Description
A comforting and kid-friendly Chicken and Stars Soup featuring tender shredded chicken, star-shaped pasta, and a medley of vegetables simmered in a flavorful chicken broth. Perfect for a cozy meal, this easy stovetop soup offers wholesome ingredients and bright accents of fresh herbs and lemon juice.
Ingredients
Scale
Soup Base
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
- 2 celery stalks, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup cooked chicken breast, shredded
- 3/4 cup uncooked stelline (star) pasta
Seasonings
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional)
Garnish
- Fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Sauté Vegetables: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, carrots, and celery, and sauté for about 5 minutes until the vegetables are softened and aromatic.
- Add Garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Pour Broth and Boil: Pour in the low-sodium chicken broth and bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Add Seasonings and Pasta: Add dried thyme, dried parsley, and uncooked stelline pasta to the boiling broth. Stir to combine all ingredients.
- Simmer Pasta: Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for about 8 minutes, or until the star-shaped pasta is tender but not mushy.
- Incorporate Chicken: Stir in the shredded cooked chicken breast and simmer for an additional 2 to 3 minutes until the chicken is heated through.
- Season and Finish: Season the soup with salt and pepper to taste. If desired, stir in lemon juice for a bright finish.
- Garnish and Serve: Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley before serving warm.
Notes
- For convenience, rotisserie chicken can be used instead of cooking chicken breast separately.
- To make this soup gluten-free, substitute the star pasta with a gluten-free small pasta alternative.
- If preparing soup ahead of time, cook the pasta separately and add right before serving to prevent it from becoming over-softened.
