Vegan Chicken Noodle Soup

Name: Vegan Chicken Noodle Soup
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 14 to 16 ounces extra-firm tofu (pressed and drained, cut into ¾-inch cubes); 1 tablespoon tamari (or soy sauce); 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast; 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning; 2 to 3 teaspoons olive oil ((optional)); Drizzle of olive oil (or vegetable broth); 1 medium onion (diced); 4 medium carrots (sliced into 1/4-inch rounds (about 1 1/2 cups)); 4 ribs celery (thinly sliced into half-moons (about 1 cup)); 4 cloves garlic (minced); 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning; 1 teaspoon dried thyme (or 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves); 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning; 6 cups vegetable broth (plus more as needed); 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast; 8 ounces dry pasta; Salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste); Lemon juice (to taste (optional)); 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley (for garnish (optional))

👩🏼‍🌾 Ingredients

Chopped carrot, celery, onion, and garlic, vegetable broth, dried noodles, seasoning, tamari, nutritional yeast, fresh parsley, and one block tofu on a white marble board.

Ingredients for Vegan Chicken Noodle Soup

Extra-firm tofu, seasoned with nutritional yeast and poultry seasoning, and either baked or air fried, tastes just like chicken! Use super firm pre-pressed tofu to save time. (Try Nasoya or Wildwood brands).

Nutritional yeast adds vitamin B₁₂, protein, and an umami flavor to this Vegan Chicken Noodle Soup recipe.

Vegan No-Chicken Broth is perfect for adding even more chicken soup flavor, but any vegetable broth will work. Use low sodium for a healthier option.

Poultry seasoning is a dried seasoning made of sage, thyme, rosemary, marjoram, nutmeg, and onion powder.

Tamari (or tamari shoyu) is a Japanese sauce made from fermented soybeans. You can substitute tamari for soy sauce in most recipes. It has a thicker consistency and is less salty than Chinese soy sauce. It's an ideal gluten-free substitute for soy sauce as it's typically made without wheat, while soy sauce contains wheat. Make sure to check the label for gluten-free.

See recipe card for quantities.

🧅 Substitutions

Tofu - instead of extra-firm tofu, you can use tempeh, soy curls, sietan, or chickpeas

Noodles - use gluten-free pasta to make this gluten free

Nutritional yeast - omit as desired

Parsley - substitute with fresh cilantro or omit as needed

Dried thyme - Dried thyme is about three times as concentrated as fresh thyme. If using fresh thyme in this recipe, substitute the dried thyme for about 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves.

Olive oil - Omit for oil-free

Visit my Vegan Soups and Stews page for more easy and healthy vegan soup recipes.

📖 Instructions

Tofu cubes in a glass bowl with tamari, nutritional yeast flakes and poultry seasoning.

Step 1. Toss the tofu cubes with tamari. Add the nutritional yeast, poultry seasoning, and oil (if using) and toss to coat evenly.

Seasoned tofu cubes on a silver mesh air fryer baking tray.

Step 2. Either bake the tofu for about 20 minutes, or until crispy. Or air fry for about 10 minutes.

Golden oven baked crispy tofu cubes on a white plate.

Step 3. Continue cooking the tofu as needed until the desired crispiness. Set aside.

Mirepoix of carrot, onion, and celery, and minced garlic with seasonings cooking in a white saucepan.

Step 4. Aromatics: Cook the onion until translucent. Add the carrot and celery. Cook until the vegetables are just softened. Add the garlic, poultry seasoning, thyme, and Italian seasoning.

Onion, carrot, celery, seasoning, and pasta simmering in broth in a white saucepan.

Step 5. Simmer: Pour in the vegetable broth and bring it to a simmer. Mix in the nutritional yeast and noodles. Simmer covered for about 8 minutes, or until the noodles are al dente.

Vegan chicken noodle soup with carrot, onion, celery and tofu cubes in a white bowl with fresh parsley.

Step 6. Season: Add lemon juice, salt, and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Mix in the tofu. Garnish with fresh parsley for serving.

💡 Expert Tips

For crispy tofu: Spread the tofu in a single layer on a large baking sheet or use an air fryer. Do not overcrowd the cubes or they will steam instead of brown. Use a little oil to get them extra crispy. Remember to toss them halfway so they cook evenly.

Do not skip the poultry seasoning. It gives this dish a true chicken soup flavor.

Cook the noodles until al dente. They will continue to soften so do not overcook.

Storage: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 4 days with noodles, and up to 5 days without.

🙋🏽‍♀️ Recipe FAQs

Can you freeze Vegan Chicken Noodle Soup?

Yes! For best results, cook the noodles separately at the time of serving. Freeze the tofu and vegetable soup in separate containers, and add the tofu and noodles to the soup when reheating.

What can I substitute for egg noodles in chicken soup?

Fettuccine, linguine, spaghetti, rice noodles, and vermicelli are all good substitutes.

How do I make Vegan Chicken Noodle Soup ahead of time?

Keep the noodles separate for serving so they do not get mushy. Prepare the vegetable soup and tofu and refrigerate them separately in airtight containers for up to 5 days. Prepare the noodles beforehand and refrigerate, or cook them at the time of serving.

📖 Recipe