A nourishing, comforting bowl of homemade soup filled with tender chicken, colourful vegetables and fragrant Italian herbs.
There is something wonderfully comforting about a pot of homemade chicken soup simmering away on the stove. This simple Italian-inspired chicken and vegetable soup brings together tender chicken, carrots, celery, potatoes and garlic in a rich, warming broth, finished with a little fresh lemon for brightness.
It is an easy Italian recipe to make when you want something wholesome and satisfying without spending hours in the kitchen. Perfect for a cosy lunch, a simple supper or a big pot to share around the table, this Italian chicken soup is the kind of everyday food that feels both nourishing and generous.
Serves
6
Ingredients
2 tbsp olive oil
2 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed (optional, but lovely for making the soup more substantial)
1 medium yellow onion, peeled and chopped
3 medium carrots, peeled and cubed
1 celery stalk, chopped
4 garlic cloves, peeled and mashed
1 tsp freshly grated ginger
2 chicken breasts (approximately 460g), cut into small pieces
2 litres chicken stock (around 4 stock cubes, or to taste)
1½ tsp dried Italian herbs
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Juice of ½ lemon, or 4 tsp bottled lemon juice
Fresh parsley, to garnish
Instead of potatoes, you can add a handful of small pasta shapes towards the end of cooking for a slightly more traditional Italian-style soup.
Method
1. Prepare the vegetables
Peel and chop the onion, carrots, potatoes and celery into small, even pieces. Mash or finely chop the garlic and grate the ginger.
2. Gently sauté the vegetables
Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot over a medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, celery, potatoes, garlic and ginger and gently sauté for around 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Add the chicken
Cut the chicken breasts into small pieces and add them to the pot. Sprinkle over the Italian herbs and season with a little salt and pepper.
Cook for around 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is lightly cooked on the outside.
4. Add the stock
Pour in the chicken stock and bring the soup gently to a simmer.
5. Simmer
Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for around 20 minutes.
6. Add the lemon
Stir in the lemon juice. Continue to simmer for a further 10–30 minutes, or until the vegetables are completely tender and the flavours have come together.
Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed.
7. Serve
Ladle the hot soup into bowls and finish with a generous sprinkle of fresh parsley.
Serve with this Simple Warm Crusty Bread for a simple and satisfying Italian-inspired meal.
A Mia Dolce Vita Touch
This is the kind of recipe that belongs in a well-loved kitchen. Uncomplicated, nourishing and made to be shared.
For an even more Italian feel, add a handful of small pasta shapes instead of the potatoes and serve with plenty of crusty bread and a little extra-virgin olive oil. You could also finish each bowl with a scattering of fresh parsley and a little freshly grated Parmesan.
Make a generous pot and enjoy it slowly around the table, perhaps with family or friends. Good food doesn't need to be complicated to feel special.