Chicken Minestrone

It's time to shed that holiday weight!! Without fail, I always manage to pack on a few pounds between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Maybe it was the excessive amount of cookie dough brownies, but it's hard to say... ;)

Unlike most New Yorkers, I'm stuck in the office this week so my healthy meal also had to be a quick one. I had left over chicken in the fridge, from you know where...Costco! After looking through my fridge, I discovered I had all the ingredients to make my own version of Minestrone soup, with chicken!! It was deeeelicious and super filling! (And healthy to boot!)

Recipe:

1 tbsp olive oil

1 medium onion

2 celery stalks, chopped

1 medium carrot, chopped

5 garlic cloves, minced

6 cups chicken broth

2 15 oz cans diced tomato

10 oz can Cannellini beans

15 oz can chick peas

1 tbsp all-purpose seasoning

1 tbsp dried oregano

1 1/2 cups pasta, any tube shape

Pre-cooked, shredded chicken

Directions:

1) Heat oil over medium heat. Add in onion, celery and carrot and saute until vegetables begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and saute for 1 more minute.

2) Add the tomatoes, broth, beans, chick peas and herbs and bring to a boil. Turn down and heat and simmer to 20 minutes. 

3) Add the pasta and cook for 6 minutes. Add in chicken and cook until chicken is heated through, about 3-4 minutes.

4) Let cool, serve and enjoy!