Description
Creamy Italian Chicken Soup with Pastina combines tender chicken, tiny star-shaped pastina pasta, fresh vegetables, and a luscious plant-based cream in a comforting, flavorful broth infused with savory herbs. This soothing soup is quick to prepare, family-friendly, and customizable, making it perfect for any occasion or season.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins and Pasta
- 2 chicken breasts, whole
- 1/2 cup pastina pasta (small Italian star-shaped pasta)
- Optional: smoked turkey slices or diced smoked turkey bacon (for protein variation)
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 1 cup carrots, diced
- 1 cup celery, diced
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 2–3 fresh thyme sprigs
Liquids and Fats
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 1 tbsp vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural)
- 2 tbsp olive oil (natural)
- 1/2 cup plant-based cream
Seasonings
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Sauté the Base: Warm olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced yellow onion, chopped carrots, and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften and the onion turns translucent, about 5-7 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Build the Broth: Pour in the chicken broth and stir in the vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural). Add fresh thyme sprigs and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes to meld the flavors.
- Cook the Chicken: Add whole chicken breasts to the simmering broth and poach gently until cooked through, about 15 minutes. Remove the chicken, shred it into bite-sized pieces using two forks, then return the shredded chicken to the pot.
- Add Pastina and Cream: Stir in the pastina pasta and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to low; slowly mix in the plant-based cream, stirring gently to achieve a velvety consistency without boiling.
- Final Touches: Remove thyme sprigs and stir in chopped fresh parsley. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Serve hot, garnished as desired.
Notes
- Add fresh parsley or thyme near the end to retain their aroma and color.
- Keep soup at a gentle simmer to avoid overcooking the pastina.
- Poach chicken breasts gently for tender, shreddable meat.
- Use high-quality or homemade chicken broth for the best flavor.
- Choose a neutral, unsweetened plant-based cream for creaminess without overpowering the soup.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (about 1.5 cups)
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
Keywords: Italian chicken soup, creamy chicken soup, pastina soup, plant-based cream soup, comforting soup, easy chicken soup
