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    Home » Recipe Round-ups

    Published: Jun 26, 2022 · Modified: Jun 26, 2022 by Zen · This post may contain affiliate links.

    13 Chinese side dishes for Chicken Noodle Soup

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    A list of the 13 best Chinese side dishes for Chicken Noodle Soup, from salads to breads.

    Close up of a salted egg tofu with chilli and curry leaves dish.
    Jump to:
    • How to freeze
    • Variations
    • Tips
    • FAQ
    • Snacks
    • Vegetables
    • Mushrooms
    • Tofu
    • Meat
    • Carbs

    Chicken Noodle Soup is a classic dish that you can serve on its own, as a side dish or as a main. In its most basic version, this comfort food is a simple recipe that consists of chicken broth, egg noodles and salt. You can throw in chicken meat and vegetables to bulk up the light broth, if serving as a main dish, or serve it with some of the following sides.

    Tip: chicken noodle soup is is a favourite when one is feeling under the weather- if so, load up on the garlic cloves in the soup, pair it with saltine crackers and this turmeric, lemon and ginger tea, which is full of flu-busting ingredients!

    How to freeze

    Soups freeze well but noodles don't- they turn soggy and mushy! I recommend making the chicken soup separately ahead of time and freezing it (it should last for up to 3 months if stored properly)- you can simply bring it to the boil, then add the noodles, when you want to eat it.

    If you've already made a huge batch of soup and noodles, separate the chicken broth from the noodles, and freeze the liquid after it has cooled. The noodles can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge and eaten over the next 1-2 days.

    Variations

    A bowl of vegan asian wonton soup with vegetarian balls
    Sprinkle some fried red onion slices or fried garlic bits on the vegan soup, if you have them!
    1. Creamy chicken noodle soup: add a few tablespoons of cream to the soup just before switching it off- heat up the soup but don't let it boil (after adding the cream) as you don't want it to split! Pair with some crusty bread and cheddar cheese or mozzarella cheese to complement the cream.
    2. Asian chicken noodle soup: Add some dried shrimp or dried scallops to the soup base, use fish sauce instead of salt to season then drizzle sesame oil and cilantro (or spring onions) on top.
      • Alternatively, use this chicken coconut soup base for the noodles.
    3. Vegan chicken noodle soup: If you're vegan, substitute with vegetable broth or try this plant-based chicken wonton noodle soup, which tastes just like the original!

    Tips

    1. How to make Campbell's Chicken noodle soup better: add some diced vegetables and fresh herbs, such as fresh basil and/or parsley, to brighten the flavours. A squeeze of lemon or lime never hurt too, and don't forget to top with black pepper.
    2. For juicy & tender chicken: Use chicken thighs- dark meat has more fat and thus so much more flavour than chicken breasts. It also doesn't get as dry so you don't have to worry so much about overcooking! 
      • Leftover roast or rotisserie chicken makes for an easy addition to a bowl of chicken noodle soup
    3. For a light and clear soup base: cook the noodles in a separate pot from the soup, as it will release starch which will make the soup cloudy.


    FAQ

    Is Chicken Noodle Soup good for acid reflux?

    Acid reflux, also known as heartburn, can be triggered by anything from pregnancy, being overweight to the food one eats. Different people have different food triggers, but some common foods to avoid if you suffer from GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disorder- the fancy name for acid reflux) are fatty foods, acidic foods such as tomato-based sauces, tea and spicy foods. Depending on what goes into your chicken soup, it may or may not trigger your acid reflux- generally speaking, chicken noodle soup tends to be lighter (less fatty) and assuming it's not acidic, oily or spicy, it could be OK for people with acid reflux, but do observe your reaction after eating it before giving it the green light.

    Is Chicken Noodle soup good for you?

    It depends on whether it is shop-bought or homemade. Canned/ shop bought chicken noodle soup tends to have a lot of sodium as well as preservatives, which isn't great for you. Even homemade chicken soup varies widely depending on the ingredients- some have cream and can thus be more fattening/ bad for your cholesterol whilst others are lighter and more like chicken consommés.

    Snacks

    These fingers foods are some of the best sides as they're full of flavour but won't make you so full you can't enjoy the main meal.

    A golden fried vegan curry puff snack on a vintage plate.
    Asian empanadas make a great side dish for many dishes- just don't make yours too big!
    Cream cheese wontons
    My ultra crispy cream cheese wontons are stuffed with the most delicious filling and are so easy to make. These cream cheese rangoons taste like they came from a restaurant!
    Click here for this finger food recipe.
    Close-up of golden cream cheese wontons on a white plate.
    Vegetarian Potato Curry Puff Recipe
    A vegetarian curry puff recipe with potato filling- vegan actually- that uses cupboard staples. Best of all, it's a no-knead dough that doesn't leave you with sticky hands. Delicious, easy to make and perfect for meal prep as it tastes good hot and cold!
    Click here for the vegan potato puffs recipe.
    Vegan potato curry puff fried to a crisp golden brown on a plate.

    Vegetables

    A bowl of spicy cold cucumber salad.

    Sweet potato fries are 1 of the most popular side dishes out there- they taste great with sambal mayo!- but why not widen your diet and try butternut squash fries instead? (Or grilled asparagus spears make super healthy veggie fries!)

    Fresh salad is always a great addition to a meal but instead of avocado salad or Italian salads, why not try Korean mashed potato salad (gamja salad), Chinese spinach salad or Chinese Cucumber salad, a very popular side dish?

    Cold cucumber salad recipe
    The easy Chinese cold cucumber salad recipe is delicious and full of spicy flavor. Best of all, it only requires 4-ingredients and takes 5-10 minutes to make. 
    Click here for the Chinese cucumber salad.
    Close-up of red spicy asian cucumber salad.

