Creamy Chicken and Noodles over Mashed Potatoes

Step 1

your chicken broth is flavorful enough when you add it to the pot. Any flavor your noodles will have will come from this broth. If it's bland now, your noodles will be bland when they're finished. So taste. Does the broth need salt and pepper? Do you need to add chicken bouillon or chicken base? If so, add them now. Taste again and when it's where you want it you can start heating the broth.

Step 2

the chicken broth to a boil over medium high heat. Be sure to use a large enough stock pot or pan so the broth won't boil over as it's heated.

Step 3

the 1 cup of whole milk and the butter to the broth as it's heating up.

Step 4

the chicken broth is at a full rolling boil, add the egg noodles you have chosen. When I use fresh homemade noodles, I gather them a handful at a time and add them to the boiling chicken broth, rather than dumping them all in at once. That helps prevent them from clumping together. With dried or frozen noodles it won't matter as much. You can just pour them into the boiling chicken broth.

Step 5

to make sure all the egg noodles are separated and then reduce the heat to medium, to allow the noodles to cook. Which noodles you chose will determine how long this takes. The frozen noodles will take the longest and homemade pasta or dried egg noodles will cook more quickly. Again, taste and be sure the noodles are at the level of doneness and texture that you want.

Step 6

to stir in the chicken when the noodles are cooked through and tender. The chicken is already cooked, so, all that's needed is to warm it through in the broth. It will take 3 to 5 minutes, tops. If you made homemade chicken broth, use the chicken you cooked to make it. If you're using a rotisserie chicken, it will heat quickly, too. If you are using Slow Cooker Chicken Breasts or Baked Chicken Breasts that you have already prepared and stored in the fridge or freezer, they may take one or two more minutes to heat from cold.

Step 7

the chicken into bite-size pieces. That is our preference, at least. We aren't huge fans of shredded chicken, here, but if that's what your family loves, that's definitely the way you should do it. I cut large, meaty bites of chicken to add to our homemade chicken and noodles.

Step 8

the heat to medium low, once the chicken has been added.

Step 9

at your chicken and noodles, now.  You've done it!  It's chicken and noodles.  Chicken noodle soup!  You could literally eat this, as is.  But, take it next level.

Step 10

to make this chicken and noodles creamy is to whisk together the flour and cold milk (or water) in a bowl or measuring cup. Whisk until it is smooth with no lumps and then add it to the pot of simmering chicken and noodles.

Step 11

and continue cooking for 1 or 2 minutes, until the broth has thickened and become creamy.

Step 12

your final taste test. Salt? Pepper?