Best Chicken Pastina Soup Recipe

Introduction

The best Chicken Pastina Soup recipe is your answer to comfort food with minimal fuss—a cozy, hearty, and flavor-packed meal that’s beloved by kids and adults alike. With delicate pastina pasta and tender chicken simmered in savory broth, this recipe delivers warmth and satisfaction whether you need a quick weeknight dinner or a nourishing pick-me-up. Its simplicity ensures you spend less time in the kitchen but still achieve a homemade soup bursting with fresh flavor.

Why You’ll Love This Chicken Pastina Soup

What sets this chicken pastina soup apart is its perfect balance between simplicity and depth of flavor. The tiny, star-shaped pasta cooks up quickly and soaks in the rich, homemade chicken broth, while vegetables, herbs, and shredded chicken create a soul-soothing bowl that’s both filling and easy to digest. Perfect for picky eaters and those seeking nourishment, this soup is a classic Italian-American staple everyone will request again and again.

The Key to a Perfect Broth

A great Chicken Pastina Soup starts with a flavorful broth. Poaching a bone-in, skin-on chicken breast infuses the liquid with extra richness. Simmer the chicken alongside carrots, celery, onion, and a bouquet of fresh herbs to create a deeply satisfying base. The resulting broth is not only delicious but also packed with nutrients perfect for cold nights or whenever you want a little comfort in a bowl.

How to Cook Pastina for the Best Texture

Pastina (tiny pasta stars or similar shapes) absorbs broth quickly, so it’s best to cook it directly in your simmering soup during the final minutes. This way, the pastina soaks up all the flavors and remains perfectly al dente. Be sure to serve as soon as the pasta is tender to prevent it from becoming mushy—a hallmark of classic Chicken Pastina Soup.

Serving Suggestions for Classic Chicken Pastina Soup

Elevate each bowl with a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese, a drizzle of good olive oil, or a handful of freshly chopped parsley. Serve alongside crusty Italian bread or a simple green salad for a wholesome meal. This soup’s light-yet-filling nature makes it perfect for both lunch and dinner, whether you’re feeding a family or a crowd.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe will yield about 6 large bowls of Chicken Pastina Soup. Each serving provides approximately 320 calories, boasting lean protein from chicken, energizing carbohydrates from pastina, and plenty of vitamins from fresh veggies—a well-balanced, comforting option that nourishes the whole family.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and seamless weekly meal planning.

Instructions

1. In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery. Cook for 5–6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are softened.
2. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute, until fragrant.
3. Place chicken breasts in the pot. Add chicken broth, bay leaf, and thyme. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and simmer (partially covered) for 20–25 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through.
4. Remove the chicken from the pot and set aside to cool slightly. Discard bay leaf and thyme stems.
5. Stir in pastina. Let soup simmer uncovered for another 6–8 minutes, or until the pasta is just tender.
6. While the pastina cooks, shred the chicken, discarding bones and skin. Return shredded chicken to the pot. Season the soup with salt, black pepper, and lemon juice (if using).
7. Ladle soup into bowls. Top with grated Parmesan and chopped parsley before serving.

Weekly Meal Planning

This Chicken Pastina Soup is a fantastic addition to any weekly meal plan, whether you want to prepare it ahead or enjoy leftovers for lunch the next day. Save and schedule this recipe to take advantage of CookifyAI’s powerful meal planner. Effortlessly generate shopping lists that consolidate overlapping ingredients across all your planned meals—streamlining your grocery trip and minimizing both overspending and food waste.

Planning Benefits:

– Instantly calculates total quantities for every ingredient across multiple recipes
– Groups items by store section for easy grocery shopping
– Prevents accidental duplicate purchases
– Makes meal prep, shopping, and weeknight dinners more organized than ever

Pro tip: When planning meals for several days, schedule your recipes so you only buy exactly what you need—for example, if Chicken Pastina Soup and another dish both require carrots, you’ll get just the right amount. More efficiency, less waste!

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes

Enjoy a bowl of the best Chicken Pastina Soup and savor the unbeatable combination of convenience, nutrition, and homemade flavor!