Description
A hearty and creamy Italian-inspired soup made with ground chicken, farfalle pasta, ricotta, and fresh lemon. Perfect for a comforting meal that’s quick and easy to prepare in just one pot!
Ingredients
Scale
For the Soup
- 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 3 cloves garlic (minced or crushed)
- 1 tablespoon chopped Calabrian peppers (optional)
- 4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
- 8 oz farfalle (bowtie pasta)
- 1 cup frozen peas (170g)
- 2 oz Parmigiano Reggiano or Parmesan (freshly grated)
For the Ricotta Sauce
- 15 oz low-fat ricotta (1 3/4 cups)
- 1/2 cup milk
- Juice of 2 lemons + zest of 1 lemon
- Black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
-
Brown the Chicken
- Heat a Dutch oven or large soup pot over medium-high heat.
- Add olive oil, then the ground chicken. Let it cook undisturbed for 3–4 minutes to brown.
- Break the chicken into smaller pieces and cook through.
-
Sauté the Aromatics
- Stir in the Italian seasoning, garlic, and Calabrian peppers (if using).
- Cook for 30–60 seconds, or until the garlic is fragrant.
-
Add Broth and Pasta
- Deglaze the pot with a few tablespoons of chicken broth if needed, scraping up any browned bits.
- Add the farfalle pasta and the remaining chicken broth.
- Cover and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring every 3–4 minutes, until the pasta is tender.
-
Prepare the Ricotta Sauce
- While the pasta cooks, combine ricotta, milk, lemon juice, lemon zest, and black pepper in a food processor or use an immersion blender.
- Blend until smooth. Set aside.
-
Finish the Soup
- Once the pasta is cooked, remove the pot from heat.
- Stir in the frozen peas to cool the soup slightly.
- Fold in the ricotta sauce and grated Parmesan, mixing until everything is creamy and well combined.
-
Serve
- Serve warm with garnishes like additional Parmesan, Calabrian peppers, black pepper, fresh basil, or a squeeze of lemon juice.
- If not serving immediately, keep the soup warm over low heat.
Notes
- Optional Garnishes: Add fresh basil, a drizzle of olive oil, or a sprinkle of red pepper flakes for extra flavor.
- Add-ins: Feel free to add vegetables like spinach, zucchini, or mushrooms for extra nutrition.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 65mg