Italian Chicken Noodle Soup

Have you ever found a recipe that sounds super delicious but all the sudden your creative mind starts wandering and you end up creating your own "HEALTHY" version of that delicious recipe? 

Seriously y'all that is what happened to me, and let's be honestly it usually is what happens haha! Just ask me hubby... I can't follow a recipe.

I started making homemade chicken broth yesterday morning knowing that I wanted to make Chicken soup but just wasn't really feeling the normal Chicken Noodle. I googled different ideas and came across one from The Pioneer Women ( Ree Drummond)'s Blog! I absolutely LOVE that women! Go check her out if you haven't before! 

Her's was a creamy soup with some other stuff in there that I took out and added my own things. 
Really with soup the possibilities are ENDLESS! However, I know there are some who like recipes and follow from the book so I will share my recipe ( and some different options) with you here! 

Italian Chicken Soup!

Ingredients

8 Cups Chicken Broth ( homemade or box-watch sodium)
1- 28flOz Can Whole Tomatoes
1 Medium Onion
2 Bell Peppers (any colour, mix and match it you wish)
2 Cloves Garlic
3 Stalks Celery
2 Carrots
2 Tbsp Oregano (Dry or add another Tbsp if using Fresh)
1 Tbsp Pizza Seasoning  (Epicure is what I use) 
2 Bay Leaves 
1/2 Tbsp Olive Oil (divided) 
3 Cups Cooked Shredded Chicken or diced it is up to you! 
2 1/2 cups Pasta of your choice( optional)
Salt and Pepper to taste
Parmesan Cheese for Topping

** If you don't have pizza seasoning you can just add 1-2tsp crushed chili flakes and 3 tsp basil. 

Directions:

1. Heat half the olive oil in a saucepan ( large enough if you want to save on dishes :p) 
2. Add diced celery, carrots, bell peppers and onion- add some salt and pepper to them and cook until onion is translucent and there is a good browning on all veggies. While those are browning take out the whole tomatoes from the can and dice up then return them back to the juice. (you will use it all!)
3. In a small fry pan add the rest of olive oil and spices ( oregano, garlic and pizza seasoning) when heating it up with a little oil really awakens the flavour! 
4. Meanwhile, if you are using noodles cook your noodles accordingly to the package directions minus a couple minutes in the chicken broth and then scoop out when done and save for later. You can just cook in water as well.
5. Add Chicken broth to veggies and add the spices and tomatoes with juice and all. Simmer 20 minutes to incorporate all flavours.
6. Add in noodles and chicken and simmer another 10-15 mins. 
7. Serve topped with a little shredded parm! 

Some variations:

You can leave out the noodles if you wish or add in barley, quinoa, rice, (just cook prior to adding)
Go meatless 
Switch up the meat- Ground turkey or hamburger would be great oo! 
Play with the spices and add or take away whatever you need to make it to your liking. 

1 cup of soup would count as 1 PURPLE, .5 GREEN, 1 Tsp, and depending if you use noodles or not 1 YELLOW for all you
portion fixers out there :) 

This recipe was well liked by my 2 year old son who is currently going through a eating regression so HALLELUJAH! Plus my husband said I could make it again which is his way of saying "THIS IS DELICIOUS!"

Please let me know if you try it and remember sharing is caring so please share to your social media too and leave a little comment! 

Stay awesome friends! 

Kristie XO