Chicken Tortellini Soup

  • Level: Easy
  • Yield: 6 to 8 servings
  • Total: 1 hr 50 min
  • Active: 45 min
The key to this recipe is to almost undercook the tortellini so that they are super al dente. You want that chew and texture, and when you ladle the piping hot soup over them, they will cook just a little bit more and be rendered perfect. Nothing ruins a bowl of chicken soup like soggy noodles.
Advertisement

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 chicken wings

2 bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts

2 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs

3 medium carrots, diced, or more as needed

3 stalks celery, diced, or more as needed

2 shallots, grated on a box grater

Couple splashes dry sherry

4 quarts good-quality, low-sodium chicken stock

4 sprigs fresh thyme, chopped

1 bay leaf

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 lemon, zested and juiced, plus lemon wedges, for garnish

2 cups fresh cheese tortellini, cooked to very al dente and cooled

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan from a block

Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Directions

Special equipment:
Box grater
  1. Heat a heavy-bottomed Dutch oven or soup pot over medium heat and add the oil. Add the chicken wings, breasts and thighs skin-side down and cook without moving until golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Set aside the chicken.
  2. Add the carrots, celery and shallots to the pot. Sauté, stirring all the while, until the shallots are translucent, about 10 minutes. Deglaze with the sherry and scrape up any bits off the bottom of the pot. Add the stock, thyme and bay leaf, then return the chicken to the pot and bring to a low simmer; simmer until the breasts are cooked through, 20 to 25 minutes. Set the chicken breasts aside to cool on a plate.
  3. Leave the dark pieces in for another 20 minutes, removing the scum and fat off the top of the broth periodically. Remove the thighs and wings, then shred the meat from the thighs. If the vegetables are too mushy, strain the soup and add another round of fresh celery and carrots to the pot; simmer until just soft.
  4. Shred the chicken breasts and whatever can be salvaged from the wings and pour any reserved juices back into the soup pot. Add the shredded chicken and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Just before serving, add the lemon zest and juice to taste.
  5. Put some cooked tortellini in each individual bowl, then ladle the soup over. Serve immediately to retain the al dente quality of the tortellini. Garnish with a wedge of lemon, Parmesan and fresh parsley.

Let's Get Cooking!

Sign up for the Recipe of the Day newsletter to receive editor-picked recipes,tips and videos delivered to your inbox daily. Privacy Policy

Thanks for subscribing to the Recipe of the Day newsletter. Check out all our other great newsletters from Easy Recipes, Healthy Eating Ideas and Chef Recipe Videos.

We're sorry, there was an error signing you up. Please try again later.

Advertisement

gwbrown.2000

This recipe is simplicity itself. The soup has a rich chicken flavor.

See All Reviews