Chicken Spezzatino is hearty and healthy, perfect for fall and winter evenings. This Italian Chicken Soup is full of flavor and nutrition, the perfect healthy family dinner!

Have you ever had spezzatino? If not, you are in for a treat. It's the perfect family meal, hearty and warming and also full of healthy ingredients.

A traditional Italian stew, spezzatino usually calls for beef or lamb, but our chicken spezzatino is every bit as delicious. My recipe uses bone-in chicken, which lends a depth of flavor you simply can't get from boneless, skinless chicken breast. I also use herbs de Provence here, which I personally love, but feel free to use an Italian seasoning blend if you don't have any on hand or if you simply prefer the flavor.

Spezzatino is a big favorite with our subscribers – I hope it becomes a family favorite for you as well!

What is the nutrition like in this Chicken Spezzatino Soup?

Every ingredient in this Chicken Spezzatino Soup contributes something nutritionally. Here's the run down:

Carrots: Both budget and kid-friendly, carrots are full of fiber, vitamin A, vitamin K, potassium and vitamin B6. As a result, they’re great for eye health, lowering cholesterol, and reducing cancer risk.

Onion: Did you know that the humble onion is actually packed with antioxidants? 

Garlic: Garlic has been used in homeopathic remedies for thousands of years and is thought to reduce the risk of heart disease, high cholesterol and some types of cancer.

Red Potatoes: They get a bad rap sometimes, but the reason potatoes are considered unhealthy by some has much more to do with preparation than nutritional content. Sure french fries won't make the cut for superfoods, but neither would deep fried brussels sprouts…. Cooked in a healthy way, potatoes can be quite a nutritious side. They offer vitamin C, vitamin B6, potassium, manganese and antioxidants. Much of the vitamin content is in the peel, so make sure to leave the skin on!

Artichoke Hearts: Artichokes offer folate, vitamin C and vitamin K. They're also super high in fiber and antioxidants. Studies show that artichokes may help lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, protect the liver and lower blood pressure.

Chicken: In addition to being packed with protein, chicken is a good source of iron, zinc, selenium and B vitamins.

Tomatoes: Packed with antioxidants, tomatoes may help reduce the risk of several kinds of cancer. Furthermore, they contain vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E and potassium, which many people don't get enough of.

White Beans: Full of fiber and protein, white beans are also high in folate, copper, iron, magnesium and vitamin B6.

What are Herbs de Provence?

Herbs de Provence is an herb blend originating in France. Like all herb and spice blends, the ingredients vary but this one contains basil, thyme, rosemary, lavender, marjoram, fennel seed, parsley and anise seed. It has a few ingredients in common with a typical Italian seasoning blend but I find the lavender and anise lends a complexity of flavor that I love!

Italian seasoning is of course a bit more traditional for this Italian chicken soup recipe so go with that if you like. As long as you include a variety of herbs, you really can't go wrong!

Why use bone-in chicken in spezzatino?

Making soup with bone-in chicken basically creates a homemade broth while you cook the soup. The deep flavor from the bones results in a much richer taste. Using bones in soup also allows some of the super nourishing collagen from the bones and cartilage to seep into the soup.

While you certainly don't have to use bone-in chicken, I urge you to give it a try if you normally cook with boneless.

What can I serve with this Italian Chicken Soup?

Full of protein, carbs and healthy fat, this soup is definitely a complete meal on its own.

That said, it's lovely with a simple green salad on the side, perhaps using my lemon herb vinaigrette. Massaged kale salad is another great choice and perfect for prepping ahead.

If you're feeding little ones, serving soup with some crusty bread for dipping can make the meal more approachable and more enjoyable for them.

Should I use homemade broth?

I love homemade bone broth and make it super regularly. Homemade broth is budget friendly, nourishing and absolutely delicious. Once you get in the habit of making it, homemade broth requires very little effort.

That said, you certainly don't have to use homemade broth, especially if you're using bone-in cuts of chicken. There will still be plenty of flavor with a high quality store bought broth.

Is this chicken spezzatino meal prep friendly?

Need you even ask? 😉

Like all Prep Dish recipes, this spezzatino is designed to be meal prep friendly.

You can cook this soup in its entirety over the weekend and serve later in the week – the flavor only deepens with time. Alternatively, chop your onions, garlic and carrots ahead of time and make the soup the day-of.

Potatoes are a little trickier to prep ahead. They tend to turn a strange pinkish color if you chop them ahead of time. You can actually store them in cold water after chopping to prevent this discoloration but I wouldn't recommend doing this for longer than 8-12 hours or the texture of the potatoes will suffer.

One caveat on prepping this soup ahead – while I love storing leftover soups and stews in the freezer, know that potatoes don't freeze particularly well. They tend to turn to mush when reheated so this isn't the best recipe to double up on for your freezer stash.

FAQ – Everything You Want to Know about Spezzatino

What is spezzatino?

Spezzatino is a traditional hearty stew.

Where is spezzatino from?

Spezzatino is from Italy.

What's in spezzatino?

Spezzatino is made with onions, celery, carrots, herbs and, traditionally, beef or lamb. Our version uses chicken and is just as tasty!

What are some other winter stew recipes?

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