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Did you love Progresso Chickarina soup growing up? Try this Homemade Chickarina Soup recipe for a healthy homemade version of a classic.
Progresso chickarina soup was my comfort food whenever I was sick
These days I rarely have canned soup in the house, but growing up I loved the Progresso chickarina soup. It is so comforting with the chicken, chicken meatballs, pastina, veggies and chicken broth.
I found a can at my fiances parents house the other day and thought, “Wow! I need to try to make a Progresso copycat homemade chickarina soup.”
Chickarina soup has delicious tender chicken meatballs. It was tricky to make these at home, but I realized that if I dropped the raw ground chicken directly into the simmering soup I can make small tender meatballs.
What kitchen tools will I need to make this healthy chicken meatball soup?
- Measuring spoons
- Measuring cups
- Liquid measuring cup
- Large soup pot or dutch oven
- Mixing bowls
- Mixing spoon
What ingredients will I need to make this homemade Progresso chickarina soup?
You will be amazed at how easy it is to make this delicious chicken meatball soup at home with simple ingredients.
- Oil
- Yellow onion
- Carrot
- Celery
- Chicken thighs
- Pastina or pearl cous cous
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs
- Salt
- Pepper
- Ground chicken
- Egg
- Fresh parsley
- Chicken broth
Let’s make Homemade Chickarina Soup (Progresso Copycat)!
Step 1: Simmer broth and chicken thighs
To begin, dice the onion and chop your celery and carrots. Then, heat oil in a large pot or dutch oven over medium heat.
Then, when the oil is hot add the celery, carrots and onion to the pot along with the salt and pepper. Sauté until the veggies are they are soft and fragrant – about 7 minutes.
Next, add chicken thighs, water and broth to the pot and bring to a boil. Then, reduce to a simmer and simmer for 14 minutes uncovered.
As the chicken thighs cook some white foam will rise to the top. You can skim that off with a spoon.
Step 2: Prepare and cook chicken meatballs
While the chicken thighs cook, prepare the chicken meatballs by combing ground chicken, egg, salt and fresh parsley in a mixing bowl. When the chicken thighs have simmered for 14 minutes, remove from the pot, but keep the water simmering.
To make the meatballs, take about 1 heaping tsp of the chicken meatball mixture and drop each one directly into the simmering broth on the stove. The meatballs will start to rise to the top as they cook.
Step 3: Simmer pastina and finish the soup
Once you have added all of your meatballs to the simmering pot, shred your chicken thighs and add them back to the pot along with the pastina or pearl cous cous.
Then, continue simmering the soup for about 15 minutes. At this point the pasta should be fully cooked and you can remove the soup from the heat.
Lastly, top the soup with parmesan, lemon zest and parsley and serve!
Step 4: Enjoy!
How long will this Progresso copycat chicken soup keep in the fridge?
Once prepared, allow the soup to cool completely. Then, transfer to an airtight container.
The chickarina soup will be good in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat the soup on the stovetop or in the microwave.
You can find the full recipe below. If you make this recipe, please rate and review it in the comments, or share it with me on Instagram!
Homemade Chickarina Soup (Progresso Copycat)
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 6 Servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Boil and Simmer
- Cuisine: American
Description
A healthy homemade version of Progresso’s famous chickarina soup
Ingredients
Soup Ingredients
- 2 tbsp oil
- 1 yellow onion
- 1 cup chopped carrot
- 1 cup chopped celery
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 4 boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 4 cups water
- 3/4 cup dry pastina or dry pearl cous cous
Chicken Meatball Ingredients
- 1 lb ground chicken breast
- 1 egg
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp fresh chopped parsley (or 1/2 tbsp dried)
Instructions
- Dice the onion and chop your celery and carrots
- Heat oil in a large pot or dutch oven over medium heat
- When the oil is hot add the celery, carrots and onion to the pot along with the salt and peper
- Saute until the veggies are they are soft and fragrant – about 7 minutes
- Add chicken thighs, water and broth to the pot and bring to a boil
- Reduce to a simmer and simmer for 14 minutes uncovered
- As the chicken thighs cook some white foam will rise to the top so you can skim that off with a spoon
- While the chicken thighs cook prepare the chicken meatballs by combing ground chicken, egg, salt and fresh parsley in a mixing bowl
- When the chicken thighs have simmered for 14 minutes, remove from the pot, but keep the water simmering
- To make the meatballs, take about 1 heaping tsp of the chicken meatball mixture and drop each one directly into the simmering broth on the stove. The meatballs will start to rise to the top as they cook
- Once you have added all of your meatballs to the simmering pot, shred your chicken thighs and add them back to the pot along with the pastina or pearl cous cous
- Continue simmering the soup for about 15 minutes
- At this point the pasta should be fully cooked and you can remove the soup from the heat
- Top soup with parmesan, lemon zest and parsley and serve!
Keywords: homemade chickarina soup, progresso chickarina soup, healthy chicken meatball soup
I made this tonight, but used shredded rotisserie chicken and added spinach. It was delicious (and toddler approved)!
Amazing!! THank you!!
So tasty! And so much better than progressive!!
★★★★★
So good, perfect for a cold night! Got rave reviews from my wife too. Added a little lemon juice towards the end and it was delicious!! Will definitely make again.
★★★★★
Wonderful!! Thank you!!
My son struggles with picky eating. This was one of his 5 foods he eats Its a sensory thing, Progresso changed there recipe it is very peppery now and he will not eat it. Im trying this this weekend I hope he eats it!
oh great!! I hope he will eat this!! And the nice thing is you can leave the pepper out completely!
So so tasty and easy!!! Lemon zest when serving is a must! Sent it to a couple of my friends immediately after eating it!
★★★★★
amazing!! Thank you for sharing with friends!!
So freaking good this will be on repeat.
★★★★★
AH yay! Thank you!!
So perfect for a snowy night! Very tasty soup.
★★★★★
PS I have tried this soup and your tomato meatball – can’t wait to try the others!
Simple, straightforward and delicious! My husband LOVES soup with pastina, so this is a new staple in our house
★★★★★
amazing!! thank you!
I made this two nights ago, it was delicious! The meatballs are very fluffy and making them yourself always looks impressive. Great recipe!
★★★★★
yes!! I love cooking the meatballs this way. Thank you!!!
Can’t believe I’ve been sleeping on this one so long.. IT’S SO GOOD! I’m usually a little cautious to make a big pot because we don’t rock at leftovers, but we didn’t get burned out on this soup at all!! Very much a new comfort food staple here!
★★★★★
wonderfuL!! SO glad to hear that!!
Love this. Super easy to make and delicious!
★★★★★
amazing!! thank you!!