Authentic Vietnamese Chicken Pho Noodle Soup

Introduction

A bowl of Authentic Vietnamese Chicken Pho Noodle Soup (Phở Gà) is more than just comfort food—it’s a nourishing, aromatic meal that soothes from the very first spoonful. The crystal-clear broth, tender poached chicken, and fresh herbs make this soup a satisfying and healthy choice that’s ready to impress both new and seasoned fans of Vietnamese cuisine. With its simplicity and depth of flavor, this recipe is perfect for cooks seeking to recreate genuine pho at home without fuss.

Why You’ll Love This Chicken Pho

What sets this Authentic Vietnamese Chicken Pho Noodle Soup apart is its straightforward, clean flavors. The broth is infused with roasted aromatics and spices, resulting in a deeply savory yet delicate base. Rice noodles and poached chicken offer familiar comfort, and a finishing touch of fresh herbs transforms this from a humble meal into a vibrant crowd-pleaser.

Creating an Aromatic Broth

The essence of great chicken pho lies in the broth. Begin by roasting onion and ginger until fragrant and slightly charred. Add these to a pot with chicken, water, toasted spices, and a dash of fish sauce. Gentle simmering ensures a clear, aromatic broth, while skimming impurities maintains that signature pho clarity. Don’t rush this step—letting the flavors meld is key!

Noodle and Topping Tips

Use flat rice noodles for an authentic texture. Soak or boil according to package instructions, and refresh under cool water to avoid sticking. Set up a toppings station with bean sprouts, lime wedges, fresh cilantro, scallions, Thai basil, and chili for diners to customize each bowl. A dash of hoisin or sriracha adds even more personality to your soup.

Serving Suggestions for Authentic Vietnamese Chicken Pho

For a full experience, serve this comforting pho fresh and piping hot. Encourage everyone to add their favorite herbs and squeeze over plenty of lime. This makes for a beautiful communal meal, especially when accompanied by light Vietnamese sides like pickled vegetables or crispy spring rolls.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields about 4 generous bowls of chicken pho. Each bowl delivers approximately 300-350 calories, largely depending on the amount of noodles and chicken. Rich in protein and packed with herbs, it’s a meal that satisfies without weighing you down.

Authentic Chicken Pho Noodle Soup (Recap)

With its deep, aromatic broth and bright garnishes, Vietnamese Chicken Pho delivers unforgettable flavor with straightforward steps. Whether it’s for a quiet lunch or family dinner, this authentic soup brings warmth and joy to any table.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe with CookifyAI to instantly generate a sorted shopping list for every ingredient, making grocery trips faster and ensuring you won’t forget anything on meal day.

Instructions

1. Roast aromatics: Place onion and ginger (cut sides down) directly on a baking tray or open flame for 4-5 minutes, until slightly charred and fragrant.
2. Toast spices: In a dry skillet, toast coriander seeds, cinnamon, cloves, and star anise until aromatic, about 2 minutes.
3. Make broth: In a large pot, add the whole chicken, charred onion and ginger, toasted spices, 12 cups water, fish sauce, and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer gently for 45-60 minutes. Skim off any foam or impurities.
4. Remove chicken: Carefully remove the chicken and let cool. Shred the meat into bite-sized pieces, discarding skin and bones. Strain the broth to remove solids, returning only the clear liquid to the pot.
5. Cook rice noodles: Prepare noodles according to package directions. Drain and briefly rinse with cool water to prevent sticking.
6. Assemble: Divide noodles among bowls. Top with shredded chicken, then ladle hot broth over. Serve immediately with bean sprouts, scallions, cilantro, basil, lime wedges, and chilies on the side. Offer hoisin and sriracha for drizzling.

Weekly Meal Planning

This chicken pho is a fantastic addition to your weekly meal rotation. Save and schedule this recipe via CookifyAI for smart meal planning—automatically calculate your total ingredient needs across multiple recipes and get a combined, sectioned shopping list with no duplicates or missed items.

Planning Benefits:

• All ingredients calculated and organized for you, even if you’re making double batches or multiple meals
• Shopping lists sorted by store sections for speedy grocery trips
• Reduce food waste by only buying what you need
• Manage busy weeks with less stress by prepping meals ahead

Pro tip: When planning several meals including this pho, CookifyAI will spot overlapping ingredients (like ginger or cilantro) and sum up total quantities needed, ensuring you have enough for every dish you plan.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Enjoy the true taste of Vietnam with this authentic chicken pho, and let meal planning become the easiest—and tastiest—part of your week!