Oh, my stars! Kids and adults alike will absolutely love this flavorful and cozy chicken and star soup. It’s our family’s favorite comfort meal to keep any sniffles and coughing away when the weather turns cold. Made with only 7 ingredients and in less than 25 minutes!
Medically reviewed and cowritten by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and Lauren Braaten, Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT).
Chicken & Star Soup
Looking for an easy soup the whole family will love?
Well, I got you!
This homemade chicken and star soup seems to be a hit with any kid (or big, ahem…adult kid) that I’ve met. And I think I know why. First of all, we’ve got adorable little pasta stars that just make the whole bowl of soup seem more FUN.
Next, we’ve got a comforting chicken broth base, followed up by simple and hearty veggies. And to top it off, a filling source of protein from the chicken. And I’ll admit, as a mom, I love this soup because it’s incredibly easy to throw together even on a busy weeknight (I’ve even got a hack for cutting down cooking time with rotisserie chicken!).
With dozens of dinner recipes for kids to choose from, like my crazy good Chicken Parmesan Meatballs, The Best Kid-Friendly Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese, and Quick Kid-Friendly Alphabet Soup there are zero reasons to be in a dinner food slump. If you still need even more ideas, then be sure to check out my best-selling cookbook, Little Foodie: Baby Food Recipes for Babies and Toddlers with Taste.
Chicken & Stars Video
Watch this video to see just how easy it is to make this homemade version of the classic dish!
Reasons to Love Chicken and Stars Soup
- One pot meal
- Made in 25 minutes
- A dish the whole family will adore
- Budget-friendly
- Easily adaptable depending on what ingredients you have
- Great source of veggies
- Baby-led weaning friendly – 10 plus months
- Perfect for leftovers
Ingredients
- Star Pasta: we’re using a tiny star-shaped pasta, traditionally called stelline or pastina.
- Broth: you can use chicken or veggie broth. Choose low sodium when possible if serving to toddlers or younger children.
- Chicken: we’re using chicken that’s already cooked – rotisserie chicken works great for this! I chopped up rotisserie shredded chicken into smaller chunks since it’s easier for kids to get it on their spoon, but any cooked, chopped, or shredded chicken will work.
- Carrot: finely diced
- Celery: finely diced
- Onion: white, finely diced
- Garlic: minced
- Spices: Italian seasoning and salt
Tip: to make this meal gluten-free, you can use any gluten-free pasta you prefer.
Benefits of Chicken Star Soup
This soup gets 5 stars for health benefits! Here’s why:
- Pasta is an excellent source of carbohydrates, which supply fuel for energy.
- Chicken is high in protein which is essential for growth and development and keeping bellies full.
- Low-sodium chicken broth is a good liquid to choose for hydration and may even help alleviate some cold symptoms.
- Carrots, onions, and garlic are full of essential vitamins and minerals and can help support the immune system.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- In a large stockpot, heat the olive oil over medium-low heat. Add in the onions and sauté; add in the garlic and sauté. Then add in the carrots and celery and sauté until tender.
- Add in the cooked chicken, Italian seasoning, and salt, and sauté for a few more minutes.
- Add in the broth and bring to a boil.
- Add pasta, reduce to a simmer, and let the pasta cook.
- Let cool slightly, and then serve.
Variations
Homemade chicken and stars soup is also incredibly versatile! Here are some of our favorite variations and additions.
- Peas
- Cauliflower rice
- Chopped Spinach or Kale
- Green beans
- Shelled Edamame
- Parmesan cheese
- Chopped parsley
- Lemon juice
How to Store
Store leftovers of this Chicken and Stars Soup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Store in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Recipe Tips
- Dicing your veggies and cooked chicken small will ensure that they cook quickly and make for a uniform shape throughout the soup.
- You can substitute another small pasta shape if you can’t find stelline pasta. If using another pasta shape, check the cooking time on the package and adjust as needed.
- Top with a little parmesan cheese, panko breadcrumbs, or a squeeze of fresh lemon for extra flavor.
- You may need to add a little more broth if you’re reheating leftovers to help thin out the soup to your liking.
- If your child is hesitant to try soup, consider serving it with bread or crackers to dip into it. Serving soup in a much smaller bowl than your child is used to (think cooking prep bowl size) can also make it seem less intimidating.
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 white onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 medium carrots finely diced
- 1 celery stalk, finely diced
- 1/2 tsp Italian Seasoning
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 cup cooked shredded chicken, finely chopped
- 4 cups chicken or veggie broth
- 1 cup stelline pasta
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Sauté: In a large stockpot, heat the olive oil over medium-low heat. Add in the onions and sauté for 2-3 minutes. Add in the garlic, and sauté for 1-2 minutes. Add in the carrots, celery, Italian seasoning, and salt, and sauté for another 3-4 minutes, or until tender.
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Chicken: add in the cooked chicken and saute for another 3-4 mintues.
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Broth: add in the broth, turn the heat to medium-high, and bring to a boil.
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Pasta: add in the pasta, reduce heat to a simmer, and then cook the pasta for 8-10 minutes. If the soup gets too thick, then you can add in additional broth.
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Serve: let cool slightly and then serve and enjoy!
Broth: the star pasts does keep expanding, so if your soup becomes too thick, feel free to add in additional broth.