Description
Creamy Marry Me Chicken Soup is a cozy, easy dinner that turns the classic “marry me chicken” into a rich, velvety soup loaded with tender chicken, soft potatoes, smoky bacon, and spinach in a cheesy garlic cream broth—perfect for quick weeknight meals, comforting food ideas, and cold-weather dinner ideas that feel special without any fuss.
Ingredients
2 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and chopped
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (or to taste)
1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
2 medium gold potatoes, peeled and diced small
1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving
2 cups loosely packed baby spinach
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
1. Cook the bacon in a large Dutch oven over medium heat until crisp, then transfer it to a paper towel–lined plate and leave about 2 tablespoons of drippings in the pot.
2. Add the olive oil and butter to the pot, then stir in the diced onion and cook for 4 to 5 minutes until softened and translucent.
3. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds, just until fragrant, stirring constantly so it doesn’t burn.
4. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, letting it darken slightly to concentrate the flavor.
5. Add the chopped sun-dried tomatoes, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper, stirring until everything is coated and aromatic.
6. Pour in the chicken broth, scraping the bottom of the pot to release any browned bits, then add the diced potatoes and nestle the chicken breasts into the liquid.
7. Bring the soup to a gentle boil, reduce the heat to a simmer, cover, and cook for 15 to 18 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the potatoes are tender.
8. Remove the chicken to a cutting board and shred it into bite-sized pieces with two forks, then return the shredded chicken to the pot.
9. Reduce the heat to low, pour in the heavy cream, and stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until it melts and the soup looks creamy and slightly thickened.
10. Add the baby spinach and stir until it wilts into the hot soup, then finish with the fresh lemon juice and taste, adjusting salt, pepper, or red pepper flakes as needed.
11. Ladle the soup into bowls and top with the crispy bacon, extra Parmesan, and chopped parsley before serving.
Notes
For extra richness, stir in an additional splash of cream or a handful of Parmesan right before serving.
If the soup thickens too much as it sits, thin it with a little extra chicken broth while reheating.
You can swap the gold potatoes for small pasta shapes, but cook the pasta separately and add it right before serving to keep it from getting mushy.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 25
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 1100
- Fat: 43
- Saturated Fat: 22
- Unsaturated Fat: 18
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 25
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 42
- Cholesterol: 195
Keywords: marry me chicken soup, creamy chicken soup, easy dinner, quick dinner, weeknight soup, comfort food, chicken recipes, food ideas, dinner ideas