Description
All the swoon-worthy flavors of classic “Marry Me Chicken”—sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, Italian herbs, cream, and Parmesan—reimagined as a cozy, weeknight-easy soup. Tender chicken, a silky broth, and handfuls of spinach make it hearty yet bright.
Ingredients
Scale
- Chicken (breasts or thighs), cut bite-size 1½ lb
- Olive oil 1 tbsp
- Onion chopped 1 small
- Carrots diced 2
- Celery diced 2 ribs
- Garlic minced 4 cloves
- Sun-dried tomatoes oil-packed, drained & sliced ½ cup
- All-purpose flour 2 tbsp
- Low-sodium chicken broth 6 cups
- Italian seasoning 2 tsp (divided)
- Short pasta (ditalini/small shells) 8 oz (about 2 cups)
- Heavy cream 1 cup (or half-and-half)
- Freshly grated Parmesan ¾ cup
- Baby spinach lightly packed 3 cups
- Kosher salt & black pepper to taste
- Red pepper flakes optional pinch
- Lemon juice optional 1–2 tsp for brightness
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high. Season chicken with 1 tsp Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Sear 3–4 minutes until lightly browned; transfer to a plate.
- In the same pot add onion, carrots, celery, sun-dried tomatoes, and garlic. Sauté 3–4 minutes until softened and fragrant.
- Sprinkle flour over vegetables; cook 1 minute, stirring. Gradually whisk in chicken broth until smooth.
- Return chicken to the pot. Stir in the remaining 1 tsp Italian seasoning, a pinch of red pepper flakes if using, and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Add pasta and cook 10–12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is al dente and chicken is cooked through.
- Reduce heat to low. Stir in cream and Parmesan until silky. Fold in spinach until just wilted, 1–2 minutes. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and a squeeze of lemon if desired.
- Rest 2 minutes to thicken slightly, then ladle into warm bowls and serve.
Notes
- Swap cream for half-and-half to lighten.
- Use rotisserie chicken: add with the cream step and simmer 2–3 minutes.
- Gluten-free: use GF pasta and thicken with 1 tbsp cornstarch slurry instead of flour.
- Leftovers thicken—loosen with warm broth when reheating.
- Prep Time: 10 Minutes
- Cook Time: 25 Minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Serving
- Calories: 430Kcal
- Sodium: ~980mg
- Fat: 22g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
Keywords: Marry me chicken soup