San Marino Chicken Fideo Soup

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This San Marino Chicken Fideo Soup is a cozy, light chicken noodle soup with Mediterranean flair. Packed with lemon, thyme, and tender chicken, it’s perfect for lunch or a light dinner.

image shows two bowls of San Marino Fideo soup

There’s something so comforting about a warm bowl of chicken soup, and this San Marino Chicken Fideo Soup brings a bright, Mediterranean twist to the classic. Made with tender chicken, vegetables, and delicate Fideo noodles, this light yet satisfying dish is full of fresh lemon and herb flavor.

Perfect for lunch or a simple dinner, this recipe is a staple in our easy soup series. Pair it with crusty bread and a garden salad, and you’ve got a complete meal that feels both nourishing and elevated (and is even picky kid-approved).

Why You’ll Love This Chicken Fideo Soup

  • Bright, lemony flavor with a savory twist
  • Tender chicken and vegetables in every bite
  • Light, not heavy — perfect for lunch or warmer days
  • Make-ahead and freezer-friendly
  • Unique twist on classic chicken noodle soup
close up of bowl of soup

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Ingredients You’ll Need for San Marino Chicken Soup

To make this fresh and light soup, you’ll need a few simple ingredients:

  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Sweet onion (you can also use a Vidalia onion or yellow onion)
  • Carrots
  • Celery Stalks
  • Fresh thyme
  • Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • Low-sodium chicken stock
  • Fideo noodles
  • Fresh lemon zest
  • Fresh lemon juice
  • Ground or freshly grated nutmeg
  • Salt and black pepper
  • Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Optional garnish: Fresh parsley, fresh thyme, cracked black pepper

spoonful of san marino fideo soup

Wait Wait: What is Fideo?

Fideo is a type of short-cut pasta, similar to thin spaghetti chopped into 1-inch pieces. It’s common in Spanish and Latin American cooking and gives this soup a unique texture. If you can’t find Fideo at your local store, you can substitute vermicelli or thin spaghetti broken into small pieces.

For the best texture and flavor, we recommend cooking the Fideo separately in chicken stock and adding it to the soup just before serving. This keeps the broth clear and prevents mushy noodles, which is a game-changer if you plan to reheat or freeze leftovers.

How to Make San Marino Chicken Fideo Soup

Sauté the Vegetables: Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook for 2 minutes.

Add carrots, celery (and leaves), and thyme. Sauté for 4 minutes until vegetables begin to soften.

Simmer with Chicken: Add cubed chicken, salt, pepper, and 4 cups of the chicken stock. Partially cover and simmer for about 20 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and the veggies are tender.

Cook the Fideo Separately: In another pot, cook the Fideo noodles in the remaining 4 cups of chicken stock according to package directions until just al dente. Before draining, reserve 2 cups of the cooking liquid.

Toss the drained noodles in the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil and cover to keep warm.

Finish the Soup: Add the cooked Fideo to the soup just before serving. Stir in lemon zest, lemon juice, and nutmeg.

If the soup feels too thick, stir in some of the reserved pasta cooking liquid until it reaches your desired consistency.

Serve & Garnish: Divide the Fideo noodles into bowls, ladle the hot soup over the top, and finish with freshly grated Parmesan. Garnish with cracked black pepper and fresh parsley or thyme if desired.

Pro Tips for the Best Fideo Soup

This soup is so good! Here are a few tips to make sure it turns out perfect, everytime:

  • Want extra flavor? Use chicken thighs instead of breasts (trim excess fat before cooking).
  • Avoid mushy noodles by cooking the noodles separately. It’s worth the extra step!
  • Lighten it up even more by skipping the cheese or reducing the oil.
  • Freeze leftovers without the noodles for better texture when reheated.
two bowls of soup on a white countertop

What to Serve with Chicken Fideo Soup

Here are a few ideas of what to pair with this delicious soup:

  • A crisp garden salad with lemon vinaigrette or an Italian Chopped Salad
  • Warm, crusty bread or sourdough toast
  • A glass of chilled white wine or sparkling water with citrus

Soup Season? Yes, please!

Don’t miss these other soups in our soup series:

Did you try this recipe? Let me know with a comment and rating! 🤩 Your 5 star ratings and sweet comments help to support our family business, and help other readers as they create their dishes, too! Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram @funfamilymeals if you try this!

Frequently Asked Questions about Fideo Soup

Can I make this soup ahead of time?
Yes! Make the soup base ahead and store separately from the cooked Fideo. Combine and reheat just before serving for the best texture.

Is Fideo the same as angel hair pasta?
Fideo is similar to angel hair but slightly thicker. You can use thin spaghetti or vermicelli broken into 1″ pieces as a substitute.

Can I freeze this soup?
Absolutely. Freeze the broth and chicken base without noodles. Add freshly cooked Fideo when reheating for best results.

close up of bowl of soup

San Marino Chicken Fideo Soup

Yield: 4
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes

This San Marino Chicken Fideo Soup is a cozy, light chicken noodle soup with Mediterranean flair. Packed with lemon, thyme, and tender chicken, it’s perfect for lunch or a light dinner.

Ingredients

  • 3 T. extra virgin olive oil, divided
  • 1 medium sweet onion, diced
  • 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced (leaves reserved)
  • 1 T fresh thyme, crushed
  • 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1” cubes
  • salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 8 c. low-sodium chicken stock, divided
  • 1 cup Fideo noodles, cooked and drained
  • 1 T fresh lemon zest
  • 1 T fresh lemon juice
  • 1/4 t. ground or freshly grated nutmeg
  • Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, to taste
  • Optional Garnish: Fresh parsley and thyme

Instructions

  1. Heat 2 T. olive oil over medium heat in a large stockpot or Dutch oven. Add onion and sauté 2 minutes until just beginning to soften. Add carrots, celery (including leaves) and thyme and sauté 4 minutes.
  2. Add chicken, salt, pepper and 4 cups chicken stock. Partially cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and vegetables are tender.
  3. While soup is simmering, cook Fideo according to package directions in remaining broth until al dente. Reserve 2 cups of cooking liquid before draining pasta. Drain pasta and transfer to a medium bowl and toss with remaining olive oil. Cover and set aside.
  4. Just before serving, add Fideo to Dutch oven. Stir and remove from heat.
  5. Add lemon zest, lemon juice, nutmeg. If soup is too thick, add a little bit of the reserved cooking liquid to desired consistency.
  6. To serve, divide Fideo among individual serving bowls and top with hot soup. Add freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
  7. Garnish with additional fresh cracked pepper and fresh parsley and thyme if desired. Serve with hot crusty bread and/or a crisp, garden salad for a light and delicious meal. Enjoy!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 408Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 97mgSodium: 1398mgCarbohydrates: 22gFiber: 3gSugar: 7gProtein: 45g

San Marino Fideo Soup is the Perfect Soup for Year-Round Sipping

This San Marino Chicken Fideo Soup is light, fresh, and bursting with bright flavors: the kind of comforting, easy recipe you’ll turn to again and again. Whether you’re meal prepping, hosting a casual lunch, or just need a little weeknight pick-me-up, this soup hits all the right notes.

Pin it now, try it soon — and don’t forget the crusty bread. 🍋🍲🌿

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