Vietnamese Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe (Súp Nui Gà) - Hungry Huy (2024)

Huy Vu Updated 1/1/21 Jump to Recipe

This is perfect, simple cold weather soup. If you haven’t built up the courage to try the bitter melon soup I posted the other week, Vietnamese chicken soup with elbow macaroni might be a simpler start :).

What’s that you say? Elbow macaroni isn’t Vietnamese?…hmm. You’re right, you’d probably never find this soupserved in Vietnam or in any Vietnamese restaurants. This is strictly some homemade chicken soup you’ll find in Vietnamese-American homes.

Vietnamese chicken noodle soup, if you will, or súp nui gà.

Vietnamese Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe (Súp Nui Gà) - Hungry Huy (1)

This is another dish I grew up with as a kid, and I was so excited whenever mom or grandma was making it! In theoriginal Vietnamese version of this, you’d use mung bean noodles instead–the macaroni is simply a switch made out of convenience in the US and it tastes great too!

I think this soup is an easy sell for those not yet comfortable with Vietnamese cuisine. It’s incredibly simple, fairly tame (no weird bits), and not too far a stretch from American chicken noodle soup. The few hints of Vietnamese especially come through here with the addition of cilantro, scallion, and a smidge of sambal for kick.

This is one of those simple foods you can make a big ol’ pot of and eat for a week.

Vietnamese Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe (Súp Nui Gà) - Hungry Huy (2)

The Luxury Of Options

Simple food like this soup is always very humbling to me.

Let’s take a second and think about how fortunate weare to have food. How fortunate weare to have options at all. I have it on good authority (mom :)) that many of the folks in Vietnamgrew up incredibly poor.

Consider this–it’s common to have under1/4 pound of meat shared between an entirefamily for a meal, if you were fortunate to have meat at all! Meanwhile in America, we have the option of things like ‘Quarter Pounders,’ ‘Double-Doubles,’ and all you can eat BBQ!

If youcooked at home each week, youreally could pay for a whole month’s worth of food with 1 day’s worth of pay.The super-poor in Vietnam work their butts off for an entire month and still are forcedto eat just rice with fish sauce.

I’m sure I was told some version of that repeatedly as a child, but it was never processed. But yes, I’m fortunate and thankful for it! If you want a Filipino version of chicken soup, you can try my chicken tinola recipe.

Choosing Chicken

Choose chicken with bones and darker meat for better flavor. The more chicken you use to make the broth, the better it’ll taste! The only problem you’ll have is a ton of leftover chicken. You can use leftover boiled chicken to make Vietnamese chicken salad (goi ga), or bun thang (another Vietrice noodle soup)—recipes coming soon!

Anyway, here’s how to make some of that humbling, Vietnamese chicken soup!

More tasty chicken soups to try

  • Cháo Gà (Vietnamese Chicken Rice Porridge / Congee)
  • Chicken Phở
Vietnamese Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe (Súp Nui Gà) - Hungry Huy (3)

Vietnamese Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe (Súp Nui Gà) - Hungry Huy (4)

Vietnamese Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe (Súp Nui Gà)

5 from 7 votes

The easy to make and comforting Vietnamese twist on chicken noodle soup that I ate as a child growing up.

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BY: Huy Vu

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Cook: 30 minutes mins

Total: 35 minutes mins

SERVINGS: 8

Ingredients

  • 4 lb (1.8 kg) of chicken bone-in preferred or 3 pounds of boneless chicken
  • 1 large yellow or white onion or 2 medium sized onions, quartered.
  • 2 tbsp salt
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tsp MSG (monosodium glutamate) optional
  • 16 oz dried elbow macaroni

Garnish

Instructions

  • Add chicken, onion, salt, sugar, and MSG into a large pot. Add enough water to cover, bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. It should take about 10-15 minutes of simmering to finish.

  • Meanwhile, boil your macaroni in a separate pot of water until al dente, then drain.

  • Check the doneness of the chicken as each 1-2 minutes pass. The chicken should be white in the center and have the juices run clear. Adjust seasoning as needed.

  • Remove chicken, let it cool, then pull into shreds with your fingers or a fork.

  • Add to a bowl macaroni, some broth, chicken, and garnish with chopped cilantro and scallion. Top with sambal and serve!

Nutrition Facts (1 serving)

Serving: 0g | Calories: 246kcal (12%) | Carbohydrates: 3g (1%) | Protein: 20g (40%) | Fat: 16g (25%) | Saturated Fat: 5g (31%) | Cholesterol: 82mg (27%) | Sodium: 1823mg (79%) | Potassium: 226mg (6%) | Fiber: 1g (4%) | Sugar: 2g (2%) | Vitamin A: 152IU (3%) | Vitamin C: 3mg (4%) | Calcium: 15mg (2%) | Iron: 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Vietnamese Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe (Súp Nui Gà)

Serving Size

0 g

Amount per Serving

Calories

246

% Daily Value*

Fat

16

g

25

%

Saturated Fat

5

g

31

%

Cholesterol

82

mg

27

%

Sodium

1823

mg

79

%

Carbohydrates

3

g

1

%

Fiber

1

g

4

%

Sugar

2

g

2

%

Protein

20

g

40

%

Vitamin A

152

IU

3

%

Vitamin C

3

mg

4

%

Calcium

15

mg

2

%

Iron

1

mg

6

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Course: Soup

Cuisine: Vietnamese

Keyword: chicken noodle soup, Vietnamese chicken noodle soup, Vietnamese Soup

Did you cook this recipe?Tag @HungryHuy or #hungryhuy–I’d love to see it!