    Mushrooms

    Eryngii mushrooms seared in a butter and soy sauce, served on a pan.

    Mushroom recipes make for some of the best side dishes as they tend to cook very quickly. Just remember to rinse them lightly instead of soaking, as the mushrooms will absorb all the water like a sponge.

    3-ingredients eryngii mushroom recipe:
    A 25-minute, easy to make and delicious eryngii mushroom recipe. These have a nice meaty texture which make them great meat substitutes for vegan meals.
    Click here for the king trumpet mushrooms recipe.
    Eryngii mushrooms seared in a butter and soy sauce, served on a Le Creuset pan.
    Shimeji mushrooms
    This shimeji is a great side dish for seafood. The garlic, butter, and soy sauce flavors play so well with the shimeji. 
    Click here for the mushroom stir-fry recipe.
    A bowl of stir-fried himeji mushrooms besides white rice.

    For more Asian side dishes which use mushrooms, click here.


    Tofu

    Tofu is a good side dish for those on a budget as it tends to be inexpensive- it also absorbs the flavour of its sauce very well. The umami-ness and creaminess of this salted egg tofu makes for a nice contrast with the lightness of the chicken soup.

    Salted Egg Tofu (Fried tofu & salted egg yolk sauce)
    This salted egg tofu is an easy but delicious recipe- the fried tofu is crispy and smothered with a creamy and buttery salted egg yolk sauce that has hints of the citrusy curry leaf and the spice of the chilli. Yum!
    Click here for the tofu in salted egg sauce.
    Salted egg yolk tofu with a box of tea.

    Meat

    Best Poached One Pot Chinatown Soy Sauce Chicken Recipe
    This Cantonese classic chicken is an easy-to-recreate-restaurant dish that can be made in 1 pot! It's also the gift that keeps giving as the leftover poaching liquid can be used for so many things (see post above). (Inspired by 4 recipes: Woks Of Life, SCMP, Burning Kitchen and Red House Spice)
    Click here for 1-pot chicken.
    Close-up of chicken poached in dark soy sauce.
    Easy Chinese Braised Soy Sauce Chicken Thighs
    A simplified but still delicious version of the most popular recipe on my website (Chinatown soya sauce chicken): this easy Chinese braised soy sauce chicken thighs recipe is simple to make in one pot and done in ⅓ the time!
    Click here for the Chinese soya sauce chicken.
    A plate of soy sauce chicken with hard boiled egg and spicy sambal
    Easy 12345 pork ribs (5-ingredients)
    The ultimate sticky caramelized Chinese pork ribs made in 1 pot- no cutting required!
    Click here for the easy Chinese braised pork.
    3 pieces of caramelised 12345 spare ribs on a plate.
    Tau yew bak (Soy sauce braised pork) (Lou bak)
    A super easy recipe to make for a weekday dinner after work, this braised pork dish is a delicious comfort food that doesn't require much prep time.
    Click here for the Singaporean pork recipe.
    A bowl of rice with tau yew bak, or soy sauce slow cooked pork.

    Carbs

    Instead of garlic bread, fluffy biscuits, cornbread and pretzel rolls, why not try some Asian breads?

    Crispy and flaky pan fried scallion pancakes on parchment paper.
    Taiwanese green onion pancake recipe (Cong you bing)
    Taiwanese green onion pancake (Cong you bing), also known as Chinese scallion pancake, is a delicious savoury street snack that is easy to batch make and freeze.
    Click here for the Taiwanese pancake recipe.
    Crispy and flaky pan fried scallion pancakes on parchment paper.

    Some people like to pair noodle soup with a grilled cheese sandwich or vegetable panini, but I personally find it too heavy a combination- these steamed mantou buns are much lighter in texture, and are a great way to bulk up the dish without stuffing oneself!

    Tip: You can also pop the mantou into the air fryer, if you're not a fan of steamed bread.

    Easy 1-rise Japanese matcha buns (steamed mantou) recipe
    An easy matcha bun (Chinese mantou bao) recipe which only requires 1 proof (1 rise), along with a mantou FAQ section on how to use a metal steamer (instead of the traditional bamboo steamer) and why your naturally vegan matcha buns aren't smooth.
    Click here for the green tea bread recipe.
    1 matcha green tea bun before being steamed.
    Spiral pandan mantou recipe (Steamed fluffy Chinese buns)
    A prettier version of the traditional Chinese steamed bun!
    Click here for the pandan bread recipe.
    A few steamed spiral mantou buns on a serving board.

    If these Chinese side dishes aren't enough, here are some Asian desserts to complete your meal:

    • Osmanthus Jelly Recipe (Gui Hua Gao)
    • Easy Chinese Bird's Nest Soup Dessert
    • Easy glutinous rice balls soup (Plain tang yuan in soup)
    • 2-ingredient agar agar jelly recipe (Kanten jelly) (Vegan) (GF)

    What is your favourite side dish for chicken noodle soup? Let me know in the comments! If you've found this list of Chinese side dishes useful to you, do share it on your social media!


    I have other recipes you may like here! :)

    • What to do with leftover sushi rice (15 ideas)
    • 24 Best Chinese Congee side dishes
    • 15 Best sushi rice substitutes
    • 8 Best Calamansi Substitutes

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    Greedygirlgourmet eating 2 sandwiches in Scotland

    Hi I'm Zhen also known as GGG! I couldn't boil water till I was 18 but after living abroad (in St. Andrews then London) for 11 years and having to cook for myself, I now love having friends and families over, and cooking for them. I tend to be slightly obsessive-compulsive, so I like to try many different versions of a recipe before coming up with a "Best" version.

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