Chicken Pastina Soup

Name: Chicken Pastina Soup
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2 tbsp olive oil; 1 small white onion (chopped); 1 cup carrots (chopped); 1 cup celery (chopped); 8 cups chicken stock; ½ tsp black pepper; 2 garlic cloves (minced); 1/2 cup pastina (uncooked); 2 cups cooked pulled chicken; Fresh herbs (for serving); Parmesan cheese (for serving)

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Chicken Pastina Soup is one of my favorite recipes for chilly weather! This easy soup recipe is ready in just 30 minutes.

Recipe Inspiration

You'll love this chicken pastina soup! This recipe is a common American-Italian staple, often made on sick days.

Pastina is a tiny, fine pasta that looks like little stars. It can also be a small round pasta. It's cozy and so delicious!

It's great in this soup - I love making this on a chilly day or when I'm feeling under the weather. Give it a try and this soup will be a family favorite!

If you're looking for more homemade soups, check out our Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup, Pasta Fagioli, or Wild Rice Mushroom Soup recipes.

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Recipe Inspiration
Why You'll Love this Recipe
Ingredients
Directions
Expert Tips and Tricks
Kitchen Equipment
Recipe Substitutions/Variations
What To Serve With
Frequently Asked Questions
Recipe Storage and Reheating
Other Recipes to Try
Chicken Pastina Soup

Why You'll Love this Recipe

Delicious - This soup recipe is so delicious. It's cozy and filled with chicken pieces and veggies.

Approachable - This comforting soup is approachable and is easy to make. You only need a few kitchen tools to make this great recipe.

Kid Friendly - This is a great recipe for adults and children! It's classic Italian comfort food that's similar to classic homemade chicken soup.

Ingredients

Here are the simple ingredients you will need for this recipe:

Olive Oil - Regular olive oil
White Onion - Chopped
Carrots - Chopped
Celery - Chopped
Chicken Stock - You can also use chicken broth, vegetable stock, or vegetable broth. Of if you have leftover homemade chicken broth or homemade stock, use it in this recipe!
Black Pepper
Garlic Cloves - Minced
Pastina Pasta - Uncooked
Pulled Chicken - Pre-cooked. Use rotisserie chicken or leftover chicken.
Fresh Herbs - For serving
Parmesan Cheese - For serving

Directions

Let's make this homemade Italian chicken pastina soup recipe together!

Step 1

Heat olive oil in a soup pot or Dutch oven on medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery to the pan. Cook for 10 minutes, until the veggies start to soften. Add garlic and saute for 2 minutes.

Step 2

Add broth and black pepper. Let simmer for 10 minutes.

Step 3

Add the uncooked little pasta. Cook for 10 minutes or until the pasta is done to your liking. I love it a little al dente!

Step 4

Add the chicken and simmer until warmed. Serve with parmesan cheese and your favorite herbs.

Expert Tips and Tricks

Here are some expert tips to make this delicious soup recipe perfect.

Use Leftover Chicken - Use leftover shredded chicken to bring this recipe together in a breeze. You'll have soul warming soup done in no time!

Complete the Meal - Complete the meal with a salad and crusty Italian bread. It's perfect for a cold day!

Use Good Broth - Homemade broth from chicken bones is absolutely delicious in soups. Bone broth is also a great choice as a soup base!

Kitchen Equipment

Here is some kitchen equipment you will need for this soul warming soup recipe. You can find all of these products on Amazon.

Soup Pot - A good quality soup pot is a must for soup season! This one is great quality.

Soup Bowls - These are my favorite soup bowls of all time. We grew up using similar soup bowls at my grandpa's house and I'll always remember them!

Pastina - This is my favorite pastina. I always have some on hand in my pantry!

Recipe Substitutions/Variations

Here are some common recipe substitutions and variations for this simple recipe.

Veggies - Feel free to add in vegetables to this chicken noodle soup. Adding kale spinach would be delicious in this recipe!

Protein - You can omit chicken and use veggie broth to make this vegetarian. You can substitute or add in beans for added protein.

Pasta - If you can't find pastina, you could always use another small pasta shape.

What To Serve With

Here are some suggestion on what to serve this pasta with:

Frequently Asked Questions

What is pastina made of?

Pasta translates to 'Little Pasta' in Italian and is make of wheat and flour, just like regular pasta.

Is pastina the same as orzo?

Pastina and orzo are two different pasta shapes. Orzo is a rice-shaped pasta and pastina is a star-shaped pasta.

What can I use instead of pastina?

You can use orzo, anci de pepe, or any other small pasta shape as a substitute for pastina.

Recipe Storage and Reheating

Here are storage and reheating instructions for this recipe.

Refrigerator Storage: Store in an airtight continuer and eat leftovers within 4-5 days.

Freezer Storage: Freeze in a freezer-safe, airtight container and keep for up to 3 months. When you're ready to use, thaw in the refrigerator and reheat as instructed below.

Reheating Instructions: The best way to reheat this recipe is to heat in a saucepan until warm.

Other Recipes to Try

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