Description
Italian Penicillin Soup is a comforting, fast 25-minute one-pot meal that nourishes the body and delights the senses. Tender shredded chicken, al dente pasta, garden vegetables, and Italian herbs simmer in a savory, aroma-filled broth for big flavor with minimal effort. Perfect for weeknights, it reheats beautifully and makes a cozy, wholesome dinner for the whole family.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 medium carrots, sliced
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 cup shredded cooked chicken (rotisserie or boiled)
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup small pasta (ditalini or orzo)
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp black pepper
- Salt, to taste
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
- Juice of ½ lemon (optional, for brightness)
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery; sauté for 4–5 minutes until softened.
- Add garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Stir in chicken, chicken broth, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Bring to a gentle boil.
- Add pasta and cook according to package directions until tender (usually 8–10 minutes).
- Stir in Parmesan cheese and lemon juice, if using. Adjust seasoning to taste.
- Remove from heat and garnish with fresh parsley before serving.
Notes
- Swap in gluten-free pasta to make it GF-friendly.
- Use leftover rotisserie chicken for convenience.
- Skip the cheese for a lighter version (or use a sprinkle of nutritional yeast).
- Leftovers reheat well for lunches.
- Fresh spinach can be stirred in at the end for extra greens.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1.5 cups)
- Calories: 270
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 750 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
Keywords: Italian Penicillin Soup, chicken soup, comforting soup, 25-minute dinner, Italian herbs, pasta soup, easy weeknight meal, one-pot meal, family-friendly dinner, nourishing broth