Description
Marry Me Chicken Soup is a rich and creamy Italian-inspired soup featuring tender chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, fragrant herbs, and cheesy tortellini all simmered in a flavorful broth. This comforting soup offers layers of flavor enhanced by white wine, garlic, and Parmesan cheese, finished with fresh baby spinach for a vibrant touch. Perfect for a cozy dinner or meal prep, it delivers warmth and hearty satisfaction.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasonings
- 1 ¼ lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
- 1 ½ teaspoons Italian seasoning
Soup Base
- ¾ cup dry white wine
- 2 tablespoons oil (reserved from sun-dried tomatoes jar)
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 1 (8 oz.) jar sun-dried tomatoes, drained and patted dry
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- ¾ teaspoon basil
- ¾ teaspoon oregano
- ¾ teaspoon parsley
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 5 cups chicken broth
- 1 chicken bouillon cube
Finishing and Add-Ins
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 10 oz. refrigerated tortellini (approximately 2 heaping cups)
- 3 cups packed baby spinach
Instructions
- Prepare Chicken: Pat the chicken breasts dry and season both sides with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Reserve for cooking.
- Sear Chicken: Heat 2 tablespoons of oil from the sun-dried tomato jar in a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and sear for 3-4 minutes per side until a light golden crust forms. Remove the chicken and let it rest for 10 minutes, then dice it into bite-sized pieces. Turn off heat temporarily.
- Deglaze with Wine: Add the white wine to the pot and set heat to medium. Use a silicone spatula to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom and sides of the pot to infuse flavor into the broth.
- Cook Onions: Add butter and diced onion to the pot. Cook for 10 minutes until the wine reduces by half and onions are softened.
- Add Tomatoes and Seasonings: Add drained, dried sun-dried tomatoes, minced garlic, tomato paste, basil, oregano, parsley, Dijon mustard, and honey to the pot. Stir continuously and cook for 5 minutes to meld flavors.
- Add Broth and Blend: Incorporate chicken broth and chicken bouillon cube. Stir to combine. Use an immersion blender to puree the soup until smooth, or carefully blend in batches using a blender.
- Simmer with Chicken: Bring soup to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Add diced chicken and any juices accumulated on the plate back to the pot. Partially cover and gently simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally and preventing boiling to keep chicken tender.
- Add Cream and Cheese: Reduce heat to low and let soup cool slightly for 1 minute. Gradually stir in heavy cream, followed by grated Parmesan cheese until melted and combined.
- Cook Tortellini: Add refrigerated tortellini to the soup and simmer partially covered until pasta is cooked through. Alternatively, boil tortellini separately and add to bowls when serving to preserve texture for leftovers.
- Add Spinach and Serve: Stir in baby spinach during the last minute of cooking to wilt. Serve hot and enjoy your Marry Me Chicken Soup.
Notes
- Wine Selection: Sauvignon Blanc is preferred, but Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio works well. Use chicken broth as a non-alcoholic substitute if desired.
- Flavor Enhancers: Dijon mustard and honey add subtle depth; Frank’s Hot Sauce can be added for extra kick.
- Tortellini: Use refrigerated cheese-filled tortellini like RANA, but any filling variety is fine.
- Cheese Quality: Grate Parmesan from a wedge for best melt and flavor; Belgioioso is recommended.
- Garlic: Use fresh garlic cloves instead of jarred minced garlic for optimal taste.
- Extra Flavor: Adding Parmesan or Romano rind with broth enhances soup richness; discard rind after cooking.
- Leftovers: Store soup in an airtight container refrigerated up to 3 days. Tortellini absorbs broth over time; best to cook separately for leftovers.
- Freezing: Freeze soup without tortellini; add cooked tortellini after reheating.
- Variations: Try Sausage Tortellini Soup or Marry Me Chicken and Pasta recipes for similar flavors.
