Slow-Cooker Lemony Chicken Noodle Soup

1. Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high. Sprinkle the chicken with the pepper and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt. Add the chicken to the skillet; cook until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer the chicken to a 6-quart slow cooker. Stir the stock, onions, carrots, celery, garlic, thyme sprigs and remaining 1 1/4 teaspoons salt into the slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW until the vegetables are tender, about 3 hours and 30 minutes. Add the noodles; cover and cook on LOW until the noodles are al dente and the chicken is done, 30 minutes to 1 hour. Discard the thyme sprigs.

2. Remove the chicken from the slow cooker; cool slightly. Remove and discard the bones from the chicken. Shred the chicken using 2 forks. Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker; stir in the lemon zest, juice and parsley. Ladle the soup into bowls and serve hot.

Tips

Multicooker Directions: In Step 1, transfer the browned chicken to the inner pot of a 6-quart multicooker. Stir the stock, onions, carrots, celery, garlic, thyme sprigs and remaining 1 1/4 teaspoons salt into the pot. Lock the lid; turn Pressure Valve to “Venting.” Cook on SLOW COOK [Normal] until the vegetables are tender, about 4 hours. Add the noodles to the pot; stir. Re-lock the lid; ensure that the Pressure Valve is turned to “Venting.” Cook on SLOW COOK [Normal] until the noodles are al dente and the chicken is done, 30 minutes to 1 hour. Discard the thyme sprigs. Debone and shred the chicken as in Step 2, and return to the pot; stir in the lemon zest, juice and parsley. Ladle the soup into bowls and serve hot.