Description
Chicken Florentine Soup is a creamy, comforting Italian-inspired soup packed with tender shredded chicken, fresh spinach, and small pasta in a flavorful broth enriched with Parmesan cheese and a touch of lemon juice. This hearty and wholesome soup makes a perfect meal for any season, combining nutritious vegetables and protein with comforting creaminess.
Ingredients
Scale
Soup Base
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded
- 1 cup small pasta such as ditalini
- 3 cups fresh spinach, chopped
Finishing Touches
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Sauté vegetables: Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the diced onion, carrots, and celery and cook for about 5 minutes until the vegetables are softened and fragrant.
- Add garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Add broth and seasoning: Pour in the chicken broth, then stir in Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Bring the soup to a gentle boil.
- Cook pasta: Add the small pasta to the boiling soup and cook according to the package directions until the pasta is tender, usually about 8-10 minutes.
- Add chicken and simmer: Stir in the shredded cooked chicken and allow the soup to simmer for about 3 minutes to heat the chicken through.
- Add spinach: Add the chopped fresh spinach to the soup and cook just until wilted, about 1-2 minutes.
- Finish with cream and cheese: Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese until fully combined and the soup is creamy and smooth.
- Add lemon juice and serve: Stir in the lemon juice to brighten the flavors. Serve the soup warm, garnished if desired.
Notes
- Rotisserie chicken is a convenient shortcut for shredded cooked chicken.
- For a lighter soup, substitute half and half for the heavy cream.
- The soup will thicken slightly as it sits due to the pasta absorbing liquid.
- Use gluten-free pasta to make the recipe suitable for a gluten-free diet.
