Creamy Cafeteria Noodles Recipe
Creamy Cafeteria Noodles is a comforting, nostalgic dish featuring wide egg noodles simmered in a rich, creamy chicken broth sauce. This easy stovetop recipe combines condensed cream of chicken soup, chicken broth, and butter to create a luscious sauce that clings perfectly to tender noodles. Garnished with fresh parsley, it offers a simple yet satisfying meal that’s perfect for cozy dinners or quick lunches.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 17 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 12 oz wide egg noodles (dry)
- 32 oz low-sodium chicken broth (4 cups)
- 2 tsp chicken bouillon (granules or paste)
- 10.5 oz condensed cream of chicken soup (1 can)
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter (½ stick)
- Freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Build the creamy broth base: In a large pot or Dutch oven, pour in the low-sodium chicken broth and place it over medium-high heat to warm up gently.
- Dissolve flavor boosters: Whisk in the chicken bouillon and add a generous pinch of freshly ground black pepper, stirring until the bouillon granules or paste are fully dissolved in the broth.
- Create the rich sauce: Add the condensed cream of chicken soup along with the unsalted butter. Stir continuously as the butter melts into the broth mixture, ensuring the sauce becomes smooth and homogeneous.
- Add the egg noodles: Pour in the dry wide egg noodles, pressing them down gently to submerge as much as possible into the flavorful liquid.
- The two-minute boil: Increase the heat to bring the mixture to a rolling boil, then cook uncovered for exactly 2 minutes, stirring once or twice to prevent noodles from sticking.
- The magic resting step: Turn off the heat and immediately cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid. Let the noodles rest undisturbed for 10 minutes to absorb the liquid and become tender.
- Stir, rest, and serve: Remove the lid and gently stir to combine everything evenly. Let the noodles sit for an additional 2 to 3 minutes to thicken the sauce further. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley if desired and serve hot.
Notes
- For extra creaminess, you can stir in a splash of milk or cream after the resting step.
- Adjust black pepper to taste; adding a little paprika could enhance flavor and color.
- Use low-sodium broth and bouillon to better control salt content.
- Leftovers can be reheated gently on the stovetop with a splash of broth or water to loosen the sauce.
- For a vegetarian version, substitute chicken broth and bouillon with vegetable alternatives and use a cream of mushroom soup instead of cream of chicken.
Keywords: creamy noodles, egg noodles, comfort food, cream of chicken soup, stovetop noodles, easy dinner recipe, cafeteria style noodles
Find it online: https://tastewithamy.com/creamy-cafeteria-noodles-recipe/
