Description
Best Chicken Pastina Soup Recipe for a Quick, Hearty Meal: Cozy and nostalgic, this stovetop soup delivers warmth in under 30 minutes. Tender chicken, tiny pastina, and gentle aromatics simmer in a light broth; onions, carrots, and celery add sweetness, while garlic, parsley, and thyme build depth. A squeeze of lemon brightens the bowl, making it ideal for weeknights, family dinners, and comforting weekend lunches. Budget-friendly, kid-friendly, and easily adaptable with greens.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup pastina (or any tiny pasta)
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh lemon juice (optional)
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 4–5 minutes until softened.
- Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Add the chicken breasts or thighs, chicken broth, parsley, thyme, salt, and pepper.
- Bring to a gentle boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15–18 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.
- Remove the chicken, shred it with two forks, and return it to the pot.
- Add the pastina and cook for 6–8 minutes until tender.
- Taste and adjust seasoning. Add a squeeze of lemon juice if you prefer brightness.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and serve warm.
Notes
- Tip: For extra protein, use leftovers from a rotisserie chicken.
- To keep this gluten-inclusive, use regular pastina; for gluten-free needs, substitute with rice or a gluten-free tiny pasta.
- Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days; reheat with a splash of broth if needed.
- Feel free to add spinach or kale at the end for extra greens.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (about 240 ml)
- Calories: 240
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg
Keywords: Best Chicken Pastina Soup, chicken pastina soup recipe, quick hearty soup, comfort soup, weeknight dinner, stovetop soup, family-friendly soup