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Chicken and Stars Soup

Chicken and Stars Soup is a comforting classic that's easy to make at home. This homemade version beats the canned stuff any day. With tender chicken, colorful veggies, and fun star-shaped pasta, it's a soup the whole family will enjoy.

This recipe is perfect for busy days when you want something warm and satisfying without spending hours in the kitchen. In about 40 minutes, you'll have a flavorful soup that's great for chilly evenings or when you're feeling under the weather.

Chicken and Stars Soup served in white bowls.

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I love making this Chicken and Stars Soup for my family. It's simple to prepare, and the flavor is rich and satisfying. It reminds me of the classic childhood comfort food but with a homemade touch that makes it even better. We also love this Chicken And Rice Soup.

This soup is easy to change up based on what you have in the fridge. Sometimes I add extra vegetables like peas or corn for more color and nutrition. 

It's great on its own, but we also enjoy it with some crusty bread for dipping. When we have leftovers, I store them in individual containers for quick lunches during the week.

Making Chicken and Stars Soup has become a regular part of our meal rotation, especially during colder months. It's budget-friendly and makes enough to feed us for a couple of meals. On busy weeknights, having a pot of this soup ready to go is a real help. It's nourishing, filling, and always hits the spot.

Ingredient Notes

See printable recipe card below for all ingredients, specific measurements, and complete instructions.

Ingredients to make Chicken and Stars Soup set out on the counter.
  • Chicken thighs: These are flavorful and stay tender in the soup. You can use chicken breasts if you prefer, but they might not be quite as juicy.
  • Stars pasta: I found these at Target, but most grocery stores carry them. Any small pasta shape works if you can't find stars.
  • Onion and garlic: Fresh gives the best flavor, but you can use dried minced onion and garlic powder if you're in a hurry.
  • Carrots and celery: These add nice color and crunch. Feel free to use more or less based on what you like.
  • Chicken broth: I use low-sodium to control the salt. Regular works too, just adjust your seasoning accordingly.
  • Olive oil: For cooking the chicken and veggies. Any neutral oil works fine.
  • Spices: The garlic powder, onion powder, and red pepper flakes add extra flavor. Adjust to your taste.
  • Salt and pepper: Always important for bringing out the flavors. Start with less—you can always add more!

How To Make Chicken and Stars Soup

Let's start by prepping the chicken. Cut the thighs into bite-sized cubes and season them with salt and pepper. This helps build flavor from the start.

Uncooked chicken thighs in a large pot.
Cooked chicken thighs in a large pot.

Heat up your olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Once it's warm, add the seasoned chicken. Cook for about 8 minutes, stirring now and then so it doesn't stick to the bottom. We're looking for a nice golden color. Remove the chicken and set it aside in a bowl.

Diced onions and minced garlic in a large pot.
Diced onions, minced garlic, carrots, and celery in a large pot.

In the same pot, add the chopped onion with a bit of salt and pepper. Let it cook until it starts to turn clear, about 3 minutes.

Now, add the minced garlic, celery, and carrots to the pot. Give it all a good stir and let it cook for 2-3 minutes. This helps soften the veggies and brings out their flavors.

Chicken, onion powder, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes are added to the vegetables in the large pot.
Star pasta is added to the soup in the large pot.

Put the chicken back in the pot and sprinkle in the onion powder, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes. Stir everything together so the spices coat the chicken and veggies.

Pour in the chicken broth and let it come to a boil. Once it's bubbling, turn the heat down and let it simmer for 10 minutes. This gives the flavors a chance to mix and mingle.

After 10 minutes, add the star pasta to the pot. Let it cook for another 8 minutes or until the pasta is tender.

Give your soup a taste. Need more flavor? Add a bit more salt and pepper until it tastes just right to you.

Your Chicken and Stars Soup is ready to serve. Ladle it into bowls and enjoy it while it's nice and hot!

Chicken and Stars Soup in a large pot with a soup ladle ready to serve.

