Easy Healthy Tuscan Chicken Bowtie Soup (WW-Friendly)

This easy, healthy, protein-packed soup is ready in just about 30 minutes. Loaded with fresh vegetables and whole wheat pasta in a classical chicken broth, it’s a complete meal-in-a-bowl the whole family will love.

And the perfect way to use up any leftover rotisserie chicken, or cooked chicken that’s just sitting around in your fridge begging to be use.

WW Points and Nutrition

According to my calculations, each serving has:

• Calories: 200 calories
• WW Points: To see your WW Points for this recipe, track it in the WW App!
  (You must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.)
• Old WW Points: 4 PointsPlus

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Olive oil – my preferred oil for cooking the vegetables. Use whatever healthy oil you prefer.
• Onion, chopped – I used regular brown onion, but white or sweet would also be fine.
• Carrots, thinly sliced – I used peeled whole carrots but you could also use baby carrots. You would need 10 – 12 baby carrots to equal the 2 carrots called for.
• Celery stalks, chopped – I love celery, but if you don’t, leave it out.
• Minced garlic – I like fresh garlic here but you could save time with garlic from the jar or even used dried granulated garlic or garlic powder instead.
• Dried oregano – Italian seasoning, dried thyme, Herbs de Provence (affiliate link) would also work.
• Low-sodium chicken broth – Boxed or canned or Better Than Bouillon concentrate with water would all work in this soup.
• Dry whole wheat farfalle pasta – While I love bowtie (farfalle) in this soup. Any shortcut of pasta would work such as ziti, penne, elbows or shells. You could also substitute your favorite higher protein pasta if you prefer.
• Cooked lean chicken breast, shredded – I love to use leftover rotisserie chicken in this soup, but any cooked chicken would be fine. You could also add finely chopped raw chicken which will cook quickly.
• Fresh spinach – Baby kale or escarole are other healthy, delicious options.
• Grated Parmesan cheese for topping (optional) – Pecorino-Romano or Asiago would also be delicious.

How to Make Tuscan Chicken Pasta Soup, Step-by-Step

Step 1: Gather and prepare all ingredients.

Step 2: Cook the aromatics.

Over medium-high heat, heat the oil in a soup pot. Add the onion and cook for about 5 minutes, or until the onion turns translucent. Add the carrots, celery, garlic and oregano and cook for 2 minutes.

Step 3: Add the pasta and cook.

Pour in the chicken broth and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the pasta and cook for 8 minutes.

Step 4: Finish the soup.

Add the chicken and spinach and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the spinach wilts.

Step 5: Serve.

Divide evenly among 4 bowls and serve with grated Parmesan, if using.

Recipe Notes, Substitutions and Variations

Try upping the Italian flair of this hearty soup by adding 2 tablespoons of sweet vermouth between the onions and carrots. The alcohol will burn off while cooking and you’ll be left with a slightly richer, sweeter soup.

This is a great recipe for using up some of that leftover rotisserie chicken in the refrigerator.

If you only have uncooked chicken breasts, or tenders, thinly slice and add to the soup with the spinach—just as you would with pre-cooked chicken. You may need to adjust the cooking time for a minute or two to ensure the chicken is fully cooked before serving.

To make this soup gluten-free, simply substitute your favorite gluten-free pasta.

Serving Suggestions

• Serve with shaved or grated Parmesan on the side—add as much, or little, as you choose. (Be sure to adjust your Points accordingly).
• Enjoy with your favorite mixed greens salad on the side.

Ways to Use Leftovers

If you have any leftovers, be sure to store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The pasta will likely absorb much of the broth when stored. While reheating, simply add some water or additional reduced-sodium chicken broth to get the desired consistency.

If you’ve made this protein packed Low-Fat Chicken Soup, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.

Recipe source: If any Eat What You Love Quick & Easy (affiliate link) by Marlene Koch

More Easy Healthy Soup Recipes for WW

• Slow Cooker Vegetarian Pasta Soup – Simple. Tasty. Light. Satisfying.
• Microwave Chicken Quinoa Soup – This 5-ingredient chicken soup can be ready in about 15 minutes.
• Easy Broken Wonton Soup – Fresh and full of flavor, this easy Asian inspired soup is a great alternative to eating out.
• Italian Zucchini Basil Pesto Soup – Zucchini, potatoes, pasta, and a swirl of fresh basil pesto come together in this light and flavorful Italian soup.
• Quick Tomato Tortellini Soup – This cozy Tomato-Tortellini Soup from one of my favorite cookbook writers is a simple and satisfying option for chilly evenings. 

Articles & Tips for WeightWatchers

• A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding the WeightWatchers Program
• A Comprehensive List of Articles & Tips for WeightWatchers
• What Foods Should I Eat in a Day on WeightWatchers
• WeightWatchers Zero Points Foods List
• WeightWatchers Friendly Meal Plans
• Why We Are More Motivated the Closer We Get to Our Goals – Another powerful WW Weekly Workshop Topic.