Description
A comforting and wholesome chicken and stars soup featuring tender chicken, small pasta stars, and a medley of vegetables simmered in a flavorful broth infused with herbs and a hint of lemon.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 medium carrots, sliced
- 2 celery stalks, sliced
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded
- 1 cup small pasta stars
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Heat oil: Heat two tablespoons of olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
- Sauté onion: Add one medium diced onion to the pot and sauté for about 5 minutes until soft and translucent.
- Add garlic: Add two cloves of minced garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent burning.
- Add liquids: Pour in four cups of chicken broth and one cup of water, stirring to combine.
- Season soup: Add one teaspoon dried thyme, one teaspoon dried parsley, half a teaspoon salt, and a quarter teaspoon black pepper to the pot.
- Mix ingredients: Stir thoroughly to distribute spices evenly.
- Add vegetables: Add sliced carrots and celery stalks and stir again.
- Simmer vegetables: Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for about 10 minutes until vegetables are tender.
- Add chicken: Stir in two cups of shredded cooked chicken.
- Add pasta: Stir in one cup of small pasta stars and simmer for 8-10 minutes until pasta is tender.
- Add bay leaf: Add one bay leaf and continue simmering for 2 minutes.
- Remove bay leaf: Remove and discard the bay leaf from the soup.
- Add lemon juice: Stir in one tablespoon of lemon juice to brighten flavors.
- Garnish and serve: Garnish with one tablespoon of chopped fresh parsley before serving.
Notes
- Use cooked chicken from leftover roast chicken or rotisserie chicken for convenience.
- For gluten-free option, substitute pasta stars with gluten-free pasta or omit.
- Add more lemon juice for a brighter, tangier flavor if preferred.
- Adjust salt and pepper to taste depending on the saltiness of your broth.
- This soup reheats well and can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
