Description
Warm comfort flows through this hearty chicken minestrone soup, blending Italian countryside traditions with rich, wholesome ingredients. Nourishing vegetables, tender chicken, and aromatic herbs create a soul-satisfying meal you’ll savor down to the last spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 1 cup cooked chicken breast, shredded
- 1 can (15 ounces/425 grams) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
Vegetables:
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 2 celery stalks, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 zucchini, chopped
- 1 cup green beans, chopped
- 1 can (15 ounces/425 grams) diced tomatoes
Liquid and Seasonings:
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 cup small pasta (like ditalini or elbow macaroni)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
- Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
Instructions
- Warm olive oil in a spacious pot over medium-high temperature, introducing diced onions, carrots, and celery. Sauté for approximately 5 minutes until vegetables become translucent and slightly softened.
- Incorporate minced garlic, chopped zucchini, and sliced green beans into the pot. Continue cooking for 3-4 minutes, allowing vegetables to develop a tender texture and release their aromatic essence.
- Gently fold in pre-shredded chicken, crushed tomatoes, rich chicken broth, and additional water. Elevate heat to generate a robust boil, stirring occasionally to blend flavors harmoniously.
- Introduce plump cannellini beans, compact pasta shapes, dried oregano, and fresh basil. Season with appropriate salt and ground pepper to enhance the overall taste profile.
- Reduce cooking temperature to a gentle simmer. Allow soup to develop depth for 10-15 minutes, ensuring pasta reaches perfect al dente consistency and liquid reduces to create a hearty, thickened texture.
- Ladle steaming soup into serving bowls. Garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and delicate basil leaves for an elegant finishing touch.
Notes
- Swap proteins easily by using leftover turkey, tofu, or white fish instead of chicken for a versatile meal adaptation.
- Create a gluten-free version by substituting regular pasta with zucchini noodles or gluten-free pasta alternatives.
- Enhance soup’s depth by roasting vegetables before adding them to develop richer, more complex flavors.
- Boost nutritional value by adding extra vegetables like spinach or kale during the last few minutes of cooking for additional nutrients and color.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg