Preparing Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup is straightforward. Follow these steps to create this comforting dish:

1. Prepare the Ingredients: Chop the carrots, celery, and onion. Mince the garlic.
2. Layer the Vegetables: Place the sliced carrots, chopped celery, diced onion, and minced garlic in the bottom of the crockpot.
3. Add the Chicken: Place the boneless chicken breasts on top of the vegetables.
4. Season the Soup: Sprinkle thyme, parsley, salt, and black pepper over the chicken and vegetables. Add the bay leaf.
5. Pour the Broth: Carefully pour the chicken broth into the crockpot, covering all the ingredients.
6. Cook: Cover and set your crockpot to low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. Allow the flavors to meld as the soup simmers.
7. Shred the Chicken: About 30 minutes before serving, remove the chicken from the crockpot and shred it with two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the pot.
8. Add Egg Noodles: Stir in the egg noodles and continue cooking for an additional 30 minutes on high until the noodles are tender.
9. Final Seasoning: Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed, adding more salt and pepper if desired.
10. Serve: Remove the bay leaf and ladle the soup into bowls. Garnish with fresh parsley, if using.

These simple steps will have you enjoying a steaming bowl of this nourishing soup in no time!