Sicilian Chicken Soup

Chicken soup has never been easier! Warm up with a huge bowl on a cold winter day.  All from scratch with tender chunks of veggies, ditalini pasta, and shredded chicken.  

This sicilian chicken soup is inspired by Carrabba’s chicken soup recipe and pairs phenomenal with crusty bread or a light veggie pasta, such as 20-Minute Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta with Spinach.

this recipe

Carrabba’s Chicken Soup

There is no doubt that we are a HUGE soup loving family. I grew up eating soups and borscht as a kid. It was a staple in our household. Now I make soup for my own kids pretty much year round.

In the colder months, I like to make broccoli cheddar soup, chicken stew with butternut squash, and creamy chicken chili. In the warmer months, I stick to lighter soups. All three of my kids absolutely love soup so that gives me even more motivation to make it.

This Italian chicken soup recipe is somewhat in between. It’s inspired by Carrabba’s Mama Mandola’s Chicken Soup Recipe. Made with chunky veggies, shredded chicken, and plenty of delicious homemade broth.

The best part is that it’s a dump and go type of recipe. Basically, you load up your soup pot with all the ingredients and let your stovetop do all the work. It does not get easier than that!

Ingredients

• Chicken Thighs – you want bone-in-skin-on thighs. If you were going to splurge on anything in this recipe, splurge on good quality chicken. I like to buy organic or pasture-raised chicken whenever I can. That way you’ll get the best flavor out of the chicken.
• Veggies – onions, celery, carrots, bell pepper, and potatoes
• Canned Tomatoes – no salt diced tomatoes are what you want. If using salted tomatoes cut down on salt.
• Aromatics – dry bay leaves and fresh garlic
• Chicken Stock – I love using a combination of store chicken stock plus water to make a quick soup. Just make sure it’s low-sodium, otherwise, you’ll have to cut down on salt.
• Salt – it’s very important to season the soup well from the start since everything basically gets added in at the same time. See my detailed note in the recipe about the salt.
• Pasta – ditalini pasta is typically used in rustic Italian soups. A good substitute would be tubetti or orzo pasta.
• Parsley – fresh parsley is ideal. Don’t like parsley? Try fresh basil.

How Do You Make a Good Soup?

It all starts with chicken. Preferably high quality organic, pasture-raised, or grass-fed chicken.

I personally love to use an entire chicken for homemade broth when possible. However, when I’m in the rush, bone-in-skin-on chicken thighs are my go-to.

Chicken thighs cook quickly and the meat is always tender. So you can use them to make the broth and then shred the meat to use in soup.

The broth is always perfect with just the perfect amount of body and savory flavor.  

How to Make Sicilian Chicken Soup

Step 1: In a large soup pot, at least 6-quart, combine the chicken, onions, celery, carrots, bell pepper, potatoes, tomatoes, bay leaves, garlic, stock, and water.

Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer partially covered until chicken is tender about 30 minutes.

Step 2: Remove chicken from the pot and set aside. Add pasta to the soup and continue cooking for 13-15 minutes, partially covered, until pasta is tender. 

Step 3: Shred the chicken with two forks, discarding the skin and bones. Return shredded chicken to the pot. At this point, the soup will almost be done. 

Step 4: Discard the bay leaves. Stir in parsley and serve.

Katya’s TIP: Love thicker chicken soup? Simply put a tablespoon of flour into a small bowl and stir in 2-3 tablespoons of the soup until you have a smooth mixture. Stir this back into the soup and bring it to a simmer.

More Ways to Add Flavor

Add more flavor to your chicken soup by adding dried parsley, onion powder, or garlic powder. I recommend adding 1/2 to 1 full teaspoon.

Another great way to add more flavor is to add a splash of vinegar (any kind) or a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. 

What Goes With Chicken Soup for Dinner?

The possibilities are endless when it comes to serving chicken soup. My simple go-to is always soup with some crusty sourdough garlic bread or gluten free cheese bread.

Or you can definitely make a complete meal out of the soup with some of these satisfying sides:

• Avocado Egg Salad – serve it on a crusty piece of bread.
• Avocado Caesar Salad with Cucumbers  – this salad is so crisp and fresh. Feel free to add more veggies to it.
• Kale Salad with Butternut Squash and Cranberries – it’s the ultimate fall/winter salad. Loaded with so many colorful fresh veggies.
• Twice Baked Spaghetti Squash – it’s so cheesy and satisfying!
• Hummus Veggie Sandwich – you can’t go wrong with a soup and sandwich combo.

More Chicken Soup Recipes

• Chicken Split Pea Soup 
• Vietnamese Chicken Noodle Soup 
• Chicken and Rice Soup
• Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup

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