Easy and Best Italian Chicken Pastina Soup Recipe

Italian Chicken Pastina Soup, a.k.a. Italian penicillin, is a taste of comfort in every spoonful! Nearly all Italian grandmothers (a.k.a. nonnas) have given their children and grandchildren homemade chicken soup when their sick. 

My Italian immigrant mom (R.I.P.,) made me pastina chicken soup when I was a little girl. Her food was always the BEST and I didn’t realize how lucky I was until I ate at other people’s homes!

As you probably already know, chicken soup is great for colds and flu in the colder months. It’s just what any sore throat needs for soothing comfort especially on a winter cold day.

I make this recipe with a stewing chicken to make delicious, flavorful homemade chicken broth. If you don’t have the time nor the chicken and want to make this soup, feel free to use store-bought chicken broth especially if you have a sick one in the house and need something quickly. 

If this is the case, you can boil skin on chicken breast, thighs, or drumsticks and get a similar result for homemade chicken broth. I’ve done this many times. I’ve even used poached chicken breast in a pinch.

What is pastina?

Pastina is a pasta variety that is made in the shape of little stars or “stelline” in Italian for the word “stars.” Although, Italians call this pasta “pastina” as well. It is cooked al dente in 6-7 minutes. Learn how long does it take to cook the perfect pasta.

This recipe is made with a homemade chicken broth which will take your chicken soup to the next level in and of itself. It’s a rich chicken broth made with tender chicken. This is evidenced in my Italian Wedding Soup recipe. 

I like to add a little bit of extra virgin olive oil to this soup to give it some of that unparalleled flavor.

Don’t worry if you’re not a chef—this recipe is easy to follow, and the results are simply delicious. Let’s get cooking!

* See the full, printable recipe in the recipe card below.

Ingredients

• stewing whole chicken
•  6 quarts of water
• 1/2 cup of pastina pasta (tiny pasta shapes like little stars)
• carrot, peeled and chopped
• celery ribs
• whole medium onion
• extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)
• grated Parmesan cheese (optional, for serving)

Instructions

See the instructions in the printable recipe card near the bottom of this post.

The picture above turns into this in about one hour of stewing:

This comforting soup will last freshly in your refrigerator for 3-4 days and is a perfect meal when you or a family member is sick. Although the pasta will expand as it sits in the flavorful broth the next day, it will still be good.

Substiutions

• Use Acini de Pepe or Orzo pasta instead of Pastina pasta.
• Use store bought chicken broth instead of making it from scratch.

There’s nothing like a deliious homemade soup! Use the leftover chicken to make some of your favorite recipes that contain leftover chicken such as chicken salad, chicken pot pie or anything from my chicken category. chicken and corn chowder, chicken noodle casserole and PA Dutch chicken and waffles which, is made with stewed chicken rather than fried chicken as in the southern states.

Serve this Italian comfort food with crusty Italian bread for a hearty lunch.

There you have it—a taste of Italy in every spoonful of this comforting Italian chicken Soup a.k.a. brodo di pollo con pastina. It’s simple to make and bursting with flavor, making it the perfect dish for any occasion. So, grab your ingredients and get ready to enjoy a bowl of warmth and goodness.

Buon appettito!