There's something heartwarming about a bowl of homemade soup, isn't there?
The rich, savory broth, the tender chicken, the fresh vegetables, and the delightful pastina all meld together into pure comfort.
If you've been looking for a new recipe to try, why not consider our Crock Pot Chicken Pastina Soup?
It's the perfect blend of simplicity, flavor, and comfort of this homemade chicken soup recipe that makes it a perfect crock pot soup recipe.
Why You'll Love Homemade Chicken Pastina Soup in a Crock Pot
This soup is not just delicious, but it's also incredibly easy to make. With a Crock Pot, you can simply add the ingredients, set the timer, and go about your day.
By the time you're ready for lunch or dinner, your soup will be ready too - brimming with flavors that have been slowly simmered and mingled together.
The Perks of Using a Crock Pot
Crock Pots are all about convenience and flavor enhancement. They allow for slow, even cooking, which helps to develop deep, complex flavors.
This handy appliance makes it so easy to make all types of soup recipes like Kielbasa Soup and Chicken Santa Fe Soup.
Plus, they require less attention than traditional stovetop cooking, freeing up your time for other things.
Whether you're a busy parent, a beginner cook, or just someone who loves to make homemade soup, a Crock Pot is a reliable kitchen ally.
In terms of size, a 7 or 8 quart Crock Pot is ideal for this recipe. It provides ample space for all the ingredients without crowding, ensuring even cooking.
Recipe Prep
To save time the vegetables can be diced and slice the night before.
- dice the carrots and onions
- slice the celery
Chicken Pastina Soup Ingredients
Below is a quick look at the ingredients and directions. You can find the entire ingredient amounts and step by step directions in the recipe card below. P. S. You can also save your favorite recipes to your personal recipe box! ⬇️
- Boneless chicken: This is the protein star of our soup. It becomes incredibly tender during the slow cooking process.
- Chicken broth: This serves as the base of the soup, providing a rich, savory flavor.
- Diced onion, carrots, and sliced celery: These veggies contribute to the soup’s texture and add a depth of flavor.
- Salt and pepper: These seasonings enhance the other flavors in the soup.
- Bay leaf: This imparts a subtle, earthy flavor to the soup and is a must have ingredient when making soup.
- Grated Parmesan: Used as a garnish and adds a lovely umami note and a slight creaminess to the soup.
- Parsley: This herb garnish provides a fresh, bright counterpoint to the rich flavors of the soup.
- Pastina pasta: This is the smallest type of pasta, and it works wonderfully in soups. It adds a delightful texture that complements the tender chicken and vegetables, and its starchy content slightly thickens the soup, giving it a comforting, heartwarming quality. Pastina pasta cooks directly in the soup, absorbing the rich flavors of the broth and other ingredients.
👇See the step by step directions below!
Step by Step Directions
- Step 1: Place the boneless chicken at the bottom of your Crock Pot.
- Step 2: Add the diced onion, carrots, and celery to the crock pot. Then add the salt, ground black pepper, and bay leaves.
- Step 3: Pour the chicken broth over the soup ingredients in the 7 or 8 quart crock pot.
- Step 4: Use a large wooden spoon to stir the ingredients. Cover and slow cook on low for 4-5 hours or high for 2-3 hours or until the chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 165 F. degrees.
- Step 5: Once the chicken is cooked remove the chicken and let it rest for about 5 minutes before shredding it into bite size pieces.
- Step 6: Stir in the pastina, ½ cup of shredded Parmesan cheese and 1 or 2 tablespoons of fresh minced parsley.
- Step 7: Add the shredded chicken and stir in. Recover and cook until the pasta is tender, about 30 minutes.
- Step 8: Just before serving, remove the bay leaves and discard.
- Step 9: Serve with soup crackers or a crusty loaf of bread.
Perfect Pairings
Serve your soup with a crusty bread, a simple salad, or a side of roasted vegetables.
For a heartier meal, pair it with a grilled cheese sandwich.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.
- The soup can also be frozen for up to three months.
- When reheating, do so slowly over medium heat to maintain the soup's texture and flavor. Or reheat it in the microwave.
Can this soup be made on the stovetop instead of in a Crock Pot?
