This comforting Chicken & Zucchini Soup is the ultimate winter warmer, featuring a rich, homemade chicken stock base infused with root vegetables and herbs. The dish combines tender shredded chicken, savory sweet Italian sausage, and delicate zucchini with pasta shells for a satisfying texture. It 226;ÂÂs perfect for chilly evenings, family dinners, or meal prepping leftovers that taste even better the next day. Simple, rustic, and deeply flavorful, this soup brings a classic home-style warmth to your table without any fuss.
Chicken & Zucchini Soup
Description
This comforting Chicken & Zucchini Soup is the ultimate winter warmer, featuring a rich, homemade chicken stock base infused with root vegetables and herbs. The dish combines tender shredded chicken, savory sweet Italian sausage, and delicate zucchini with pasta shells for a satisfying texture. It&# 226;ÂÂs perfect for chilly evenings, family dinners, or meal prepping leftovers that taste even better the next day. Simple, rustic, and deeply flavorful, this soup brings a classic home-style warmth to your table without any fuss.Ingredients
Directions
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Place the whole chicken in a large 6-quart stockpot.
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Add the onions, garlic cloves, whole cloves, carrots, celery, turnip, parsnip, and parsley sprigs to the pot.
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Add 10 peppercorns, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 sliced lemon to the pot.
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Pour in 3 cups of chicken stock and add enough water to cover the chicken by 2 inches.
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Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat, skimming off any foam that rises to the surface.
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Reduce heat to low, partially cover the pot, and simmer gently for 1 hour.
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Remove the chicken from the stock and set it aside on a cutting board to cool slightly.
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Once cool enough to handle, carefully remove all meat from the bones and cut it into bite-sized pieces.
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Cover the shredded chicken and set it aside.
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Return the chicken bones and skin to the pot with the stock.
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Bring the stock back to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 45 minutes.
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Strain the stock into a clean large pot, pressing gently on the solids to extract flavor, then discard the solids.
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Meanwhile, cut 1 lb of sweet Italian sausage into 1-inch pieces.
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Heat a heavy skillet over medium heat with a little oil and sauté the sausage pieces until browned, about 8 minutes.
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Drain the browned sausage on paper towels.
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Add the cooked sausage to the strained stock in the large pot.
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Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes, skimming off any fat that rises to the surface.
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Add 1 cup of pasta shells to the simmering soup and cook for 10 minutes.
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Stir in 2 medium grated zucchini (about 2/3 lb) and the reserved shredded chicken.
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Cook for another 5 minutes until the zucchini is tender.
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Season with salt and pepper to taste, then sprinkle with 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley before serving.
Nutrition Facts
Servings 6
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 94.2kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 3.2g5%
- Saturated Fat 0.8g4%
- Cholesterol 22.2mg8%
- Sodium 85.8mg4%
- Total Carbohydrate 8.1g3%
- Dietary Fiber 2.7g11%
- Sugars 3.9g
- Protein 7.8g16%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.