Yield: 4 servings

Prep: 20 minutes minutes

Cook: 30 minutes minutes

Total: 50 minutes minutes

The most soothing, comforting soup for flu season! So easy to make, you’ll be feeling better in no time!

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 carrots, peeled and diced
• 2 ribs celery, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
• 1 tablespoon minced lemongrass
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
• 5 cups chicken stock
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• ¾ cup ditalini pasta
• 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

Instructions

• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion, carrots and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 3-4 minutes.

• Stir in garlic, ginger, lemongrass, thyme and rosemary until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.

• Stir in chicken stock, bay leaves and 1 cup water. Add chicken and bring to boil; reduce heat and simmer, covered, until the chicken is cooked through, about 10-12 minutes. Remove chicken and shred, using two forks; set aside.

• Stir in pasta and cook until tender, about 8-10 minutes.

• Stir in chicken and lemon juice; season with salt and pepper, to taste.

• Serve immediately, garnished with chives, if desired.

Comments

1. Maggie — January 1, 2026 @ 12:19 PM

   I’ve made countless soup recipes, but this is the one that tops them all! It is so delcious! I didnt alter a thing, stuck with the recipe. My family all loved it. Its even yummier the next day. I totally think the fresh herbs make everything step up a notch in flavor yum!

2. Adz — January 1, 2026 @ 11:05 AM

   Came out excellent! Love this recipe. What a fragrant and soothing soup. Made it for my dad who has a cold. Similar to another commenter, I added turmeric which pairs really well with the black pepper. Next time, I will boil the pasta separately so it doesn’t soak up so much broth. 

3. Dave — December 17, 2025 @ 12:33 PM

   Fantastic! The lemon and lemon grass are really nice touches. I doubled the recipe and added a bit of whole wheat orzo (.5 cup) to the pot and it was lovely. My wife said it was the best soup she’s ever tasted.