Copycat Bob Evans Chicken-N-Noodles

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Served over mashed potatoes and a biscuit, this copycat recipe for Bob Evans chicken-n-noodles is the ultimate comfort meal.

You might also like my copycat Bob Evan's banana bread recipe, slow-cooker pot roast, or slow-cooker chicken and noodles.

If you live in the Midwest and Southeast, chances are, you've gone to Bob Evans or at least heard of the restaurant. When we lived in Ohio, it was one of our family's favorite places to go for an old-fashioned comfort meal. I prefer it to Cracker Barrel. Their deep-dish chicken and noodles are served over mashed potatoes, which at first seemed odd to me, but after living in Ohio for 4 years, I realized it was very normal. Many places where we lived served Amish noodles over mashed potatoes. Bob Evans used to serve it with a biscuit on the side, but now serves it over both a homemade biscuit and mashed potatoes. The chicken and noodles act as a gravy, and trust me, you need to try it too.

Why I Like This Recipe

Slow cooker and stove top recipe. I prefer making this dish in the slow cooker for full flavor, but you can easily adjust it to make on a stove top, too. I'll share the stove top directions at the end of the recipe card.
Simple ingredients. Chicken and noodles is a simple and comforting meal made with simple ingredients. You can switch up the vegetables and season the meal to your liking, but I kept mine nice and basic. I use cream of chicken soup as the base for the broth, but you can use homemade cream of chicken soup as well. I do not have a recipe for homemade cream of chicken soup, but there are many recipes online.
Feeds a crowd. Because I serve my chicken and noodles over mashed potatoes, this recipe will go far and easily serve 10-12. If you eat the chicken and noodles like soup and don't serve it with mashed potatoes, it will serve 6-8.

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Why I Like This Recipe
Tips and Tricks
Ingredients
How To Make Bob Evans Chicken and Noodles
Copycat Chicken-N-Noodles FAQs
More Comfort Meals To Make
Copycat Bob Evans Chicken-n-Noodles

Tips and Tricks

Frozen Noodles. For this recipe, frozen egg noodles are best because they closely replicate homemade noodles. I use dried noodles for my classic chicken and noodles recipe, and it is delicious as well, but to replicate the texture of the homestyle noodles at Bob Evan's, I recommend using Reames. I use the full 24 oz. bag of frozen egg noodles. If using dried egg noodles, use 10-12 ounces.
Serving leftovers. Leftover chicken and noodles are delicious the next day. The noodles will soak up some of the broth, so I add a small amount of water or chicken broth (about ¼ cup) to each bowl before reheating it in the microwave to restore the gravy consistency.

Ingredients

Two cans of cream of chicken soup, one bag of frozen noodles, bowl of spices, plate of chicken breasts, box of chicken broth, bowl of chopped onions and carrots, stick of butter and chicken base.

Chicken: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts work best for this recipe. I prefer using thawed chicken breasts over frozen ones as they cook up quicker.
Cream of chicken soup: It lends the broth a rich flavor. I use cream of chicken soup as the base for the broth, but you can use homemade cream of chicken soup as well. I do not have a recipe for homemade cream of chicken soup, but there are many recipes online.
Noodles: I recommend using Reames frozen homestyle egg noodles found in the freezer section of the grocery store. You can also use dried noodles, but make sure to use fewer if you do.
Vegetables: Bob Evans uses carrots, celery, and onions. My family does not care for celery, so I left it out. I also added a bit of minced garlic from a jar.
Broth: I use regular chicken broth, but you can use low-sodium if you prefer. You can also use water and flavor it with chicken base or bouillon.
Chicken base: Because you are using chicken broth, you do not need to use chicken base, but I always add a tablespoon to my chicken soup recipes. It adds great flavor. If you use water instead of chicken broth, you can add more chicken base to compensate. Follow the directions on the back of the container.
Spices: I used a mixture of seasoning salt (Johnny's or Lawry's), poultry seasoning, pepper, and garlic powder.
Butter: ½ stick of butter, cut into slices, and added to the slow cooker gives the sauce a delicious flavor.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How To Make Bob Evans Chicken and Noodles

Slow cooker with diced carrots and onions.

Step 1: Dice carrots and onions. Add to a slow cooker with chicken broth and minced garlic.

Slowcooker with broth, vegetables, chicken, and butter.

Step 2: Add cream of chicken soup, spices, chicken breasts, chicken base, and butter.

Step 3: Cover and cook on high for 4-5 hours.

Slow cooker with cooked chicken breast in tongs.

Step 4: Remove chicken and shred or dice into small pieces. Add chicken back into the slow cooker.

A bag of frozen egg noodles in a slow cooker.

Step 5: Add frozen noodles to the slow cooker. Cover and continue to cook for an additional 45-60 minutes, until the noodles are soft and cooked through.

Chicken-n-noodles ladled over mashed potatoes.

Step 6: Serve plain, over mashed potatoes, with a biscuit (or both!).

Copycat Chicken-N-Noodles FAQs

What can I use instead of canned cream of chicken soup to make chicken and noodles.

If you prefer to not use canned cream of chicken soup, feel free to make your own. I do not have a recipe for this, but there are many online.

How does Bob Evans serve chicken and noodles?

At Bob Evans, you can purchase a bowl of chicken and noodles, or a deep-dish meal of chicken and noodles served over a biscuit and mashed potatoes. Both ways are delicious.

Can I use frozen chicken breasts instead of thawed in the slow cooker?

Yes, you can easily make chicken dishes using frozen chicken breasts in the slow cooker, but for this recipe, I recommend using thawed chicken breasts. They will cook evenly with the carrots and finish at the same time.

What are the best biscuits to serve with chicken and noodles?

Homemade biscuits or frozen (then baked) biscuits are best for spooning chicken and noodles on top of because they are sturdy and don't get soggy quickly. I prefer the texture of these biscuits over refrigerator biscuits that come in a can. My 3-ingredient biscuit recipe is easy to make and yields perfect results every time.

How do you reheat leftover chicken and noodles?

Leftover chicken and noodles are delicious the next day. The noodles will soak up some of the broth, so I add a small amount of water or chicken broth (about ¼ cup) to each bowl before reheating it in the microwave to restore the gravy consistency.