Description
This Chickarina Soup is a comforting and hearty dish, featuring tender chicken meatballs, tiny pasta pearls, and fresh vegetables simmered in a rich, golden broth. Perfect for a cozy meal, this flavorful soup is light yet satisfying. Whether enjoyed fresh or stored for later, it’s a delicious homemade classic that brings warmth and nourishment in every spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Meatballs
- 1 lb ground chicken (or turkey)
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
For the Soup
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- ¾ cup acini de pepe pasta (or orzo)
- ½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- Fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
1. Prepare the Meatballs
- In a bowl, mix the ground chicken, breadcrumbs, egg, Parmesan, parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Gently combine until just mixed—avoid overworking the meat.
- Roll into small, bite-sized meatballs (about ¾ inch in diameter) and set aside.
2. Sauté the Vegetables
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
- Add diced onions, carrots, and celery, cooking until softened and fragrant (about 5 minutes).
- Stir in salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
3. Simmer the Soup
- Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Carefully add the prepared meatballs to the broth, stirring gently to prevent breaking.
- Let the soup simmer for about 10 minutes, allowing the meatballs to cook through.
4. Cook the Pasta
- Add the acini de pepe pasta and cook for 8-10 minutes, or until tender.
- Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
5. Final Touches
- Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and serve hot.
Notes
- For leftovers, store the soup without the pasta to prevent it from absorbing too much broth. Cook fresh pasta separately when reheating.
- Substitutions: Ground turkey can be used instead of chicken, and orzo or ditalini pasta works well in place of acini de pepe.
- To freeze: Store cooled soup (without pasta) in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Dish, Soup
- Method: Simmered
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (~1.5 cups)
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: chickarina soup, homemade chicken meatball soup, hearty chicken soup, comforting broth soup, chicken and pasta soup