Chicken Pastina Soup (Chicken and Stars)

Name: Chicken Pastina Soup (Chicken and Stars)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients: 6 cups chicken broth; 3/4 cup grated carrot, (1 or 2 carrots); 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 3 or 4 sprigs fresh thyme leaves (1/4 tsp. dried thyme); 1 (7 oz or 8 oz) pkg. tiny pasta (pastina) – star shape is called estrella or stelline (or use any small pasta like ditalini, acini de pepe, or orzo); 2 cups boneless skinless chicken breasts, pre-cooked and chopped or shredded (leftover or rotisserie chicken); juice of 1/2 lemon (1 to 1.5 Tablespoons)

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Chicken Pastina Soup is my delectably satisfying grown-up version of a childhood classic. It’s simple, delicious, and comforting. And with a handful of everyday ingredients, it can be on the table in less than 30 minutes.

Chicken Pastina Soup in a blue ceramic bowl garnished with a slice of lemon.

As Americans who grew up in the 70’s, the comfort food classic we remember most likely came from a can. But, we still loved it and there was something really special about getting to eat a bowl full of stars.

That brand of canned soup we grew up with really didn’t have more than one or two obligatory cubes of chicken, either. There were no veggies, just broth and pasta.

My Chicken Pastina Soup (Chicken and Stars) will be a completely different experience for you. It’s a comfort food hug in a bowl. Large chunks of juicy, leftover chicken (Use rotisserie chicken if you don’t have leftovers.) grated carrot, and homemade chicken broth or store-bought. Choose what you have on hand at the moment.

Fresh herbs, onion powder, and garlic powder with just a bit of lemon juice elevate this simple soup and give it a fresh and bright flavor. I think you’re going to absolutely love it! I know the kids you cook for will!

Chicken Pastina Soup (Chicken and Stars) in a blue ceramic bowl garnished with a slice of lemon.

In This Post:

What is Pastina?

For the last couple of years in the United States, pastina has been one of those trendy ingredients that we latch onto as though WE had discovered something brand new.

Those of us who DID grow up in the 70s got a good chuckle from that. And my guess is most Italian-Americans had a few down-right belly laughs over the latest “new thing.” In Italy, pastina is a common pantry ingredient. It’s often one of the first foods for babies as the tiny pasta shapes are easy to swallow whole.

Tiny star-shaped pasta called estrella, spilling from the bag they are sold in onto a marble counter.

Pastina, in Italian, translates to small (or tiny) pasta. It can be found in various shapes, and you may have eaten a few of them. Orzo, acini de pepe and stelline are all good examples. Stelline, in Italian, means star.

The continuing popularity of this tiny-star-shaped pasta is still making it fairly difficult to find in the U.S. When I did find it in local stores, it was quite expensive, so I walked past, leaving it on the shelf.

I decided to try my luck on Amazon, and lo and behold, La Moderna Estrella. They are tiny star-shaped pasta — exactly what I was looking for. Made with 100% semolina, just like the Italian stelline. And they were a mere $0.48 for a 7-ounce bag.

After some research, I discovered that estrella is the Spanish word for star. So, I’m guessing kids in Spain love tiny, star-shaped pasta, just like the Italians and all the rest of us. Regardless of the name, the pasta worked perfectly for this delicious Chicken Pastina Soup (chicken and stars). And it was a perfect lunch for the two of us.

NOTE: Since our move, I have also been able to pick up La Moderna Estrella at our local Walmart. So check your own favorite grocery shops for pastina (tiny pasta) like stelline, estrella, orzo or acini de pepe. It’s a fun, quick-cooking addition to Chicken Pastina Soup.

The Ingredients

Pastina : Any tiny pasta works. I used stars because it’s traditional and because they make me happy. lol Orzo, acini de pepe, stelline or estrella. (Both stelline and estrella are star-shaped.)
Pre-cooked (Leftover) Chicken : I used boneless skinless chicken breasts, which I tend to keep already cooked in the freezer so they’re ready for use in quick recipes like this one. I use two recipes interchangeably to make chicken for my freezer. I love both of them equally. Check out my easy Slow Cooker Chicken Breasts recipe and my perfect Baked Chicken Breasts recipe. They produce tender, juicy chicken that is delicious for any meal and also for freezing for future dishes. Use whatever leftover chicken you have on hand. Alternatively, grab a rotisserie chicken at the store and use that for your chicken pastina soup (chicken and stars).
Chicken Broth : Ideally, I would use my Homemade Chicken Broth when making soup. It’s sooo delicious and nutritious. However, I use a LOT of chicken broth in my kitchen, and it’s difficult for me to always have homemade on hand for a quick and easy recipe like this one. Choose your favorite brand and zhuzh it up with a little bouillon or whatever herbs you have on hand.
Carrot, grated
Seasonings : I find that store-bought chicken broth always needs a little help. And since this is a quick soup that won’t have hours of simmering time to cook down raw onions and garlic, I opted for onion powder, garlic powder and some fresh thyme. Thyme with chicken is bellissimo!
Lemon Juice : Fresh lemon juice will change your life AND this soup. It adds brightness, freshness, and balance that you’re gonna love. Use bottled if you really have no other option, but the flavor is always a little off.

