INGREDIENTS
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, chopped
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
3 tablespoons butter
1 large onion, chopped
2 carrots, peeled and sliced
1 green bell pepper, chopped
4-6 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 cup flour
9-11 cups low sodium chicken broth, divided
3 tablespoons cornstarch
15 oz can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
1 tablespoon chicken bouillon
1 tsp EACH dried parsley, dried basil
1/2 tsp EACH dried oregano, dried thyme, salt, pepper
2 bay leaves
dash- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
10 uncooked lasagna noodles broken into approx. 1-2 inch pieces*
2-3 cups half and a half (may sub fat-free evaporated milk)
1/2 cup heavy cream (optional)
10 oz chopped frozen baby spinach, thawed
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
CHEESE GARNISH
shredded mozzarella cheese
freshly grated Parmesan cheese
ricotta cheese
INSTRUCTIONS
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large Dutch oven/soup pot over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until almost cooked through. Remove to a plate.
Melt butter with 2 tablespoons olive oil in the now-empty pot and heat over medium-high heat. Add onions and carrots and cook, while stirring, for 3 minutes. Add bell pepper and garlic and cook for 1 minute. Sprinkle in flour then cook, stirring constantly for 3 minutes (it will be thick).
Turn heat to low and gradually stir in 8 cups chicken broth. Whisk 3 tablespoons cornstarch with 1 cup additional chicken broth and add to soup. Stir in chicken, beans, chicken bouillon, and all remaining herbs and spices. Stir in lasagna noodles.
Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer until lasagna noodles are tender, stirring occasionally so noodles don’t stick to the bottom (approximately 20-30 minutes).
Turn heat to low, discard bay leaf and stir in half and half, optional heavy cream and spinach, and warm through. Stir in 1 cup Parmesan cheese until melted. Stir in additional half and a half or broth if desired for a less “chunky” soup. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste. Garnish individual servings with the desired amount of cheeses.
