Green Curry Noodle Soup is the perfect cold-weather comfort food! Tender noodles in a luscious curry-spiced coconut milk broth with chicken and veggies — what’s not to love?!

Overhead image of Green Curry Noodle Soup

Green Curry Noodle Soup Recipe

Where I’m at, a bit of a cold spell has hit and we’ve been covered in a thick blanket of snow for the last few days. Which only means one thing — a hearty and comforting bowl of soup is in order!

While this Chicken Curry Soup was the first thing to come to mind, I also had a craving for some noodles and this tasty Vegetarian Thai Green Curry. So in an attempt to mash up all the cravings, we ended up with this very green, Green Curry Noodle Soup! It checks off all the boxes and is seriously comforting in the cold weather! Plus the whole family went nuts about it and it doesn’t take too long to whip together — win-win!

Process shots-- images of the oil, green onions, ginger, garlic, lemongrass, curry paste, and coriander being added to a pot and sautéed together

What Is Green Curry Sauce Made Of?

Green curry paste will differ a bit from brand to brand but typically you’ll find fresh green chiles, garlic, wild ginger, shallot, lemongrass, salt, Kaffir lime, sugar, galangal, spices (coriander seeds, cumin, cardamom, turmeric), pepper in the ingredient list.

The green curry paste in this recipe is the main flavor of this soup. Over the past few years, red and green curry pastes have become more mainstream and easier to find in regular grocery stores.

  • Where to find: You’ll likely find it in the international section of your grocery store. You’ll also find it in Asian grocery stores or online.
  • What brand to use: We’ve tested this soup with both Maesri® and Thai Kitchen®.

Is Green Curry Spicy?

Green curry paste can be fairly spicy or completely mild– depending on the brand.

The intensity of the curry paste will vary from brand to brand. You’ll want to use enough to ensure bold flavors without too much heat, but keep in mind coconut milk sweetness offsets the heat a lot.

Quick Tip

Add green curry paste slowly and to taste in this Green Curry Noodle Soup. You can always add more at the end for bolder flavors or more spice!

Process shots of the Green Curry Noodle Soup-- images of the chicken stock, coconut milk, edamame, soy sauce, and lime being added

What Goes Well With Green Curry?

Noodles, chicken, and frozen edamame are our favorite pairings with this Thai Green Curry Soup! More on each below:

Noodles

  • We love lo mein noodles (also found in the international section of your grocery store) best.
  • We have also tried ramen noodles (discard seasoning packets) and enjoyed those.
  • In a pinch even thin spaghetti will work — pretty much any thin long noodles you have on hand is a good bet.
  • Green curry rice noodle soup: We also tested rice noodles and enjoyed them, but the kids weren’t as enthusiastic.

Quick Tip

Whatever noodles you opt to add to this Green Curry Noodle Soup, make sure you’re boiling about 4 ounces — we’ve found this to be the perfect amount for the broth and chicken quantity.

Chicken

Buying a pre-cooked and seasoned chicken is a total time saver on its own, but to save even more time on the chicken, you can purchase rotisserie chicken meat already pulled from the bones and shredded or diced — many grocery stores sell this conveniently prepared chicken! Or make this grilled chicken and save some leftovers for this recipe.

To make Vegetarian Green Curry Noodle Soup, leave out the chicken or replace the chicken stock with vegetable stock.

Edamame

Frozen shelled edamame: Edamame is sold fresh or frozen in the store, but I typically use the frozen shelled soybeans since it’s hard for me to find fresh in my area. Don’t worry about thawing or boiling beforehand– they cook perfectly from frozen in the broth.

Process shots-- images of the lo mein and chicken being added and mixed together

Coconut Milk Notes

  • Coconut milk is an integral part of this soup. It’s sweet and nicely balances the spice from the curry paste. It’s also thick and creamy, which makes the soup taste rich and indulgent.
  • Look for shelf-stable, not refrigerated, cans of coconut milk. You’ll find canned coconut milk on the international aisle, with Latin or Asian products. We used Imperial Kitchen® when testing this recipe.
  • Use full-fat coconut milk for the best flavor and thickness. Lite coconut milk won’t offset the spice of the curry paste or offer the rich, full flavor that regular coconut milk will.
  • Stay away from cream of coconut, which is far too sweet. Coconut cream is too thick (and overpoweringly coconut flavored) for this soup.

Variations

Green Curry Noodle Soup Variations

  • Fish sauce is a common finishing ingredient in a Thai green curry chicken soup — it adds that final seasoning and umami flavor. Feel free to replace the soy sauce with fish sauce.
  • To make this Green curry Noodle Soup vegan, use vegetable stock instead of chicken stock and leave out the chicken.
  • If you can’t find shelled edamame, try frozen peas instead!

Ingredient shots of Green Curry Noodle Soup-- images of the bowls being prepped out to add the soup into

Green Curry Noodle Soup Tips

  • Take time to sauté the curry paste and ground coriander. Instead of immediately dumping everything else into the pot, we want to take time to sauté the ingredients thoroughly, which creates a more heightened flavor dimension. 
  • Finishing the soup. After the soup has simmered, it’s time to really bring the flavors alive! This is where some taste testing and experimentation come on your part. Add in extra fresh lime juice, sugar, soy sauce, salt, etc. all to personal preference. The amounts of these ingredients will vary based on the curry paste and coconut milk you used and your personal taste preferences. Salt is hugely important in helping to bring out and enhance existing flavors.

