There’s nothing quite like a meal that wraps you in a warm hug, especially when it’s also good for you.
This recipe delivers on all fronts, offering that comforting feeling we all crave without sacrificing your healthy eating goals. It’s the perfect solution for those busy weeknights when you want something satisfying but don’t have hours to spend in the kitchen.
Get ready to enjoy a delicious, cozy dish that proves eating lighter can still be incredibly flavorful and deeply satisfying. This meal is designed to be straightforward, using simple ingredients to create a hearty and wholesome experience that the whole family will love.
Table of Contents
- What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
- Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
- Time Needed From Start To Finish
- How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
- Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
- Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
- How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
- Questions People Always Ask Before Making This Recipe
Healthy and Hearty Chicken Vegetable Pasta Soup
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
This healthy and hearty chicken vegetable pasta soup is a comforting and nutritious meal that comes together quickly, perfect for busy weeknights. It’s packed with flavor and wholesome ingredients, offering a satisfying dish that’s both light and delicious.
Ingredients
Instructions
1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped chicken pieces and cook until lightly browned on all sides, about 3-5 minutes. Remove the chicken from the pot and set aside. Add the chopped onion, carrots, and celery to the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften, about 5-7 minutes. The onion should become translucent.
2. Stir in the dried Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and black pepper with the softened vegetables. Cook for another minute, allowing the spices to become fragrant. This step enhances the overall depth of flavor.
3. Pour in the low-sodium chicken broth and the undrained can of diced tomatoes. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon. Those bits are packed with flavor!
4. Add the browned chicken back into the pot. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it simmer for 10 minutes. This allows the chicken to cook through and the flavors to meld beautifully.
5. Stir in the small pasta. Continue to simmer, uncovered, for another 8-10 minutes, or until the pasta is al dente (tender but still firm to the bite). Stir occasionally to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
6. Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the fresh chopped spinach until it wilts, which should only take a minute or two from the residual heat. Taste and season with salt as needed. Serve immediately.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: main dish
- Method: stovetop
- Cuisine: american
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
Keywords: chicken, soup, healthy, weeknight, comfort food, pasta, vegetable, easy, dinner, quick
What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
This recipe is a true weeknight hero, designed for anyone who wants a delicious, home-cooked meal without the fuss. It’s perfect for busy parents, individuals looking for healthy meal prep options, or anyone who appreciates a comforting dish that comes together quickly. What makes it so special is its ability to deliver rich, satisfying flavors while still being light and nutritious. It’s a fantastic choice for dinner when you’re looking to eat well but still want that cozy, indulgent feeling. You can serve it as a stand-alone meal, making it incredibly versatile for various occasions, from a quiet family dinner to a casual gathering with friends.
Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
This section outlines all the simple ingredients you’ll need to create this comforting and healthy meal. Most of these items are likely already in your pantry or easily found at any grocery store, making your cooking experience as stress-free as possible. We focus on fresh, wholesome components that contribute to both the flavor and nutritional value of the dish.
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, peeled and diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup small pasta (such as ditalini or elbow macaroni)
- 2 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped
- Salt to taste
For simple substitutions, feel free to use boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead of breasts for a slightly richer flavor. If you don’t have fresh spinach, frozen chopped spinach (thawed and squeezed dry) works just as well, though you might need slightly less as it cooks down more. For the pasta, any small shape will do; just ensure it’s a quick-cooking variety. If you prefer a vegetarian option, you can omit the chicken and add a can of drained and rinsed cannellini beans or chickpeas for protein, and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
Time Needed From Start To Finish
This recipe is designed for efficiency, ensuring you can get a wholesome meal on the table even on your busiest days.
- Preparation Time: 15 minutes
- Cooking Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
Follow these straightforward steps to create your delicious and healthy comfort food. Each instruction is clear, guiding you to a perfect result.
- Sauté the Aromatics: Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped chicken pieces and cook until lightly browned on all sides, about 3-5 minutes. Remove the chicken from the pot and set aside. Add the chopped onion, carrots, and celery to the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften, about 5-7 minutes. The onion should become translucent.
- Build the Flavor Base: Stir in the dried Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and black pepper with the softened vegetables. Cook for another minute, allowing the spices to become fragrant. This step enhances the overall depth of flavor.
- Add Liquids and Tomatoes: Pour in the low-sodium chicken broth and the undrained can of diced tomatoes. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon. Those bits are packed with flavor!