Variations

  • Make it creamy. Stir in a cup of half-and-half or heavy cream at the end of cooking for a richer soup.
  • Try a different protein. Use leftover turkey or rotisserie chicken instead of raw chicken. Just add it near the end of cooking to warm through.
  • Try whole grains. Use small whole wheat pasta or swap the pasta for cooked barley or farro for added fiber.

Make-Ahead, Storing and Freezing

Make Ahead: If you plan to eat this over several days, cook the pasta separately. This way, you can add fresh pasta to each serving, preventing it from getting too soft in the leftover soup.

Store: Keep leftover Chicken and Stars Soup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat on the stove over medium heat or in the microwave until hot.

Freeze: This soup freezes well, making it great for meal prep. Let it cool completely, then freeze in portion-sized containers for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating. The pasta might be a bit softer after freezing, but it'll still taste amazing.

Recipe Tips

  • Cut the chicken into similar-sized pieces so they cook evenly.
  • If you're in a hurry, use pre-cut veggies from the grocery store.
  • For a thicker soup, let it simmer a bit longer with the lid off.
  • Try different small pasta shapes if you can't find star-shaped pasta.
  • Add a squeeze of lemon juice at the end for a bright, fresh flavor.
  • Serve with crusty bread or crackers for dipping.
  • For extra veggies, toss in some frozen peas or corn in the last few minutes of cooking.

Can I make this soup in a slow cooker?

Absolutely. Add all ingredients except the pasta to the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. About 30 minutes before serving, stir in the pasta and cook until tender.

Is there a way to make this soup lower in sodium?

Use low-sodium chicken broth and reduce the amount of added salt. You can always add more at the table if needed. Adding more herbs and spices can help boost flavor without extra sodium.

Chicken and Stars Soup served in white bowls.

Chicken and Stars Soup is a comforting meal that's easy to make at home. It's full of flavor, packed with tender chicken and veggies, and those fun star-shaped noodles add a playful touch. This soup is perfect for chilly evenings or when you need a bit of comfort food.

Chicken and Stars Soup served in a white bowl.

Chicken and Stars Soup Recipe

Author: Judy Wilson
This delicious and comforting chicken and stars soup is full of flavor with tender chicken, colorful veggies, and fun star-shaped pasta.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Soup
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 250 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • pounds Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs, raw and chopped
  • 1 cup Stars Pasta
  • 1 Onion, chopped
  • 2 Medium Carrots, chopped
  • 3 Cloves Garlic, finely chopped
  • 3 Ribs Celery, chopped
  • 5 cups Chicken Broth
  • 1-2 teaspoons Salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
  • 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
  • ½ teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes

Instructions
 

  • Cut the chicken thighs into cubes. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Add olive oil to a large pot over medium heat. Once the olive oil has warmed, add the seasoned chicken breasts. Allow to cook, stirring the chicken so it doesn't get stuck to the bottom, for about 8 minutes until cooked through.
  • Remove the chicken and place in a bowl to the side. Add the chopped onion to the large pot, season with salt and pepper, and allow to cook until just starting to become translucent. About 3 minutes.
  • Then add the minced garlic, celery, and carrots. Stir around and allow to cook for 2-3 minutes.
  • Add the chicken back to the pan and add the onion powder, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes. Stir to fully combine.
  • Add the chicken broth and allow it to come to a boil.
  • Cook for 10 minutes then add the star pasta and cook for 8 more minutes or until the pasta has cooked all the way.
  • Taste the soup and season with more salt and pepper if it needs it.
  • Serve and enjoy!

Notes

I used tiny star pasta for this recipe, which I found at Target. It’s also available at many grocery stores in town and online.
If you plan on eating this over a long period of time, I recommend cooking the pasta separately since it will soak up a lot of the broth and become mushy.
You can substitute chicken breasts in this recipe, or you can use rotisserie chicken to cut the time down. You’ll want to make sure that the vegetables soften before serving.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 250kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 25gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 112mgSodium: 1250mgPotassium: 502mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 3570IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 46mgIron: 1mg
The nutritional information provided is approximate and should only be used as a general guideline. It is an estimate that will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
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