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–+ servings
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5 from 49 votes

Mini Chicken Meatball Soup

Chickarina Soup is comforting and nourishingchicken meatball soup made with soft pearl couscous, veggies and broth.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Course: dinner, lunch, Soup
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6
Calories: 304kcal
Author: Agnieszka

Ingredients

Chicken Meatballs

  • 1 lb ground chicken
  • 2 tablespoon parmesan or pecorino romano cheese grated
  • ⅓ cup breadcrumbs plain or seasoned
  • 1 egg
  • ½ teaspoon salt divided
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper ground
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley leaves chopped

Chickarina Soup

  • ¾ cup pearl couscous
  • 1 onion diced
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2 celery ribs diced
  • 1 cup carrots diced
  • 1.5 tablespoon olive oil extra virgin
  • 6 cups chicken broth
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 tablespoon nutritional yeast optional
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon parsley leaves chopped, as garnish

Instructions

  • Make the meatballs by combining ground chicken meat, an egg, breadcrumbs, grated parmesan cheese, fresh parsley and ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper in a medium bowl. Mix it up with a spoon or your hands until just combined—no need to overmix.
  • Use a small cookie scoop or a spoon to shape the mixture into small balls, about the size of large cherries. Roll them with your fingers and pop them on a parchment-paper-lined baking tray. Place the meatballs in the fridge until ready to cook.
  • Heat up some olive oil in a big Dutch oven or a heavy-bottomed pot. Toss in chopped onion, carrot, and celery, and sauté over medium heat until they're nice and softened. Add minced garlic and cook for another minute, stirring.
  • Pour in chicken broth, add bay leaf and sprinkle in garlic poder powder. Bring it to a boil, then lower the heat to medium-low.
  • Add pearl couscous and gently drop the meatballs into the soup, one by one, using a spoon. Partially cover with a lid and let it simmer for 15 minutes or until the meatballs are cooked through, and the couscous is soft.
  • Mix in nutritional yeast and fresh parsley. Give it a taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. Remov the bay leaf.
  • Serve immediately and enjoy!

Notes

If the soup is too thick for your liking, add an additional cup or two of chicken broth (or water, if you prefer).
Make sure to taste the soup before seasoning with salt and pepper, especially when using store bought chicken broth. 
Pearl couscous (Israeli couscous) can be swapped for other type of small pasta, such as orzo or pastina. 
The meatballs should be small - no larger than a size of a walnut. 
To make it dairy free, skip the parmesan cheese in the meatballs. 

Nutrition

Calories: 304kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 1214mg | Potassium: 664mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 3743IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 65mg | Iron: 2mg