This is my soup version of the recipe that apparently gets people proposed to. I can't promise a ring, but I can promise you'll be making this every time the temperature drops below 60.
I've made Creamy Tuscan Chicken enough times that I could make it blindfolded, and one night, standing over the pan with a spoon, I thought: this needs more broth and this needs to be dinner in a bowl. So I dumped in stock, threw in ditalini, and Marry Me Chicken Soup was born. Sun-dried tomatoes, baby spinach, shredded chicken, and a Parmesan cream broth that tastes like it simmered for hours when really it's about 45 minutes, one pot, zero drama.
If you're already a fan of my comforting chicken soups, this one slots right in next to Chicken Pesto and Green Bean Soupand Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup in weekly rotation.
Jump to:
- Why This Soup Works
- Key Ingredients
- How To Make Marry Me Chicken Soup
- Creamy Marry Me Chicken Soup (Easy One-Pot Recipe)
- Tips That Actually Matter Here
- Why the Soup Sometimes Turns Grainy
- If Your Soup Turns Out Too Thin
- Ways to Change It Up
- What To Serve Alongside It
- Storing and Reheating
- More Comforting Chicken Soups
- Reviews
Why This Soup Works
It's the viral flavor, but spoonable. Everyone who's made Marry Me Chicken knows the sauce is the whole point. This just gives that sauce somewhere bigger to live - a full bowl instead of a pan.
One pot, minimal cleanup. Sear, sauté, dump everything in, simmer. That's the entire arc. No juggling a pasta pot and a sauce pan at the same time on a Tuesday.
It bends to what's in your fridge. No ditalini? Use orzo or gnocchi. No chicken breast on hand? Rotisserie chicken works fine, and thighs actually add more flavor. Need it dairy-free? Coconut milk gets you there.
Also try my Marry Me Butter Beans next for a vegetarian twist.
Key Ingredients
- Chicken: I used 1 pound of chicken breast. You can also use drumsticks (just remove the bone after cooking), and chicken thighs (both bone-in and boneless).
- Tomato Paste: Provides subtle tang and deep color, enhancing the soup's savory tomato backbone to mimic the flavors of Marry Me Chicken sauce.
- Sun-Dried Tomatoes: The not so secret ingredient that brings bursts of intense, sweet-tart flavor in every bite. They also give the broth a beautifully golden-orange hue.
- Chicken Broth: It's the heart of the soup-use low-sodium broth to better control the seasoning.
- Heavy Cream: Thickens the soup and makes it creamy.
- Parmesan Cheese: Use freshly shredded parmesan cheese for that iconic Marry Me Chicken flavor.
- Ditalini Pasta: The pasta cooks in the broth, soaking up all the delicious, creamy flavors. For a heartier bean version, try my Creamy Chicken Bean Soup
- Seasonings: Garlic & Onion Powders, Salt & Pepper
How To Make Marry Me Chicken Soup
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients, measurements & instructions are in the recipe card below.
Season the chicken breast with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
Heat the sun-dried tomato oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook until both sides turn golden brown, about 3-4 minutes per side. Once done, transfer the chicken to a cutting board and cut it into bite-sized pieces.
Add the onion to the pan and sauté until softened, about 2 to 3 minutes.
Then, add the garlic and cook for an additional minute. Mix in the tomato paste and let it cook until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.
Stir in the chicken stock, heavy cream, chicken, Parmesan cheese, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and ditalini pasta. Bring the soup to a simmer and let it cook for 15-18 minutes until the pasta is al dente.
Serve with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese, and enjoy.
Creamy Marry Me Chicken Soup (Easy One-Pot Recipe)
Ingredients
- 1 lbs chicken breast
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoon sun-dried tomato oil
- 1 medium onion diced
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoon tomato paste
- 6 cups chicken stock
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 parmesan cheese grated
- 2 cups baby spinach
- 8 oz julienne sun-dried tomatoes in oil drained
- 1 cup ditalini pasta
Instructions
- Season the chicken breast with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Heat the sun-dried tomato oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook until both sides turn golden brown, about 3-4 minutes per side. Once done, transfer the chicken to a cutting board and cut it into bite-sized pieces.
- Add the onion to the pan and sauté until softened, about 2 to 3 minutes. Then, add the garlic and cook for an additional minute. Mix in the tomato paste and let it cook until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.
- Stir in the chicken stock, heavy cream, chicken, Parmesan cheese, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and ditalini pasta. Bring the soup to a simmer and let it cook for 15-18 minutes until the pasta is al dente.
- Serve with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese, and enjoy.
Tips That Actually Matter Here
Don't rush the onion and garlic. A few extra minutes here builds the sweetness that carries through the whole pot.
Cook the tomato paste before adding any liquid. Even 30 seconds of caramelizing it in the pot changes the depth of the final broth.
A splash of wine or vinegar after searing the chicken lifts the browned bits stuck to the pot and folds them back into the soup instead of leaving them behind.
Add the chicken back in at the end, not at the start of the simmer, so it stays tender instead of turning rubbery.
Taste right before serving. A pinch of red pepper flakes or a squeeze of lemon at the very end wakes the whole pot up.
Stir the spinach in last, just before it hits the table, so it wilts instead of turning to mush.
Why the Soup Sometimes Turns Grainy
This comes down to the Parmesan, almost every time. Pre-grated bags carry cellulose to stop clumping in the container, and that same coating stops the cheese from melting smoothly into broth. Cheese thrown into a pot that's actively boiling will seize instead of melt. Grate it fresh off the block, and pull the heat back to a gentle simmer before you add it.
If Your Soup Turns Out Too Thin
Usually it just needs more Parmesan - a few extra tablespoons thickens it while adding flavor at the same time. Or let it simmer uncovered a little longer so the broth reduces on its own.
Ways to Change It Up
- Chicken: thighs or rotisserie chicken instead of breast, for more flavor with less effort.
- Garlic: if you're working from a jar of minced garlic, two and a half tablespoons replaces the fresh cloves.
- Cheese: Asiago swaps in nicely if that's what's in your fridge.
- Dairy-free: coconut milk instead of cream, nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan.
- Low-carb: skip the pasta, use cauliflower florets or zucchini noodles instead.
- Vegetarian: vegetable broth, and white beans or tofu in place of chicken.
What To Serve Alongside It
This broth wants something to soak it up. Torn Dutch Oven Bread or toasted Crostini both do the job well. A slice of Tomato Garlic Focaccia echoes the sun-dried tomato flavor already in the pot, or keep it simple with Skillet Focaccia, which comes together in about an hour. For another creamy spinach-and-chicken dinner in the same spirit, try Creamy Paprika Chicken and Spinach.
Want a vegetarian version of the same Marry Me flavor profile? Marry Me Butter Beans is next on my list to make again.
Storing and Reheating
Fridge: keeps in an airtight container for up to four days. Reheat single servings in the microwave, stirring every so often. For a bigger batch, warm it on the stovetop over medium-low, stirring frequently.
Freezer: freeze in a freezer-safe container, leaving room at the top for expansion, for up to 3 months. The cream and Parmesan will separate as it thaws - that's normal. Stir well and reheat slowly over low heat so it comes back together instead of curdling. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
A note on the pasta: ditalini keeps drinking broth even after it's been sitting in the fridge, so don't be surprised if you need to splash in a little extra broth when reheating leftovers. Warm it gently first before adding that broth - cold soup looks thicker than it actually is once it heats back up.
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