Yes, this soup can also be made on the stovetop. Simply follow the same instructions but use a large pot instead of a Crock Pot. Bring it to a boil, then reduce heat and let it simmer for about 20 minutes before adding the pastina.
Cook until the pasta is tender, then add in the chicken and continue cooking as directed.
Recipe FAQS
Yes, bone-in chicken can be used for this recipe. Just remember to remove the bones before serving.
Yes, you can substitute other small-shaped pastas such as orzo or ditalini in place of pastina.
Absolutely! Feel free to add in other vegetables such as diced zucchini, or spinach for added flavor. Just be sure to adjust the cooking time accordingly to ensure they are cooked through.
Helpful Products for this recipe
- 7 or 8 quart crock pot
- instant meat thermometer
- vegetable chopper
- wooden spoon
- ladle
- soup bowls
- cloth napkins
📌Pro Cooking Tips
- Use the correct size slow cooker. Overfilled slow cookers will take much longer to heat up and cook. It is better to use a larger size like a 7 or 8 quart to cook this recipe.
- Always check the internal temperature of chicken to make sure it has cooked all the way through.
- Use a good quality chicken stock or make homemade for the best flavor.
- Don't skip the Parmesan! It truly elevates the flavor of the soup.
Your Dinner Awaits
There's nothing quite like ending your day with a bowl of homemade Crock Pot Chicken Pastina Soup.
It's more than just a meal - it's comfort in a bowl. So, why wait? Let the aroma of simmering soup fill your home tonight.
Other Crock Pot Recipes to Try
If you loved this recipe, be sure to check out our other Crock Pot recipes.
⭐Leave a Star Rating
Have you tried the recipe? Leave a star rating in the recipe card below to let me know how the recipe turn out.
Email questions or recipe requests to flouronmyface@gmail.com. Follow me on Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.
Crock Pot Chicken Pastina Soup
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. boneless chicken
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 1 medium diced onion
- 2 cups diced carrots
- ½ cup sliced celery
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 3 medium bay leaves
- ½ cup grated Parmesan (more for garnish)
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley (minced)
- 1 ½ cups Pastina pasta
Instructions
Prep
- Slice or dice the carrots, celery and onion.
Make the soup
- Place the boneless chicken at the bottom of your Crock Pot.
- Add the diced onion, carrots, and celery to the crock pot. Then add the salt, ground black pepper, and bay leaves.
- Pour the chicken broth over the soup ingredients in the 7 or 8 quart crock pot.
- Use a large wooden spoon to stir the ingredients.
- Cover and slow cook on low for 4-5 hours or high for 2-3 hours or until the chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 165 F. degrees.
- Once the chicken is cooked remove the chicken and let it rest for about 5 minutes before shredding it into bite size pieces.
- Stir in the pastina, ½ cup of shredded Parmesan cheese and 1 or 2 tablespoons of fresh minced parsley.
- Add the shredded chicken and stir in. Recover and cook until the pasta is tender, about 30 minutes.
- Just before serving, remove the bay leaves and discard.
- Serve with soup crackers or a crusty loaf of bread.
- Makes 6 to 8 servings.
Recipe Expert Tips
- Use the correct size slow cooker. Overfilled slow cookers will take much longer to heat up and cook. It is better to use a larger size like a 7 or 8 quart to cook this recipe.
- Always check the internal temperature of chicken to make sure it has cooked all the way through.
- Use a good quality chicken stock or make homemade for the best flavor.
- Don't skip the Parmesan! It truly elevates the flavor of the soup.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.
- The soup can also be frozen for up to three months.
- When reheating, do so slowly over medium heat to maintain the soup's texture and flavor. Or heat in the microwave.
Joanne
That sure sounds yummy!
Arlene Mobley
Joanne I hope you get a chance to try the recipe!
Vicky
Can you make this chicken with bones?
Arlene Mobley
Vicky I would not use bone in chicken for this recipe. You might miss some bone pieces that could be a choking hazard.
Laura
Arlene:
This looks delicious! I do not see the amount of Pastina listed in the recipe or any of the notes.
Arlene Mobley
Laura so sorry. It is 1 1/2 cups of Pastina pasta. I've updated the recipe if you want to print it out.