Marry Me Chicken Soup (Printable)

Tender chicken with sun-dried tomatoes and creamy broth combined with ditalini pasta in a cozy dish.

# What you need:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (approximately 1 lb)
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1/2 tsp kosher salt
04 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ Vegetables & Aromatics

05 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
06 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
07 - 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
08 - 2 celery stalks, diced
09 - 1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and chopped

→ Broth & Dairy

10 - 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
11 - 1 cup water
12 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
13 - 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

→ Pasta

14 - 3/4 cup ditalini pasta

→ Herbs & Seasonings

15 - 1 tsp dried oregano
16 - 1 tsp dried thyme
17 - 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
18 - 1 bay leaf
19 - Fresh basil, for garnish

# How to make it:

01 - Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Sear chicken for 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden but not fully cooked. Remove and set aside.
02 - Add diced onion, carrots, and celery to the pot. Sauté for 4 to 5 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Incorporate chopped sun-dried tomatoes, dried oregano, dried thyme, and red pepper flakes if using. Stir to combine evenly.
04 - Pour in chicken broth and water. Add bay leaf. Return chicken breasts to the pot. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes until chicken is cooked through and vegetables are tender.
05 - Remove chicken breasts and shred with two forks. Return shredded chicken to the pot.
06 - Stir in ditalini pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes until al dente.
07 - Lower heat to a gentle simmer. Remove bay leaf. Stir in heavy cream and Parmesan cheese until melted and fully incorporated.
08 - Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with fresh basil.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like restaurant-quality comfort without the pretension or the wait.
  • The sun-dried tomatoes add a subtle sweetness that makes people ask what you did differently.
  • You can have it on the table faster than you could order it, and it reheats beautifully all week.
02 -
  • Don't skip the searing step even though the chicken will finish cooking in the broth; that caramelization is where half the flavor lives.
  • Add the cream at the very end and keep the heat low, because high heat will split the cream and leave you with broken, separated sauce instead of silky soup.
03 -
  • Use a Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot so the heat distributes evenly and nothing sticks to the bottom.
  • Grate your Parmesan fresh right before you add it; the difference between pre-grated and fresh is the difference between silky and grainy.
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