Chicken and Stars Soup
A homemade pot of chicken and stars soup is cozy, easy, comfort food!
Servings 7 cups
Calories 188kcal
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 3 carrots, peeled and finely diced
- 3 celery stalks, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced or grated
- 4 cups chicken broth (plus extra as needed to thin the soup at the end)
- 1 ½ cups water
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves (or ½ teaspoon dried thyme)
- 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken
- ¾ cup dry star shaped pasta (also called “stelline” or "estrellas")
- Optional garnish: fresh lemon juice; chopped fresh parsley or thyme
Instructions
- In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, celery, and garlic; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften (about 3-5 minutes).
- Add chicken broth, water, bay leaf, and thyme. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until vegetables are tender (about 10 minutes).
- Stir in cooked chicken and dry pasta. Simmer, uncovered, until the pasta is tender (about 8-10 minutes). Stir regularly so that the pasta doesn’t stick.
- Remove bay leaf. Season soup with salt and pepper, to taste. Stir in extra chicken broth to thin, as necessary.
- Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with fresh lemon juice and chopped fresh herbs, if desired.
Notes
- Dice the vegetables into very small pieces, so that they're about the same size as the cooked pasta. This will help them cook quickly, too!
- Don’t overcook the noodles or they will become mushy in your soup. Add them to the pot just before you’re ready to serve.
- What can I add to Chicken Noodle Soup for flavor? This recipe includes fresh herbs like thyme, as well as garlic and bay leaf for more seasoning. If you like an even stronger, richer tasting soup, feel free to add more of your favorite herbs like parsley, dill, basil, oregano, rosemary, or chives, or a spice blend like poultry seasoning.
- Taste and season as you go. The total amount of salt necessary will vary depending on the saltiness of your broth, and on personal preference. Add extra salt for more flavor, and feel free to increase the other herbs and seasonings as well. Start with low sodium chicken broth if you’re sensitive to sodium, since many store-bought options can be quite salty.
- A fresh parsley garnish and fresh lemon juice at the end gives each bowl a pop of color and a bright touch. These are optional, though!
Nutrition
Serving: 1cup | Calories: 188kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 37mg | Sodium: 552mg | Potassium: 279mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 4400IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 1mg