Description
This Marry Me Chicken Soup is a comforting, flavorful dish combining tender chicken breasts, sun-dried tomatoes, savory seasonings, and pillowy gnocchi in a creamy broth. Enhanced with spinach and Parmesan, this hearty soup is perfect for cozy dinners and easy to prepare in one pot.
Ingredients
Scale
Soup Base
- 1 Tbsp oil from sun-dried tomatoes
- 1 onion (1½ cup, 270g, diced)
- 1 Tbsp garlic (minced)
- 2 Tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper (freshly cracked)
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- ¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil (35g, chopped)
- 6 cups chicken broth (48 oz.)
Protein
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
Pasta & Dairy
- 16 oz gnocchi (shelf stable)
- ¾ cup half-and-half (6 oz.)
- ⅓ cup Parmesan (grated, 30g)
Vegetables
- 1 cup frozen spinach (thawed and squeezed dry, 30g)
Instructions
- Sauté Aromatics: Heat the sun-dried tomato oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the diced onion and minced garlic and sauté for about 5 minutes until the onion is softened and fragrant.
- Add Seasonings and Tomatoes: Stir in the tomato paste, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, and chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Cook for 1-2 minutes until the tomato paste darkens and caramelizes and all ingredients are well coated.
- Add Broth and Chicken: Nestle the whole boneless skinless chicken breasts into the pot and pour in the chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat.
- Simmer Chicken: Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 12-15 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of at least 165°F, indicating it is fully cooked.
- Shred Chicken: Remove the chicken breasts from the pot carefully and shred them using two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the pot.
- Cook Gnocchi: Stir in the gnocchi and cook for 3-4 minutes, or until the gnocchi float to the surface and are tender.
- Add Dairy and Spinach: Add the half-and-half, grated Parmesan cheese, and the thawed, well-squeezed frozen spinach. Heat gently through the soup without allowing it to boil again.
- Season and Serve: Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning if needed. Serve the soup hot, optionally topped with extra Parmesan or fresh basil for garnish.
Notes
- Use oil from the jar of sun-dried tomatoes to maximize flavor.
- Ensure chicken is fully cooked (165°F) before shredding to maintain safety and texture.
- Do not boil after adding half-and-half to prevent curdling.
- Frozen spinach should be thoroughly drained to avoid excess water in the soup.
- Gnocchi can be substituted with other bite-sized pasta if preferred.
- For a richer flavor, use freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Keywords: Marry Me Chicken Soup, creamy chicken soup, gnocchi soup, sun-dried tomato soup, easy chicken soup, one pot soup
