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There are some meals that instantly calm your nervous system the moment the aroma hits you. Chicken pho—pho gà—is absolutely one of them. Between the warm spices, the soft noodles, the tender chicken, and the steamy broth that seems to hug you from the inside out, pho is the definition of cozy comfort food.
And when you’ve already made a golden, flavorful broth from a Costco rotisserie chicken? You’re halfway there before you even start. This bowl of pho is everything I want on nights when life feels heavy, busy, emotional, or cold. It’s nourishing, grounding, and so easy to put together that it’s become one of my go-to weeknight dinners.
If you’ve ever wanted a simple, approachable chicken pho recipe that still feels authentic-inspired and full of soul, this one is for you.
Ingredients
For the Broth
- 8 cups homemade Costco chicken broth
- 1 large knob of fresh ginger, sliced
- 1 onion, halved
- 1 pack of pho seasonings
- 1 tbsp fish sauce (or more to taste)
- 1 tsp sugar (or more to taste)
- Salt to taste
For the Bowls
- Shredded rotisserie chicken
- 8 oz rice noodles (pho-style or thin rice sticks)
- Fresh herbs: cilantro, Thai basil, mint
- Bean sprouts
- Lime wedges
- Thin-sliced yellow or red onion
- Thin-sliced jalapeños
Pho Seasonings
- Cinnamon Bark
- Star Anise
- Black Cardamom
- Fennel Seeds
- Whole Cloves
- Coriander Seeds
Optional
- Hoisin sauce
- Sriracha
- Chili crisp
- Fried shallots
Why This Pho Is the Ultimate Cozy Bowl
The broth tastes like it simmered for hours
Because it did—in my chicken broth recipe, I simmered a rotisserie chicken bones with aromatics until it turned golden and rich. This creates a pho base that rivals restaurant bowls.
Easy enough for a busy weeknight
Most of the flavor comes from the broth you already made. Assembly takes maybe 15 minutes.
Aromatic but gentle
This pho is full of warmth—star anise, cinnamon, ginger—but not overwhelmingly spiced. Even picky eaters love it.
Comforting + calming
There’s something almost therapeutic about putting together a bowl of pho. The fresh herbs, the steam, the broth… it’s food you feel more than taste.
Approachable ingredients
No specialty store trip needed unless you want to. This recipe uses common items you can find almost anywhere.
Step-by-Step: Cozy Chicken Pho
1. Toast Your Aromatics
This is the moment where your kitchen starts to smell like a pho shop.
In an air fryer or frying pan over medium heat:
Add ginger slices
Add halved onion (cut side down)
Once charred, remove and add to the pot. Then add your pho seasoning packet.
Toast until fragrant and slightly charred. This step deepens the flavor and gives your broth its classic warmth.
After the seasonings are toasted, put them in a bag and tie it tightly so they do not get loose in the broth. Add it to the pot.
2. Add Your Homemade Broth
Pour in your golden rotisserie chicken broth. If you need a recipe you can find it here or you can use 8 cups of store bought chicken broth.
Bring it to a simmer—not a rapid boil—to keep the flavors clean and soothing.
Add:
Fish sauce, Sugar, and Salt
Let the broth simmer gently for 30 minutes to allow the aromatics to infuse fully.
At the 30-minute mark remove the seasoning packet.
3. Prepare the Rice Noodles
Cook according to package instructions, but keep them slightly chewy. Overcooked noodles will absorb too much broth and turn mushy.
I bring water to a boil and then add a handful of noodles to the pot. I let them boil for about 45 seconds while stirring, so they do not stick. I then put them at the base of each bowl, waiting for hot broth.
Rinse with cold water after draining to stop cooking.
4. Ready Your Toppings
Pho is all about customization. Lay out:
Herbs
Sprouts
Lime
Jalapeños
Sauces
This makes dinner feel interactive and extra cozy.
5. Assemble Your Bowls
In each bowl:
Add a handful of rice noodles
Add shredded rotisserie chicken
Ladle steaming hot broth over the top
Garnish generously with:
Herbs
Onions
Sprouts
Finish with a squeeze of lime and your favorite sauces.
Serve it, share it, and savor every cozy spoonful.
Don’t forget to share your creations on Instagram and tag us at @edamamabean_ or @edamamabean (tiktok). Happy cooking!
How to Make This Pho Extra Cozy
Want that homey, comforting feel? Try these:
1. Warm your bowls
Pour hot water into each bowl before serving. Pho served in a cold bowl loses heat too fast.
2. Add a pat of butter to the chicken
This is not traditional, but it melts into the broth and reminds me of café-style creamy chicken noodle soup—luxurious and soothing.
3. Use extra herbs
Mint and basil add a fresh, calming aroma with every bite.
4. Add an egg
A soft-boiled egg makes pho richer, cozier, and more filling.
Flavor Variations
Spicy Pho
Add:
A small piece of fresh chili simmered in the broth
Chili crisp
Sriracha
Ginger-Boosted Pho
Double the ginger for an immune-supporting, warming bowl.
Veggie Pho
Add bok choy, mushrooms, or carrots to the broth.
Clear, Clean Broth Version
Let broth cool and remove fat from the top before reheating.
How to Store + Reheat
Broth
Lasts 4–5 days in the fridge
Freezes up to 3 months
Noodles
Keep separate so they don’t turn mushy.
Chicken
Store independently to keep the texture tender.
Reheat broth until steaming, then pour over room-temp noodles/chicken for a fresh bowl.
Equipment Used
- Stock Pot
- Frying Pan
- Ladle
- Knife
- Cutting Board
- Strainer
Shop Equipment
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Recipes Related
Cozy Weeknight Chicken Pho (Using Costco Rotisserie Chicken Broth and Chicken)
Equipment
- frying pan
- Air fryer
- stock pot
- Knife
- Cutting Board
- ladle
- Strainer
Ingredients
For the Broth
- 8 cups homemade Costco chicken broth
- 1 large knob of fresh ginger sliced
- 1 onion halved
- 1 pack of pho seasonings
- 1 tbsp fish sauce or more to taste
- 1 tsp sugar or more to taste
- Salt to taste
For the Bowls
- Shredded rotisserie chicken
- Cotija8 oz rice noodles pho-style or thin rice sticks
- Fresh herbs: cilantro Thai basil, mint
- Bean sprouts
- Lime wedges
- Thin-sliced yellow or red onion
- Thin-sliced jalapeños
Pho Seasonings
- Cinnamon Bark
- Star Anise
- Black Cardamom
- Fennel Seeds
- Whole Cloves
- Coriander Seeds
Optional
- Hoisin sauce
- Sriracha
- Chili crisp
- Fried shallots
Instructions
Step-by-Step: Cozy Chicken Pho
Toast Your Aromatics
- This is the moment where your kitchen starts to smell like a pho shop.
- In an air fryer or frying pan over medium heat:
- Add ginger slices
- Add halved onion (cut side down)
- Once charred, remove and add to the pot. Then add your pho seasoning packet.
- Toast until fragrant and slightly charred. This step deepens the flavor and gives your broth its classic warmth.
- After the seasonings are toasted, put them in a bag and tie it tightly so they do not get loose in the broth. Add it to the pot.
Add Your Homemade Broth
- Pour in your golden rotisserie chicken broth.
- Bring it to a simmer—not a rapid boil—to keep the flavors clean and soothing.
- Add:
- Fish sauce, Sugar, and Salt
- Let the broth simmer gently for 30 minutes to allow the aromatics to infuse fully.
- At the 30-minute mark remove the seasoning packet.
Prepare the Rice Noodles
- Cook according to package instructions, but keep them slightly chewy. Overcooked noodles will absorb too much broth and turn mushy.
- I bring water to a boil and then add a handful of noodles to the pot. I let them boil for about 45 seconds while stirring, so they do not stick. I then put them at the base of each bowl, waiting for hot broth.
- Rinse with cold water after draining to stop cooking.
Ready Your Toppings
- Pho is all about customization. Lay out:
- Herbs
- Sprouts
- Lime
- Jalapeños
- Sauces
- This makes dinner feel interactive and extra cozy.
Assemble Your Bowls
- In each bowl:
- Add a handful of rice noodles
- Add shredded rotisserie chicken
- Ladle steaming hot broth over the top
- Garnish generously with:
- Herbs
- Onions
- Sprouts
- Finish with a squeeze of lime and your favorite sauces.
Serve it, share it, and savor every cozy spoonful.
- Don’t forget to share your creations on Instagram and tag us at @edamamabean_ or @edamamabean (tiktok). Happy cooking!
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