Fresh Lemon Juice vs Bottled

Two lemons on a marble countertop next to a stack of lemon slices.

I’ve gotten in the habit of just tossing a lemon and lime or two into my grocery cart whenever I shop. The brightness and dimension they add to dishes is so much fresher and brighter than bottled juice that I don’t even think about it anymore.

And I’m not talking about just for this Chicken Pastina Soup. Any recipe that calls for lemon juice will always be fresher and brighter with freshly squeezed juice. Here’s why.

If you look at the ingredients on a bottle of lemon (or lime) juice, you will see a list of several more ingredients than just the juice. Water is usually first, then a list of colorings, preservatives, and juice concentrate.

Bottled lemon juice is slightly bitter and doesn’t have that strong, bright, lemony flavor like freshly squeezed lemon juice does. This can be attributed to pasteurization at high temperatures which affects the taste and nutritional content. Plus, bottled juice is older and has additives that can affect flavor.

With an inexpensive hand juicer like mine_{[affiliate link]}, it’s easy to strain out seeds and pulp and have fresh juice in seconds. I use mine several times a week and have owned it for years. It has a reamer for small citrus fruit and one for large like oranges and grapefruit. The strainer keeps seeds and pulp out of the juice.

If you really have to use bottled juice, look for a brand with only lemon juice as the ingredient on the label. Be warned, though. They only keep a few days in the fridge after being opened. A fresh lemon is a much more economical option.

Possible Variations for Chicken Pastina Soup

Make It Vegan

Can I make it vegan?

Absolutely! Make your Pastina Soup vegan by using vegetable broth instead of chicken and omitting the chicken. You can also substitute seitan, soy curls, quorn or tofu for the chicken for added protein.

Add More Veggies to Your Chicken and Stars

My goal for this recipe was quick and easy lunch or dinner. And I wanted my Chicken Pastina Soup to closely resemble the chicken and stars from our childhood — just with better flavor. lol So, I didn’t add much beyond the pastina and chicken.

I did add grated carrot as I knew it would quickly cook and add more freshness, flavor and nutrition to the broth. But don’t stop yourself there.

You could fine-dice, thinly slice or grate any veggies that you enjoy. Just keep the pieces small, so they cook quickly. Try zucchini, celery, carrots, sweet potato, onions, spinach, kale, bell pepper, broccoli, mushrooms or peas. Your options are only limited by your imagination.

Use Different Herbs or Add Spices

Choose the herbs you love best with chicken. Fresh is great, but dried herbs will work, too. I had fresh thyme in the fridge and I love it with chicken, so that’s what I chose.

My homemade chicken bouillon is a great blend of herbs and veggies that are excellent for soup. So that’s another excellent option to zhudge the flavor in your Chicken Pastina Soup (Chicken and Stars).

You could also add, or sub in, sage, poultry seasoning, rosemary, marjoram, tarragon or a nice blend like Herbs de Provence or Italian Seasoning. Another idea is to add a pinch of turmeric and/or ginger and to kick up the heat try a few red pepper flakes or a pinch of chipotle powder.

All of these will add great flavor and interest to chicken broth. Get creative and make the recipe your own.

What to Serve with Chicken Pastina Soup

House Salad in a white ceramic bowl on a concrete countertop. There is a fork lying next to the bowl witha turquoise fabric napkin.

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And if you’re looking for even more easy chicken soup recipes, check out this collection from my friend Kelly over on the Kelly Stilwell blog.

How to Make Chicken Pastina Soup

Add the chicken stock, onion and garlic powder, fresh thyme leaves, and grated carrot to a medium saucepan and bring them to a boil.
Add the pastina to the chicken pastina soup as soon as the broth is boiling.
Cook for 7 minutes, and then add the chicken.
Continue cooking for 2 to 4 minutes until pasta is tender and chicken is heated through.
Add the juice of one lemon. Stir to combine.
Serve garnished with fresh parsley and thin lemon slices, if desired.

The Recipe

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