Chicken Bow Tie Soup
A hearty chicken soup featuring bow tie pasta, fresh vegetables, and tender seasoned chicken, perfect for comforting meals and balanced with flavorful herbs and greens.
Ingredients
- 4 cans low-salt chicken broth ⓘ
- 1 large can crushed tomatoes ⓘ
- 1 unpeeled garlic clove ⓘ
- 4 carrots ⓘ
- 6 carrots
- 4 celery stalks ⓘ
- 1 package frozen chopped spinach ⓘ
- 1 package frozen mustard greens ⓘ
- 2 cups broccoli flowerets ⓘ
- 2 cups cauliflower flowerets ⓘ
- 1/2 package frozen onions
- 1/3 cup chopped parsley ⓘ
- 1 bay leaf ⓘ
- a bit of thyme ⓘ
- a bit of oregano
Instructions
- Marinate the chicken in orange juice, lemon juice, honey, and spices.
- Braise the marinated chicken until cooked through.
- In a large pot, bring chicken broth to a boil.
- Add crushed tomatoes, unpeeled garlic clove, carrots, celery, frozen onions, parsley, bay leaf, thyme, oregano, red pepper, black pepper, and salt to the broth.
- Simmer the vegetables and herbs for about 30 minutes.
- Add the frozen chopped spinach, mustard greens, broccoli flowerets, cauliflower flowerets, and chopped chicken to the soup.
- Cook until vegetables are tender and flavors meld, about 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, cook the bow tie pasta separately until al dente.
- Drain the pasta and add it to the soup just before serving.
Tips & Substitutions
For added flavor, consider sautéing the garlic clove before adding it to the broth. You can substitute fresh spinach for frozen, or use kale if desired. If you don't have bow tie pasta, any short pasta shape will work well. To enhance the soup, try adding a splash of lemon juice before serving for brightness.
Serving Suggestions
This Chicken Bow Tie Soup pairs beautifully with crusty bread or a fresh side salad for a complete meal. For a heartier option, serve it alongside grilled cheese sandwiches. A sprinkle of extra parsley on top before serving adds a nice touch of color and freshness.
Storage & Reheating
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, gently warm on the stovetop over medium heat, adding a splash of broth or water if needed to maintain consistency. Avoid reheating in the microwave as it may overcook the pasta.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of Chicken Bow Tie Soup contains roughly 566 calories, with 37g protein, 109g carbohydrates, and 11g fat. It is an excellent source of vitamin C (228% of the Daily Value), iron (222% of the Daily Value), and dietary fiber (181% of the Daily Value). Note that it is relatively high in sodium, at 1814mg per serving (79% of the Daily Value).
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use fresh vegetables instead of frozen?
Absolutely! Fresh vegetables like spinach, mustard greens, and broccoli can enhance the flavor and texture. Just adjust the cooking times, as fresh veggies may cook faster than frozen ones.
What can I replace the chicken broth with?
If you're looking for a vegetarian option, vegetable broth is an excellent substitute. It will maintain the soup's flavor profile while making the dish suitable for vegetarians.
How can I make this soup spicier?
To add heat, incorporate some chopped jalapeños or a pinch of red pepper flakes when simmering the vegetables. This will give the soup a nice kick without overpowering the other flavors.
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).