Italian Style Chicken Noodle Soup
A cozy Italian-inspired chicken noodle soup loaded with vegetables, tender chicken, pasta, tomatoes, herbs, and Parmesan cheese.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 6
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup onion, diced
1 cup carrots, diced
1 cup celery, diced
1 cup red bell pepper, diced
4 cloves garlic, chopped
2 teaspoons dried oregano
½ teaspoon dried thyme
6 cups chicken broth
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, optional
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
8 ounces pasta, such as ditalini or small shells
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and black pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon lemon juice, optional
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped, optional
Instructions
Sauté the vegetables:
Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, celery, and red bell pepper. Cook for 8–10 minutes, until the vegetables begin to soften.
Add the herbs:
Stir in the garlic, oregano, and thyme. Cook for about 1 minute, until fragrant.
Add the soup ingredients:
Pour in the chicken broth and diced tomatoes. Add the chicken and pasta. Bring the soup to a boil.
Simmer:
Reduce the heat and simmer for about 10 minutes, or until the pasta is cooked and the chicken is fully cooked through.
Shred the chicken:
Remove the chicken from the pot. Slice or shred it into bite-sized pieces, then return it to the soup.
Add Parmesan:
Turn off the heat and stir in the grated Parmesan. Allow it to melt into the broth.
Season and finish:
Season with salt and black pepper. Stir in the lemon juice and fresh parsley, if using.
Serve:
Ladle the hot soup into bowls and serve immediately.
Tips & Variations
Use cooked shredded chicken to make the soup even faster.
Add red pepper flakes for a little heat.
Add 2 tablespoons of tomato paste for a richer tomato flavor.
Substitute fresh basil for parsley.
You can use Italian seasoning instead of oregano and thyme.
If the soup becomes too thick after refrigeration, add extra broth when reheating because the pasta continues to absorb liquid.
