The Best Chicken Pastina Soup Recipe

This Chicken Pastina Soup Recipe is like a warm hug by a crackling fire. Sound good? Thought so. Seasoned sautéed chicken and veggies are combined with tiny, little pasta stars called pastina, and finished with lemon juice and fresh herbs to create this earthy, comforting Italian chicken pasta soup. The broth is simmered with a parmesan rind to create depth of flavor in this rich broth. I present to you...the best Chicken Pastina Soup recipe my friends. As always, enjoy. Love your people, cook them healthy food.

Prep Time15

Active Time30

Total Time45

Course: Soup

Keyword: chicken noodle soup, chicken pastina soup, chicken pastina soup recipe, italian chicken pastina soup recipe, italian chicken soup

Yield:

Calories: 265kcal

Author: Melissa Therrien

Equipment

Materials

2 lbs chicken tenders OR boneless skinless chicken breasts, OR shredded chicken from a cooked rotisserie chicken
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp kosher salt
fresh cracked pepper a few good twists
2 tbsp olive oil divided -1 for sautéeing the chicken, 1 for sautéeing the veggies
1 cup chopped carrots about 3 medium carrots
1/2 cup diced onion about 1/2 medium onion
1 tsp dry thyme
1/2 teaspoon salt I used fine sea salt, but any salt will do
2 cloves of garlic minced
64 oz low sodium chicken stock or broth I like organic Full Circle
3/4 cup pastina pasta adorable tiny pasta stars
1 parmesan rind
freshly ground black pepper
1 large lemon juiced
several fresh thyme sprigs
1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped
parmesan cheese for serving
lemon zest for serving
swiss chard or mustard greens optional

Instructions

For cooking the chicken:

If using chicken breasts or chicken tenders, cut the raw chicken into 1-inch chunks.
2 lbs chicken tenders
Mix together 1 teaspoon each of paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, thyme, kosher salt and pepper and sprinkle over the cut chicken.
1 tsp garlic powder
Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to a sauté pan and cook the chicken until cooked through, approximately 8 minutes.
Set the chicken aside until you need to add it to the soup.

For the soup:

In a dutch oven or large stock pot, heat 1 tbsp oil over medium heat. Add the onions and carrots, 1 tsp dry thyme, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and give the fresh cracked pepper a few good twists. Sauté the onions and carrots for approximately 4 minutes until onions are translucent and carrots are only slightly softened. Stir often using a wooden spoon.
1 cup chopped carrots, 1/2 cup diced onion, 1 tsp dry thyme, 1/2 teaspoon salt, freshly ground black pepper
Add the minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute.
2 cloves of garlic
Pour in both cartons of broth.
64 oz low sodium chicken stock or broth
Add the parmesan rind and bring to a simmer. Let simmer for 7 minutes.
1 parmesan rind
Add the cooked chicken pieces from either the cooked tenders or breasts (along with the juice of chicken from resting) OR the shredded rotisserie chicken if using that instead. The preferred method is the cooked tenders or breasts because of the flavor it contributes to the soup, but if you're in a hurry and needing a quick weeknight meal, then the shredded, pre-cooked rotisserie chicken will do.
Optional: If using swiss chard or mustard greens, add your greens into the soup when adding the chicken. It will need to cook for approximately 7-8 minutes total. Let the greens cook for 2-3 minutes before adding the pastina.
swiss chard or mustard greens
Add the fresh thyme (about 5-6 springs, thyme removed from sprig) and the pastina (those adorable little pasta stars), and let cook for 5-6 minutes until al dente.
several fresh thyme sprigs, 3/4 cup pastina pasta
Remove the pot from the burner, remove the parmesan rind, and add the fresh parsley and fresh lemon juice.
1/4 cup fresh parsley, 1 large lemon
Once ladled into your cozy soup bowls, garnish with a little more fresh parsley, fresh lemon zest and shredded parmesan cheese.
parmesan cheese for serving, lemon zest for serving

Notes

Nutritional facts are estimated for reference only.

Nutrition