Fit Chicken Pho – A Lightened Vietnamese Noodle Soup

Name: Fit Chicken Pho – A Lightened Vietnamese Noodle Soup
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Ingredients: 200 g skinless chicken breast (for 2 servings); 120 g rice noodles (banh pho); 1.2 liters low-sodium chicken broth; 1 onion, halved; 5 cm piece fresh ginger; 2 star anise pods; 1 cinnamon stick; 1 tablespoon fish sauce; 1 handful fresh Thai basil and cilantro; 1 handful bean sprouts; 2 green onions, thinly sliced; 1 lime, cut into wedges

An aromatic Vietnamese classic packed with protein: a clear broth simmered with star anise and cinnamon, lean chicken breast and silky rice noodles.

Total: 40 min
Servings: 2 servings
Difficulty: Medium
Calories · per serving: 420 kcal

Written by

Ecem Akkaba · Dietitian

Dietitian, graduate of İstanbul Medipol University. She develops the recipes and nutrition values on FitZen.

Updated: July 25, 2026

In short

Fit Chicken Pho – A Lightened Vietnamese Noodle Soup contains 420 calories per serving: 38 g protein, 48 g carbohydrate and 8 g fat. It takes 40 minutes in total and makes 2 servings.

About this recipe

Pho sits at the heart of Vietnamese cuisine, famous for its long-simmered, deeply aromatic broth. This fit version swaps richer cuts for lean chicken breast and cuts back on salt so the natural warmth of star anise, cinnamon and ginger takes the lead, giving you a bowl that is both satisfying and light.

Method

1
Char the onion and ginger in a dry pan or over a flame until the edges are lightly blackened.
2
In a pot, bring the chicken broth to a boil with the charred onion and ginger, star anise and cinnamon, then add the chicken breast.
3
Simmer gently until the chicken is cooked through (about 15 minutes), then remove it and shred into strands.
4
Strain the broth and season with the fish sauce.
5
Cook the rice noodles according to the package instructions and divide among the bowls.
6
Top the noodles with the shredded chicken and pour over the hot broth; serve with basil, cilantro, bean sprouts, green onion and lime.

Tips

Charring the onion and ginger adds depth to the broth; don't skip this step.
For a clearer soup, skim off any foam as it simmers.
If you like heat, add a few slices of fresh red chili or a little sriracha.

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