Name: Homemade Pho for Beginners
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 8 h
Total time: 8 h 5 min
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Ingredients: 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs; 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth (2 32-ounce cartons); 3 cloves garlic, grated; 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger; 1 tablespoon soy sauce, or coconut aminos or Tamari; 1 tablespoons fish sauce; 12 ounces dried thin rice noodles; 2 green onions, sliced, whites and greens divided; 2 cups bean sprouts; 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves; 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves; 1 jalapeno, thinly sliced; 2 limes, sliced into wedges

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This homemade Pho recipe is easy to make at home and still has all the flavors of the classic Vietnamese soup. It’s the perfect beginner recipe.

Every incredible bowl of Pho begins with a good broth, and in this recipe, I’ll show you how to make your own in the slow cooker with chicken broth and fresh aromatics.

Easy Homemade Pho

Homemade Pho is one of the easiest chicken noodle soups to make at home. It is layered with the complex flavors of fresh toppings, protein, and thin rice noodles in a savory broth.

While traditional Pho broth is simmered on the stove-top for hours, I like to prepare it in the slow-cooker as a hands-free method.

When dinner is ready, everyone can assemble their bowl with the rice noodles and toppings and pour on the hot broth- it’s so easy, and the noodles will cook within a minute!

Pho Ingredients

Here’s everything you need to make delicious Pho at home:

Chicken breasts or thighs: sliced into thin strips and simmered in hot broth.
Low-sodium chicken broth: use chicken broth from the carton, or try making this homemade chicken broth.
Fresh ginger: known for its spicy-sweet aroma and taste.
Garlic: balances out the sweet ginger notes.
Soy sauce: adds depth of flavor.
Fish sauce: a traditional Pho ingredient, just a splash is all you need.
Rice noodles: use thin noodles which cook quickly in the hot broth. You can find these in the Asian dry-goods section of your grocery store.
Toppings: the traditional toppings include Thai basil, cilantro, bean sprouts, and lime. You’ll find more toppings ideas for homemade Pho at the end of the post.

overhead view of simple homemade pho in a bowl

How to Make Pho

Print the recipe card below and gather you’re ingredients because you’re about to make Pho at home! Here are the steps:

Prep
Trim off the excess fat from the chicken breasts or thighs and slice into thin strips.
Slow Cook
Add the chicken, broth, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and fish sauce to the slow cooker dish. Stir to combine and cook on low for 8 hours.
Assemble your Pho
Add the uncooked rice noodles, bean sprouts, and herbs to individual bowls. Ladle the chicken and HOT broth over the noodles and allow them to sit for 1-2 minutes. Top with a squeeze of lime and jalapeño, enjoy!

Best Toppings for Homemade Pho

Pho is known for its variety of fresh toppings that start to slow-cook when you ladle in the hot broth. The heat helps release their flavors and makes every bite even more delicious. Here are the most popular toppings for Pho:

Green onions: adds a subtle onion flavor to the broth.
Bean sprouts: found in the fresh produce section of your grocery store and any Asian groceries.
Cilantro leaves: a staple herb for great Pho.
Thai basil: another staple Pho herb with a spicy, licorice-like flavor.
Mint leaves: optional, but fresh mint gives the broth a sweet, fresh note.
Thai basil: another staple Pho herb with a spicy, licorice-like flavor.
Jalapeńo: optional, but tastes great if you like heat!
Lime: brightens the flavors of the broth.
Sriracha: adds a spicy kick!
Hoisin: a rich, savory sauce that makes a great condiment for Pho.

Grab your slow cooker, and favorite toppings, and get ready for an epic bowl of homemade Pho!

Homemade Pho for Beginners

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★★★★★

5 from 18 reviews

This easy recipe for homemade pho is simple to make and comes together in your crockpot!

Author: Laura Fuentes
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 8 hours
Total Time: 8 hours 5 minutes
Yield: 8 bowls
Category: Dinner
Method: Slow Cooker
Cuisine: Vietnamese

Ingredients

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs
8 cups low-sodium chicken broth (2 32-ounce cartons)
3 cloves garlic, grated
2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger
1 tablespoon soy sauce, or coconut aminos or Tamari
1 tablespoons fish sauce
12 ounces dried thin rice noodles
2 green onions, sliced, whites and greens divided
2 cups bean sprouts
½ cup fresh cilantro leaves
½ cup fresh mint leaves
1 jalapeno, thinly sliced
2 limes, sliced into wedges

Instructions

1. Use a sharp knife to trim any excess fat from the chicken breast or thighs and slice into thin strips.
2. Add the chicken, chicken broth, garlic cloves, fresh ginger, soy sauce, and fish sauce to the slow cooker dish. Stir to combine and cook on low for 8 hours.
3. Before serving, assemble rice noodles, sliced onions, bean sprouts, cilantro, mint, jalapeño, and limes into smaller bowls.
4. To serve, add the uncooked rice noodles, bean sprouts, cilantro, and other desired toppings to individual bowls. Ladle the chicken and broth over the rice noodles and serve. Rice noodles will cook in about 1 minute.