Up-close overhead image of the Green Curry Noodle Soup ready to be enjoyed

Storage

Green Curry Noodle Soup Storage

One of my favorite things about curry recipes is how well they store! Leftovers only get more and more flavorful as they sit.

That said, separate the broth from the noodles and chicken for storage. If you won’t be eating all of the soup on the same day, package up the noodles and chicken in one container with the broth in a separate one. To enjoy leftovers, heat the broth and pour over the chicken and noodles to warm those through.

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5 from 1 vote

Green Curry Noodle Soup

Green Curry Noodle Soup is the perfect cold-weather meal! Tender noodles, curry-spiced coconut broth, chicken, and veggies make it pure comfort food.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 4 large bowls

Equipment

  • 2 large pots

Ingredients 
 

  • 1 tablespoon oil coconut or vegetable
  • 1 bunch green onions
  • 1 tablespoon ginger paste see note 1
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1 tablespoon lemongrass paste optional, see note 2
  • 3 to 6 tablespoons green curry paste add to taste, see note 3
  • 2 teaspoons ground coriander
  • 1 (32-ounce) carton chicken stock 4 cups
  • 1 (13.5-ounce) can coconut milk full-fat, see note 4
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce not lite/low sodium
  • 1 lime
  • 1-1/2 cups frozen shelled edamame or frozen peas
  • 4 ounces lo mein noodles see note 5
  • 2 cups cooked chicken diced rotisserie or leftover grilled chicken
  • Salt and pepper
  • 2 to 3 teaspoons light brown sugar optional
  • Serving suggestions see note 6

Instructions 

  • Add oil to a large soup pot over medium-low heat. Thinly slice green onions and separate the white part from the green (save the top half for garnish). Measure out 1/2 cup of the white part of the sliced onions and add to pot along with ginger, garlic, and lemongrass. Sautรฉ until soft, 3โ€“5 minutes. While you get this going, bring a large pot of water to boil for the noodles.
  • Once the green onions are soft, add in curry paste and ground coriander. Stir constantly for 2โ€“4 minutes or until very fragrant. Donโ€™t rush thisโ€”weโ€™re creating the foundation of flavor. Increase heat to medium high and while stirring constantly and scraping the bottom of the pot, gradually add 1 cup of chicken stock until incorporated. Add the rest of the chicken stock and the entire can of coconut milk. Stir until smooth, then add frozen edamame, soy sauce, and 2 tablespoons lime juice.
  • Bring to a simmer. Once simmering, reduce heat to maintain a gentle simmer and cook uncovered for 5 minutes. Taste and season with salt and pepper; I add 1/4 teaspoon each. Add 2โ€“3 teaspoons brown sugar if needed to offset spice. Hereโ€™s where youโ€™ll want to adjust other flavorsโ€”see note 5.
  • Meanwhile, the water should be boiling. Boil lo mein noodles according to package directions. Drain and do not run under water. Right after draining, use tongs to divide the noodles equally among 4 soup bowls. Dice up the chicken and divide evenly among the bowls (1/2 cup diced chicken per bowl) right on top of noodles.
  • When ready to serve, ladle edamame and broth on top of the noodles and chicken. Top bowls with reserved green onions. Garnish, if desired, with fresh cilantro, additional lime wedges, and a drizzle of Sriracha if desired. Enjoy immediately.

Recipe Notes

Note 1: To keep things quick, grab refrigerated minced garlic and refrigerated ginger paste.
Note 2: Lemongrass paste can be tricky to find, but it adds loads of flavor. I find it at my local Asian market but often purchase it online for ease. If you canโ€™t find it, the soup is still tasty without it!
Note 2: Green curry paste is the main flavor in this soup. Look for it in the international aisle, an Asian grocery store, or online. Brands vary in flavor and heatโ€”Maesri is spicier, so use 2โ€“4 tablespoons, while Thai Kitchen works well with 4โ€“6 tablespoons. Start small and adjust to taste, as the coconut milk balances the spice beautifully.
Note 3: The coconut milk offsets the spice of the curry paste, so be sure to get a full-fat one (lite coconut milk also wonโ€™t thicken as nicely). I use Imperial Kitchen.
Note 4: I love lo mein (also found in the international section of your grocery store) but have also tried ramen noodles (discard seasoning packets), rice noodles (good but preferred lo mein), and even thin spaghetti will workโ€”just stick to the 4 ounces.
Note 5:ย Once the soup simmers, itโ€™s time to fine-tune the flavors! Adjust with lime juice, sugar, soy sauce, curry paste, or salt to your taste. The right balance depends on your ingredients and preferencesโ€”salt especially enhances all the flavors.
Note 6: Serving suggestions: cilantro, extra lime wedges, and/or Sriracha sauce.
Storage: If youโ€™d like to have this soup for leftovers, keep the noodles and chicken separate from the edamame broth. Combine them just before eating.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 521kcal | Carbohydrates: 33.2g | Protein: 36.7g | Fat: 26.1g | Cholesterol: 79.2mg | Sodium: 1106.5mg | Fiber: 4.7g | Sugar: 6.2g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Meet Chelsea


Hello, and welcome to Chelseaโ€™s Messy Apron! Iโ€™m Chelsea, the recipe developer, food photographer, and writer behind the site. Iโ€™m passionate about creating simple, reliable, and delicious recipes that anyone can make.

Thanks for stopping byโ€”I hope you find something delicious to make!

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