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Comforting and nourishing, this chicken pastina soup is the kind of meal that feels like a warm hug in a bowl. Made with tender chicken, tiny pasta and aromatic vegetables simmered in a lemony broth, it’s the perfect choice for chilly evenings, recovery days, or when you’re simply craving something wholesome. This soup is quick to prepare, easy to adapt to your tastes, and sure to become a go-to comfort meal in your kitchen.

Bowl of Chicken Pastina Soup with carrots, herbs, and tiny star shaped pasta, served with a spoon and slices of bread on the side—a true taste of Italian comfort food.

A cozy and flavorful chicken pastina soup with chicken, pasta, and vegetables simmered in lemony broth. Comfort food that’s hearty, simple, and satisfying.

Also try this Hawaiian chicken, maybe paired up with air fried onion rings. I like to serve this antipasto salad as an appetizer first.

Bowl of Italian chicken soup with pasta, featuring carrots, herbs, and tiny star shaped pasta made with leftover or rotisserie chicken, served beside a pot of soup with spoons and seasonings nearby.

Why You’ll Love It

Easy to make: Comes together quickly with basic pantry and fridge staples.
Comforting and warm: Perfect for sick days or cold weather.
Family-friendly: Mild, nourishing and loved by kids and adults alike.
Balanced and fresh: The lemon juice and herbs brighten every spoonful.

A bowl of Italian chicken soup with pasta, filled with tender chicken, veggies, and tiny star shaped pasta, served alongside sliced bread and fresh herbs for a cozy taste of Italian comfort food.

Chicken Pastina Soup Ingredients

A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

Cooked chicken: Adds protein and makes the soup hearty and satisfying.
Chicken broth: Provides a rich, savory base for all the ingredients.
Vegetables: Onions, carrots and celery add sweetness, flavor and texture.
Stellini pasta: Tiny pasta that cooks quickly and makes each bite more comforting. (Buy it here!)
Lemon juice: Adds a fresh, tangy brightness to balance the richness.
Olive oil: Used for sautéing the vegetables and adding depth.
Fresh parsley: Brings color and a burst of herby freshness.
Seasonings: Salt, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, black pepper, and red pepper flakes build layers of flavor and spice to round out the soup.

Soup ingredients in bowls: chopped onion, carrots, celery, shredded chicken, broth, millet, herbs, oil, spices—perfect for making Italian chicken soup with pasta or a classic Italian comfort food using tiny star shaped pasta.

How to Make Pastina Soup with Chicken

For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.

Sauté the vegetables: Cook the onions, carrots and celery in olive oil until the onions are translucent.
Add the chicken and seasonings: Stir in the chicken, salt, pepper, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes.
Simmer the broth: Pour in the chicken broth and lemon juice, then simmer to meld the flavors.
Cook the pasta: Add the stellini and cook until al dente.
Finish the soup: Stir in the parsley and serve hot.

A bowl of Chicken Pastina Soup made with leftover or rotisserie chicken, carrots, celery, and parsley garnish—Italian comfort food at its finest.

Substitutions and Variations

Use a different pasta: Try orzo or acini di pepe if you can’t find stellini.
Swap the protein: Use shredded rotisserie chicken or leftover turkey.
Make it vegetarian: Replace chicken with chickpeas and use vegetable broth.

A comforting bowl of Chicken Pastina Soup featuring tiny star shaped pasta, tender carrots, herbs, and leftover or rotisserie chicken, served with slices of bread on the side.

Serving Suggestions

With bread: Enjoy some homemade classic focaccia, mushroom focaccia or soda bread with your pasta soup.
For lunch: You could pair it with an antipasto farro salad or tuna and potato salad.

Bowl of Chicken Pastina Soup with tiny star shaped pasta and herbs, metal pot, stacked plates, spoons, and small dishes of spices—classic Italian comfort food.

How to Store Pastina

Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Freeze: You can freeze portions of this soup for future lunches.
Thaw: Defrost overnight in the refrigerator.
Reheat: Warm it back up in a pan on the stove or in the microwave.

Bowl of Chicken Pastina Soup, featuring tender chicken, carrots, herbs, and tiny star shaped pasta, served with bread slices on a wooden table.

Top Tips

Don’t overcook the pasta: It continues to soften in the hot broth, so stop when it’s just al dente.
Brighten before serving: A final squeeze of lemon makes the flavors pop.
Add greens: A handful of baby spinach or kale stirred in at the end adds extra nutrients.

A ladle serves Italian chicken soup with pasta and vegetables into a white bowl on a wooden table, making the perfect Italian comfort food with leftover or rotisserie chicken.

Italian Chicken Pastina Recipe FAQs

What kind of pasta is best to use for Italian pastina?

I recommend stellini which are little star pasta shapes and the traditional pastina pasta. Technically any small pasta shapes shorter than ¼-inch qualifies as pastini (or miniature pasta) so you could use any little pasta from stellini (little stars) or acini di pepe to pearl couscous or orzo, ring pasta or alphabet pasta.

Can I use raw chicken instead of cooked?

Yes, just simmer it in the broth until fully cooked, then shred and return to the pot.

Does the soup thicken as it sits?

Yes, the pasta absorbs broth over time, so add extra stock when reheating if needed.

A spoonful of Chicken Pastina Soup with carrots, herbs, and tiny star shaped pasta is held above a bowl.

Chicken Pastina Soup Recipe

5 from 75 votes

Chicken Pastina Soup

I have loved chicken pastina soup since I was a little kid. The whole house would smell amazing while the soup cooked. It's definitely a favourite Italian comfort food. I love the tiny star shaped pasta in this amazing Italian chicken soup with pasta.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • Add the chopped onions, carrots and celery to a large soup pot with the olive oil. Sauté the vegetables on medium high heat until the onions are translucent.
  • Add the chicken, salt, pepper, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Mix to combine.
  • Pour the chicken broth and lemon juice into the pot. Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. ​​Let the soup simmer, covered, for 5 to 10 minutes.
  • Add in the stellini pasta, and cook until the pasta is al dente.
  • Remove the soup from heat and stir in the fresh parsley.
  • Serve immediately, garnished with parsley and/or red pepper flakes if liked.

Notes

Don’t overcook the pasta: It continues to soften in the hot broth, so stop when it’s just al dente.
Brighten before serving: A final squeeze of lemon makes the flavors pop.
Add greens: A handful of baby spinach or kale stirred in at the end adds extra nutrients.

Nutrition

Calories: 169kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 40mg | Sodium: 1513mg | Potassium: 429mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 3947IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 47mg | Iron: 2mg
Like this recipe? Rate and comment below!

This chicken pastina soup is a classic comfort food that’s both hearty and fresh. With simple ingredients and bright flavor from lemon and herbs, it’s the kind of recipe you’ll return to again and again. Whether you’re feeding a family or making a batch to enjoy all week, this Italian chicken soup with pasta recipe is warming, filling and easy to customize to your liking.

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Bella Bucchiotti

Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.

 

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Recipe Rating




5 from 75 votes (66 ratings without comment)

11 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This brought back so many cozy memories of my childhood. The stellini pasta is so cute and comforting, and the broth had such a deep, homemade flavor.

  2. 5 stars
    I posted my picture of your pastina soup on a fb page “north shore cooks”
    They want link to recipe but I am old & do not know link