Pour in the chicken broth. Add the dried thyme and bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper.
Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked.
Remove the bay leaf from the pot.
Increase the heat to medium and add the egg noodles to the simmering broth. Cook according to package directions, usually 6-10 minutes, until the noodles are tender.
Taste the soup and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
Ladle the soup into bowls. Garnish each serving with fresh parsley before you serve it.
Notes
You can use pre-shredded rotisserie chicken if you want to skip searing the raw chicken. Add it during the last 5 minutes of simmering.
For deeper flavor, use low-sodium broth and adjust your own salt levels at the end.