Description
A comforting and hearty chicken soup with vibrant flavors, perfect for sharing with loved ones.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 to 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, diced into 1-inch pieces
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, divided
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ½ cup diced carrots
- ½ cup diced celery
- ½ cup diced onions
- ¼ cup diced sundried tomatoes
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- ¼ cup flour
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste (optional)
- 6 to 8 cups chicken broth
- 6 oz pasta (e.g., Italian small shells)
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- ½ to 1 cup grated Parmesan Reggiano cheese
- 2 ½ to 3 cups fresh spinach
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
- Add chicken, 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook the chicken until it browns on all sides, about 4 to 5 minutes.
- Toss in the onions, carrots, celery, sundried tomatoes, and garlic. Sauté until the vegetables soften and become fragrant, around 3 to 4 minutes.
- Sprinkle flour over the mixture, stirring well to combine. If you’re using tomato paste, add it now and stir.
- Gradually whisk in the chicken broth, stirring constantly to prevent lumps. Scrape the bottom of the pot to deglaze and incorporate any browned bits.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then add the pasta, remaining Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper to taste. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for about 20 minutes until the chicken cooks through and the pasta reaches an al dente texture.
- Stir in the heavy cream, spinach, and Parmesan cheese. Simmer for an additional 5 minutes until the spinach wilts and the soup thickens to a creamy consistency.
- Taste and adjust seasoning before serving.
Notes
For a lighter soup, reduce the amount of heavy cream or substitute with a low-fat version. You can also enhance the flavors by adding fresh herbs.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Braising
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
Keywords: chicken soup, comfort food, family recipe, Italian soup, cozy meal