Spicy Sicilian Chicken Soup Recipe

This hearty, comforting Spicy Sicilian Chicken Soup is made with chicken, ditalini pasta, and ready in 1 hour and 20 minutes. Mashing a few tender potatoes directly into the pot thickens the fiery broth beautifully. I love recreating this famous restaurant staple from scratch on chilly winter evenings.

Restaurant-Quality At Home

I used to think the only way to enjoy a proper spicy chicken soup was to order it from my favorite Italian chain. My biggest mistake was rushing the vegetable base instead of letting it soften slowly.

Once I learned to patiently sweat the carrots, celery, and bell pepper, the broth developed a surprisingly deep sweetness. Now, I make this copycat version completely from scratch and it actually tastes fresher than eating out.

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Spicy Sicilian Chicken Soup Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
• 3 medium carrots, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
• 1 medium russet potato, peeled and cubed
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 (14.5-ounce) can petite diced tomatoes
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 4 cups water
• 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 1/2 cups cooked ditalini pasta
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

How To Make Spicy Sicilian Chicken Soup

1. 1. Sauté The Vegetables: Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Cook the onion, carrots, celery, and bell pepper for 8-10 minutes.
2. 2. Build The Broth: Stir in the garlic, cubed potato, diced tomatoes, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
3. 3. Simmer The Chicken: Pour in the chicken broth and water. Submerge the whole chicken breasts entirely into the liquid.
4. 4. Cook And Thicken: Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a low simmer, and cover. Cook for 45 minutes to tenderize the chicken and potatoes.
5. 5. Shred And Combine: Remove the chicken to a cutting board and shred it with two forks. Return it to the pot with the cooked pasta.

Recipe Tips

• Control the spice: Red pepper flakes provide a slow burn. Start with half a teaspoon and add more at the end if needed.
• Cook pasta separately: Simmering the ditalini in its own pot prevents the noodles from soaking up all your precious chicken broth.
• Mash the potatoes: Lightly crushing some of the tender potato chunks against the side of the pot gives the soup a rich, thick texture.
• Use rotisserie chicken: If you are short on time, skip boiling raw breasts. Just stir in pre-cooked shredded chicken during the last ten minutes.

What To Serve With Spicy Sicilian Chicken Soup

A warm bowl of this soup practically begs for a slice of crusty sourdough bread. I also like to pair it with a crisp Italian side salad. A sharp vinaigrette perfectly cuts through the richness of the broth.

How To Store

Store leftover soup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. If you plan to freeze it for later, keep the pasta separate. Frozen noodles turn to mush when thawed, but the broth freezes beautifully.

FAQs

Can I make this soup less spicy?
Absolutely. You can reduce the red pepper flakes to a mere pinch. You can also omit them entirely for a mild, family-friendly meal.

Do I have to use ditalini pasta?
No, any small pasta shape works wonderfully for this recipe. Small shells, macaroni, or even orzo are great substitutes if you cannot find ditalini.

Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts?
Yes, boneless skinless chicken thighs add incredible flavor to the broth. They remain very tender and require the exact same simmering time as breasts.

Why did my pasta soak up all the broth?
Pasta absorbs liquid continuously as it sits in the fridge. Keeping the cooked pasta separate from the broth until right before serving solves this problem.

Nutrition

• Calories: 310 kcal
• Total Fat: 9g
• Saturated Fat: 1.5g
• Cholesterol: 45mg
• Sodium: 850mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 34g
• Protein: 22g

Try More Recipes:

• Chicken Noodle Soup With Egg Noodles
• Chicken Broccoli Cheddar Soup Recipe
• Chicken Vegetable Soup Recipe