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cafeteria noodles in large braiser with a wooden spoon

Cafeteria Noodles Recipe

Cafeteria Noodles are creamy, savory egg noodles cooked in chicken broth and herbs, then thickened from scratch with no canned soup.
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Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 346kcal
Author: Ruth Truett

Equipment

  • braiser or heavy-bottomed pot
  • spatula
  • measuring spoons
  • measuring cups

Ingredients

  • 16 oz egg noodles
  • 6 cups chicken broth see note below
  • 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
  • 1 teaspoon granulated onion
  • 1 teaspoon mushroom powder
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme leaves
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch plus equal amount of water
  • ¼ cup heavy cream
  • kosher salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Season the broth. Add the chicken broth, granulated garlic, granulated onion, dried thyme, and mushroom powder, if using, to a large braiser or heavy-bottomed pot.
    cafeteria noodles seasonings
  • Add the noodles. Add the egg noodles and bring to a gentle boil. Cook according to package directions until tender, stirring often to prevent the noodles from sticking to each other or the bottom of the pot. Do not drain.
    adding egg noodles to a large pot
  • Make the slurry and thicken the noodles. In a small bowl, whisk the cornstarch with a little cold water until completely smooth. Reduce the heat to low and slowly stir the cornstarch slurry into the noodles. Cook for 1–2 minutes, stirring, until the remaining broth thickens into a creamy sauce that coats the noodles.
    cornstarch slurry for thickening the cafeteria noodles
  • Finish. Remove noodles from the heat and stir in the heavy cream. Taste and season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper as needed.
    heavy cream being pour into cafeteria noodles
  • Serve. Remove from the heat and serve warm. The sauce will continue to thicken as the noodles sit; stir in a splash of chicken broth if needed to loosen it back up.
    cafeteria noodles garnished with fresh chives in a gray bowl on a wooden surface

Video

Notes

The broth level matters: Add enough chicken broth to come just barely to the top of the noodles without completely submerging them. This gives the noodles enough liquid to cook while leaving you with the right amount of broth to thicken into that creamy sauce.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 346kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.05g | Cholesterol: 79mg | Sodium: 891mg | Potassium: 246mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 205IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 2mg
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