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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.

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Italian Chicken Pastina Recipe FAQs
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.
Yes, just simmer it in the broth until fully cooked, then shred and return to the pot.
Yes, the pasta absorbs broth over time, so add extra stock when reheating if needed.
Chicken Pastina Soup Recipe
Chicken Pastina Soup
Ingredients
- 2 Cups chicken, cooked
- 6 Cups chicken broth
- 1 Cup onions, chopped
- 1 Cup carrots, peeled and chopped
- 1 Cup pasta, stellini, dried
- ½ Cup celery, chopped
- 3 Tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons parsley, fresh
- 1 Teaspoon salt
- 1 Teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 Teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ Teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ Teaspoon red pepper flakes
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
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
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.
Other Recipes to Try
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.
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.
The chicken pastina soup brought back so many memories—just as comforting and tasty as I remember!
It is such a soothing soup. Deliciously satisfying!
Who would’ve thought? This recipe is way better than expected!
That soup is heavenly. I can’t stop making this!
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
hi! I am not a member of that group, but you can copy and past this link https://xoxobella.com/pastini-chicken-stellini-soup/
Thank you!
Loved the soup!
Posted to local food group!!
I loved the cute tiny pasta shapes in this veggie and chicken soup.
You will love it!
Yum! I love chicken soup. Can’t wait to try this one