in. This sounds wonderful!

Sharon said...

You had me at 'shortcut' ;). This looks amazing and I love how it's so simple to make! Definitely a million times healthier compared to greasy cheese paninis and crusty cardboard pizza in school lunches.

Patricia @ ButterYum said...

Oh yes... this would definitely be a hit on a busy night, or any night!!

Love your pic!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

I am totally going to make this. Because I am snowed in and don't have canned chicken stock I am going to have to make that first with the carcass of the rotisserie chicken. Which kinda makes the whole "shortcut" part go awry.

But I am going to make it anyway.

Unknown said...

easy peasy, my favorite thing about school lunch was the square pizza in a bag...oh if you could re-create that I would LOVE you.

The Cooking Photographer said...

Square pizza in a bag? Ok Jennifer if you find pictures I'll give it a shot lol!

L

Amy said...

Mmmm...reminds me of my grandma's recipe!

natasha {schue love} said...

Thanks for the great idea! Looks super yummy!!! Love your blog...I've made so many great things that I would not have dared to in the past!

natasha

The Cooking Photographer said...

Natasha thank-you.

Laura

Anonymous said...

Just had a variant of this for supper - just like I said I would. Because I un-shortcuted the stock I felt I could shortcut the veggies. I subbed 2 C of frozen peas and carrots for the carrots and celery.

I also added some garlic powder, because I pretty much add it to everything.

It was delicious, and my 4 year old son ate the sauce like a mad-man saying "mmmm soup, just like Ratatouille",

Thanks for the inspiration!

Rhonda said...

Easy comfort food is right up my alley and a perfect weeknight meal.

The Cooking Photographer said...

I bet your's turned out amazing with a home cooked chicken. Yum!

L

ann said...

A delicious looking meal. I love chicken and noodles. And I love using a rotisserie chicken.

Ryan said...

Ooooh yum! Chicken and noodles are absolutely my favorite comfort food ever! :)

Deeba PAB said...

I love how delicious and comforting this looks Laura. Would love a platter now. This is a dish my kids would ENJOY!!

notyet100 said...

i have some rice noodles...i guess i gonna try this..:-)

Sue said...

I love shortcuts, especially when they look this good, Laura!

VegeCooking Club said...

I swear that rotisserie chicken is one of the best things ever invented! I use it as a quick dinner for my daughter, use the bones for broth and the leftovers for dishes like this. So comforting and wonderful. NOM NOM NOM.

Steve said...

Oh, Laura, this was a regular dish at my house when I was young. My mother would make her own noodles they'd dry on a wooden rod. We were treated to that wonderful, comforting smell of the simmering "hen." Then it was all turned into something delicious. Thanks for the memory and the incentive to make this for my own family.
Steve
http://www.myfavoriteflavours.com

Mads said...

Oh wow, this looks like the perfect comfort and sick-in-bed food! Rotisserie chicken is so great because it can make so many different meals. I love how little work this recipe requires. Brilliant!

The Cooking Photographer said...

Steve what a neat memory!

L

Monet said...

Hi Laura! This looks like comfort food at its best. I would love a plate of this deliciousness any day of the week. I wish they still served food like this at schools...our kids would be much better off eating a plate of this wholesome pasta than all the junk food many of them consume. Thank you for sharing with me. Stay warm and safe during the rest of the week!

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