Autumn. This word fills my senses with a multitude of pleasant sensations - the crisp bite of the morning air, the crackle of the leaves beneath my feet, and the rainbow of colors painted across the trees. With the start of school and soccer, the kids look forward to spending more time with their friends (and less time with those fuddy-duddies known as Mum and Dad). Close-knit friendships bring plenty of joy to their lives... and plenty of germs into our home. Besides telling the filthy little munchkins to wash their hands and keep their fingers out of their noses (sigh), there is not much I can do about the onslaught of creepy crawlies. So, I do what any self-respecting food-obsessed mother would do. I make soup. Batches and batches of it.
This healthy soup is a hearty mixture of chicken (I used rotisserie chicken for ease), cannellini beans, vegetables, and pasta. It requires a small amount of chopping and then some inactive simmering time. In other words, it comes together with very little effort. Along with my Crockpot Chicken, Black Bean & Chipotle Pepper Soup, this will be a meal that we are sure to enjoy many times over the cold-weather months, in sickness and in health.
Heat 2 teaspoons olive oil in a large saucepan set over medium-high heat. Add 1 large shallot, minced, 2 medium carrots, cut into half-circles, and 2 large stalk celery, cut into ½-inch pieces. Saute until the vegetables are beginning to soften, 2 to 3 minutes.
Add 1 can (28 ounces) whole tomatoes, finely chopped, with juices, 5 cups low-sodium chicken broth, and 2 bay leaves. Bring to a boil, then lower heat to medium-low, partially cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.
Uncover the soup, remove the bay leaves, add 2 cups chopped cooked chicken, 1 can (15 oz.) cannellini beans, and ½ cup ditalini pasta (small, short tubes).
Increase the heat to medium-high and cook until the pasta is al dente, about 10 minutes.
Season with salt and pepper, add ¼ cup finely chopped fresh parsley and 8 leaves fresh basil, thinly sliced. Garnish with grated Parmesan cheese. Serve.
Other soups with chicken and beans:
Cookin' Canuck's Crockpot Chicken, Black Bean & Chipotle Pepper Soup
Kalyn's Kitchen's Chicken, Black Bean & Cilantro Soup
The Sweet's Life's Salsa Chicken & Black Bean Soup
Printable Recipe
Mediterranean Chicken, Bean & Pasta Soup
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 large shallot minced
- 2 medium carrots cut into thin half-circles
- 2 large celery stalks cut into ½-inch pieces
- 1 28 ounce can whole tomatoes, finely chopped, including juices
- 5 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 cups chopped cooked chicken
- 1 15 ounce can cannellini beans drained and rinsed
- ½ cup ditalini small, short pasta tubes
- ¼ cup finely chopped fresh parsley
- 8 fresh basil leaves thinly sliced
- grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large saucepan set over medium-high heat. Add shallot, carrots, and celery. Saute until the vegetables are beginning to soften, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add chopped tomatoes with juices, chicken broth, and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, then lower heat to medium-low, partially cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Uncover the soup, remove the bay leaves, add cooked chicken, beans, and pasta. Increase the heat to medium-high and cook until the pasta is al dente, about 10 minutes.
- Season with salt and pepper, add ¼ cup finely chopped fresh parsley and 8 leaves fresh basil, thinly sliced. Garnish with grated Parmesan cheese. Serve.
Skylar Wolfe
Looks delicious and hearty!
Karina Allrich
Your soup looks absolutely gorgeous! And I love your new design- your blog looks spectacular. xox Karina
Carolyn
I love making and eating soup in the fall. This recipe looks like a real keeper!
sara @ CaffeIna
You are making me crave for a soup even if it's not completely soup time here! Uh and beautiful redisign of the blog. I really like it!
MaryMoh
A healthy and delicious soup. I like it. I need to cook more of this type of soup as the weather starts getting colder.
whatsfordinneracrossstatelines
Thanks Dara, I love soup recipes, I'm saving this one, I like the pre-cooked chicken idea.
-Gina-
Our Blissfully Delicious Life
Looks delicious! Hearty, healthy & comforting! I am so excited to switch cooking modes from summer to fall! Wish the weather here would cooperate! Can't wait to try this! 🙂
Megan Carroll
The banner and the recipe look great.... I have plenty of soup making days ahead of, mine start pre-school this year and the real thing next year.
Chris
Perfect for the fall. Love this kind of soup...lots of goodness in it. Now, if Atlanta weather would just decided to get cooler, that would be great!!
Love the new look, Dara! 🙂
tspegar
your blog looks beautiful! i really like the new look. congratulations on your makeover and lovely site. this soup also looks fantastic and perfect for crisp fall weather... i love fall! bring on the soup.