Description
Creamy Marry Me Tuscan Chicken Soup is a comforting and flavorful dish featuring tender chicken, a medley of vegetables, Italian seasoning, and a luscious creamy broth enriched with Parmesan cheese and fresh spinach. This hearty soup is perfect for cozy meals and combines protein, veggies, and pasta in one delicious bowl.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein
- 1 – 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, diced into 1 inch pieces
Vegetables
- 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
Spices and Seasonings
- 2 teaspoons Italian Seasoning, divided
- Salt and pepper to taste
Liquids and Dairy
- 6–8 cups chicken broth (start with 6 cups)
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/2–1 cup grated Parmesan Reggiano cheese
Other
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1/4 cup flour
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste (optional)
- 6 oz pasta (Italian small shells recommended)
Instructions
- Cook the chicken: Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the diced chicken, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook the chicken until browned on all sides, approximately 4-5 minutes.
- Sauté vegetables: In the same pot, add diced onions, carrots, celery, sundried tomatoes, and minced garlic. Cook until the vegetables are translucent and softened, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add flour and tomato paste: Sprinkle the flour evenly over the vegetables and stir well to combine, adding in stages to avoid clumping or dryness. If using, add the tomato paste now and stir thoroughly to incorporate.
- Incorporate broth: Gradually whisk in the chicken broth, stirring constantly to prevent lumps and deglazing the bottom of the pot with your spoon to lift any browned bits.
- Simmer with pasta: Bring the mixture to a rolling boil. Add the pasta, remaining 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, and adjust salt and pepper to taste. Cover the pot with a lid, reduce heat to low, and simmer for about 20 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and tender and the pasta reaches al dente. Optionally, boil pasta separately and add later.
- Finish with cream, cheese, and spinach: Remove the lid and stir in the heavy whipping cream, fresh spinach, and grated Parmesan cheese. Let the soup simmer gently for an additional 5 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the spinach to wilt.
- Adjust seasoning and serve: Taste the soup and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed. Serve hot and enjoy this creamy, flavorful Tuscan chicken soup.
Notes
- Tomato paste is optional but adds depth and richness to the soup’s flavor.
- Start with 6 cups of chicken broth and add more as needed for desired consistency.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute the flour with a gluten-free alternative and use gluten-free pasta.
- Boiling pasta separately and adding it at the end prevents the pasta from absorbing too much broth and becoming mushy.
- Using chicken thighs will yield a juicier, more flavorful chicken component, while chicken breasts are leaner.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: Tuscan chicken soup, creamy chicken soup, Italian chicken soup, comfort food, chicken and pasta soup, hearty soup
