Amish Chicken and Noodles is a comforting, hearty dish from Amish country, especially popular in Pennsylvania. It’s a simple, home-style meal featuring chicken, egg noodles, and a rich, flavorful broth. The noodles are often made fresh, giving them a soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Unlike some other chicken noodle dishes, Amish versions are less saucy and more like a creamy chicken noodle comfort dish.
Here’s a classic recipe you can try at home:
Ingredients:
- 1 whole chicken (about 3–4 lbs) or 3–4 lbs chicken parts (bone-in for flavor)
- 10 cups water
- 2 teaspoons salt (for the broth)
- 2 large carrots, peeled and sliced
- 2 celery stalks, sliced
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 4–5 cups all-purpose flour (for noodles)
- 4 large eggs (for noodles)
- 2–3 tablespoons butter
Instructions:
- Make the chicken broth:
- Place the chicken in a large pot with water and 2 teaspoons salt.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 1–1.5 hours until chicken is cooked through. Skim off any foam.
- Prepare the noodles:
- Mix flour and eggs to form a soft dough. Knead lightly and roll out to about 1/8-inch thickness. Cut into wide strips (like pappardelle).
- Let them rest while the broth finishes cooking.
- Cook the vegetables:
- Remove the chicken from the pot and set aside to cool.
- Add carrots, celery, and onion to the broth. Simmer until tender, about 10–15 minutes.
- Cook the noodles:
- Once the vegetables are tender, add the noodles to the simmering broth. Cook until noodles are tender, about 8–10 minutes.
- Shred the chicken:
- Remove skin and bones, then shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Return to the pot.
- Finish the dish:
- Stir in butter for richness. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve hot, often with a slice of crusty bread.
💡 Tips:
- Fresh homemade noodles make the dish extra special, but store-bought wide egg noodles work too.
- Some Amish cooks like to add a little cream or milk for a creamier version.
- Leftovers taste even better the next day, as the flavors meld together.
If you want, I can also give a shortcut version using store-bought noodles and rotisserie chicken that’s almost as good but much faster. Do you want me to do that?