- Return Chicken and Simmer: Add the browned chicken back into the pot. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it simmer for 10 minutes. This allows the chicken to cook through and the flavors to meld beautifully.
- Cook the Pasta: Stir in the small pasta. Continue to simmer, uncovered, for another 8-10 minutes, or until the pasta is al dente (tender but still firm to the bite). Stir occasionally to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
- Finish with Freshness: Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the fresh chopped spinach until it wilts, which should only take a minute or two from the residual heat. Taste and season with salt as needed. Serve immediately.
Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
This versatile dish can be easily adapted to suit different tastes and occasions, making it a true family favorite. For a kid-friendly twist, you can use fun-shaped pasta like alphabet or star pasta, and if they’re picky about vegetables, you can finely grate the carrots and celery so they blend in more seamlessly. A sprinkle of mild shredded cheddar cheese on top just before serving can also make it more appealing to younger eaters.
To make it a heartier meal, consider adding a can of drained and rinsed cannellini beans or chickpeas along with the broth for extra protein and fiber. If you enjoy a little heat, a pinch of red pepper flakes can be added with the Italian seasoning. For a touch of freshness, a squeeze of lemon juice or a sprinkle of fresh parsley or basil right before serving can brighten all the flavors. This dish is fantastic on its own, but it also pairs wonderfully with a slice of crusty whole-grain bread or a simple side salad for a complete meal. For a buffet style, you can keep it warm in a slow cooker on the “warm” setting, allowing guests to serve themselves.
Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
Even simple recipes can have their pitfalls, but knowing what to watch out for can ensure your dish turns out perfectly every time. One common mistake is overcrowding the pot when browning the chicken. If you add too much chicken at once, it will steam instead of brown, preventing that delicious caramelized flavor. To avoid this, brown the chicken in batches if necessary, ensuring there’s enough space for the pieces to sear properly.
Another frequent error is overcooking the pasta. Small pasta shapes cook very quickly, and if left in the simmering broth for too long, they can become mushy. Keep a close eye on the pasta during the last 8-10 minutes of cooking, stirring and tasting frequently until it reaches your desired al dente texture. Also, be mindful of the salt content, especially since you’re using low-sodium broth. It’s always better to add salt gradually at the end, tasting as you go, rather than over-salting early on. Different brands of broth and canned tomatoes can vary in sodium, so adjusting at the end is key.
How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
Proper storage is key to enjoying leftovers and making this dish ahead of time. Once cooled, transfer any leftover soup to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days. The pasta in the soup will continue to absorb liquid as it sits, so the texture might become softer, and the soup may thicken.
If you plan to make this ahead for meal prep and want to maintain the best pasta texture, you can cook the pasta separately to al dente and store it in a separate container. When reheating the soup, add the cooked pasta just before serving. This prevents it from becoming overly soft or mushy. To reheat, gently warm portions on the stovetop over medium-low heat, adding a splash of extra chicken broth or water if it has become too thick. Avoid high heat, which can cause the ingredients to break down. Freezing is generally not recommended for this particular soup due to the pasta and spinach, as their textures can degrade significantly upon thawing.
Questions People Always Ask Before Making This Recipe
Can I use frozen chicken? Yes, you can use frozen chicken breasts. Thaw them completely in the refrigerator overnight or using the defrost setting on your microwave before cutting and cooking.
What if I don’t have Italian seasoning? You can create your own blend with equal parts dried oregano, basil, and thyme. A pinch of marjoram or rosemary can also be added if you have them.
Can I add other vegetables? Absolutely! This recipe is very adaptable. Feel free to add diced zucchini, green beans, or even some frozen peas during the last few minutes of cooking for extra nutrients and color.
Is this recipe spicy? No, this recipe is not spicy as written. If you prefer a little heat, you can add a pinch of red pepper flakes along with the other seasonings.
Can I use larger pasta? While you can, larger pasta shapes will take longer to cook and absorb more liquid, potentially making the soup very thick. If you use larger pasta, you might need to add more
FAQs
- Can I make these ahead? Yes—prep ahead, refrigerate, then serve when ready.
- How long do leftovers last? Store covered in the fridge for 3–4 days for best texture.
- Can I adjust sweetness? Yes—add more or less sweetener to taste.
- Can I change the fruit? Yes—swap strawberries for blueberries, raspberries, or sliced banana.