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Vietnamese Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe (Súp Nui Gà) - Hungry Huy (5)

Vietnamese Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe (Súp Nui Gà) - Hungry Huy (2024)

FAQs

What is the famous soup in Vietnam? ›

1. Pho - Vietnamese beef and noodle soup. Vietnamese noodles are not just the common breakfast in Vietnam; they have become the culinary essence of the nation. Among many Vietnamese soup recipes, Vietnamese beef noodle soup, or Pho bo, is the most famous and widely recognized version.

What is the popular noodle based soup in Vietnam? ›

Pho is a Vietnamese noodle soup, Vietnam's national dish, street food, comfort food, and a way of life.

What is the difference between chicken noodle soup and condensed chicken noodle soup? ›

Condensed soup is essentially soup boiled down to a thick stock, with most of the volume of water removed. If you took a can of regular soup and boiled it down to half the volume, you'd get the same thickness as condensed soup.

What is pho broth made of? ›

Beef broth: Pho usually has a clear beef broth made from bones and meat that's flavored with star anise and cloves for a subtle spice. Rice noodles: These flat noodles are delicate in texture and usually cooked separately to prevent them from getting mushy.

What is the difference between northern and southern Vietnamese soup? ›

The focus of the Northern Pho is on the taste of its clear and simple broth, whereas its Southern counterpart is slightly sweeter and bolder.

What is the national dish of the Vietnamese? ›

Pho - the reputable Vietnamese national dish. What would a culinary tour be without Pho - the renowned Vietnamese national dish? Like the majority of well-known Vietnamese dishes, pho began in modest circ*mstances. There are still many unknowns regarding Pho's history.

What is the difference between Thai soup and Vietnamese soup? ›

Whereas Viet Nam prefers a meat-flavored broth with only one type of noodles that remains faithful to simple, basic ingredients, Thailand enjoys a much wider variety of noodles, herbs, and spices that can be individualized to suit the preference of the diner.

Is Vietnamese noodle soup the same as pho? ›

Pho is a Vietnamese noodle soup topped with awesome things like fresh bean sprouts, basil, and chilies.

Do you have to water down condensed soup? ›

Just add the appropriate amount of water, then simmer and serve for a deliciously filling soup in an instant. For a creamier result, combine half portions of milk and water.

Are you supposed to add water to condensed soup? ›

The product is called "condensed soup" because it has been concentrated and has had some of the water removed, making it more shelf-stable and easier to store. To prepare, you will need to add water to the condensed soup, typically in a 1:1 ratio, so that it reaches the desired consistency.

Can you eat condensed chicken noodle soup without heating it up? ›

Yes, It's Okay To Eat Cold Soup Straight Out Of The Can.

What spices are used in Vietnamese cooking? ›

Vietnamese food is characterized by the use of fresh herbs, such as mint, cilantro, basil, and lemongrass, along with spices like star anise, cinnamon, and ginger. These ingredients provide a refreshing and lively flavor profile that makes the cuisine stand out.

What does pho mean in Vietnamese? ›

Pho is a type of Vietnamese soup that usually consists of bone broth, rice noodles, spices, and thinly sliced meat (usually beef). Though “pho” technically refers to the noodles and not the soup itself, most people consider the dish a singular unit.

What is the main spice in pho? ›

Spices: There are 5 important spices in pho broth — star anise, whole cloves, cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods, and coriander seeds. I really recommend using the whole (not ground) spices if possible, which we will briefly toast to bring out extra flavor.

What is the most delicious dish in Vietnam? ›

Phở is the quintessential Vietnamese dish, the word phở referring to the type of noodle used in the recipe. Flat rice noodles dance around with medium-rare slivers of beef or boiled chicken in a hearty beef stock. The more popular of the two widely known varieties is phở Hanoi.

How do you pronounce pho? ›

"Pho," which first appeared in print in English in 1935, was borrowed from a Vietnamese word which was spelled "phở." English speakers replaced the vowel with "o" but preserved the pronunciation as "fuh," rather than "foh." Another Vietnamese food word that was borrowed into English is "nuoc mam," which refers to a ...

What is soup in Vietnam? ›

Pho is a staple Vietnamese noodle soup that has become a beloved dish around the world. It's a complex and flavorful soup made from rice noodles, beef or chicken broth, and a variety of fresh herbs and spices.

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