Description
Marry me chicken soup whisks Italian romance into a comforting bowl of creamy, herb-infused deliciousness. Sumptuous sun-dried tomatoes and tender chicken melt together, promising culinary love at first spoonful you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1–1.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs, diced into 1-inch pieces
- 6 ounces (170 grams) pasta (e.g., Italian small shells)
- 1/2–1 cup grated Parmesan Reggiano cheese
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1/2 cup diced carrots
- 1/2 cup diced celery
- 1/2 cup diced onions
- 1/4 cup diced sundried tomatoes
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 1/2–3 cups fresh spinach
Liquids and Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
- 1/4 cup flour
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 6–8 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
Instructions
- Sauté diced chicken in hot olive oil over medium-high heat for 4-5 minutes, seasoning with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper until golden brown.
- Add onions, carrots, celery, sundried tomatoes, and garlic to the same pot, cooking until vegetables become translucent and fragrant.
- Dust the vegetable and chicken mixture with flour, stirring thoroughly to prevent clumping, and incorporate tomato paste if using.
- Slowly pour chicken broth into the pot, whisking continuously to create a smooth liquid and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom.
- Increase heat to boil, then introduce pasta and remaining seasonings, reducing heat to low, covering and simmering for approximately 20 minutes until chicken is fully cooked and pasta reaches al dente texture.
- Enrich the soup by stirring in heavy cream, fresh spinach, and grated Parmesan cheese, allowing ingredients to meld together for an additional 5 minutes.
- Perform a final taste test, adjusting seasonings as needed to enhance the overall flavor profile of the Tuscan-inspired soup.
Notes
- Chicken Selection: Choose boneless, skinless chicken breasts for easy cutting and uniform cooking, ensuring tender meat that absorbs flavors perfectly.
- Pasta Perfect: Select small pasta shapes like orzo or small shells that nestle beautifully in the soup and provide delightful texture in every spoonful.
- Cream Consistency: Add heavy cream at the end to prevent curdling and maintain a silky, smooth soup base that coats your palate with rich, creamy goodness.
- Dietary Adaptations: Swap heavy cream with coconut milk for a dairy-free version, use gluten-free flour and pasta for celiac-friendly preparation, or replace chicken with plant-based protein for a vegetarian twist.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 310 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg