Introduction
Have you ever craved a meal that feels like a warm, reassuring hug? Moreover, sometimes you need a dish that soothes the soul and wraps you in pure comfort. This is precisely why we are sharing our ultimate Romantic Comfort Food: Marry Me Chicken Soup. It transforms a legendary dish into a cozy, spoonable delight that promises warmth and connection in every single bowl.
Romantic Comfort Food: Marry Me Chicken Soup takes the iconic, flavor-packed chicken dish and reimagines it as a hearty, brothy soup. Traditionally, the “Marry Me Chicken” pasta earns its name from its irresistible, proposal-worthy cream sauce. This version, however, captures all those magical flavors—sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, herbs, and parmesan—in a lighter, liquid form that is perfect for any night. Ultimately, it matters because it delivers an extraordinary dining experience without requiring extraordinary effort. It fits our blog’s mission to provide recipes that are both impressively delicious and genuinely achievable for home cooks. For instance, if you love the classic form, you must try our original Marry Me Chicken recipe. Furthermore, this soup is the ideal choice for a date night in or when you simply need a bowl of something special. It is the definition of a meal that cooks from the heart. Additionally, for another cozy option that warms you from the inside out, our Creamy Tuscan Chicken Soup offers a similar level of comfort. This Romantic Comfort Food: Marry Me Chicken Soup truly embodies what it means to cook with love and intention.
Why I Love This Recipe
I have a deep personal connection to this Romantic Comfort Food: Marry Me Chicken Soup because it became our go-to meal during a particularly cold and stressful winter. My partner and I would make a huge pot on Sundays, and the act of cooking together and then sharing that steamy, fragrant bowl on the couch became our weekly ritual. It is more than just food; it is a reminder to slow down, connect, and nourish each other. Every spoonful tastes like care and comfort, which is exactly what a great meal should deliver.
Health and Nutrition
Why it’s good for your body
Romantic Comfort Food: Marry Me Chicken Soup truly nourishes you from the inside out. For starters, this dish delivers a powerful protein punch from its lean chicken. Consequently, this protein helps your body build and repair muscle, and it also keeps you feeling full and satisfied for hours. Furthermore, the garlic and onions provide fantastic anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties.
Additionally, the creamy broth, often made with broth and a dairy base, offers a comforting source of hydration and essential fats. These healthy fats actually support brain function and help your body absorb key vitamins. Moreover, the herbs like thyme and basil not only add incredible flavor but also bring their own set of antioxidants to the table. Therefore, every spoonful works to support your overall wellness.
Ultimately, Romantic Comfort Food: Marry Me Chicken Soup acts like a warm hug for your immune system. It combines simple, wholesome ingredients that each contribute to your health in a meaningful way. So you can enjoy this delicious Romantic Comfort Food: Marry Me Chicken Soup knowing it’s doing your body a world of good.
How it fits in a healthy lifestyle
This soup fits beautifully into a balanced eating plan. You can easily enjoy it as a hearty main course for a light dinner or pair it with a side salad for a more complete meal. The high protein content supports muscle maintenance, making it a great option for post-workout recovery or for anyone following a high-protein diet. Since it relies on natural ingredients for its creamy texture, it can often cater to gluten-free needs as well, especially if you thicken it with a cornstarch slurry instead of traditional flour.
For those mindful of heart health, you can easily adapt the recipe by using low-sodium broth and a lighter cream alternative. This flexibility makes it a perfect staple for your weekly meal prep rotation. If you love this approach to adaptable comfort food, you might also enjoy our guide to creating healthy and satisfying meal prep ideas. And if you’re looking for another cozy, nutrient-packed option to add to your repertoire, our hearty vegetable soup recipe is another fantastic choice.
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Marry Me Chicken Soup
Description
This outstanding Marry Me Chicken Soup recipe uses store-bought rotisserie chicken to create a perfect bowl of comfort and optimism.
Ingredients
- 7 oz sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil julienned
- 2 tbsp sun-dried tomato oil
- 5 slices bacon thinly sliced
- 1 large onion finely chopped
- 3 tbsp tomato paste
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 3 cups rotisserie chicken shredded
- 5 oz fresh baby spinach
- 8 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 cup white wine I used a dry Pinot Grigio
- 8 oz medium shell pasta
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Instructions:
- Heat the sun-dried tomato oil in a large soup pot over medium heat.
- Add the sliced bacon. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the bacon is crisp.
- Use a slotted spoon to remove the cooked bacon to a paper-towel lined bowl. Set aside.
- Return the pot to medium heat. Add the chopped onion to the hot oil and bacon fat.
- Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened and the pot is starting to develop some color.
- Drain the rest of the oil from the sun-dried tomatoes and discard. Add the tomato paste and sun-dried tomatoes to the hot pot. Cook and stir for a couple of minutes.
- Add the garlic and seasoning. Cook for one minute as you stir.
- Add the chicken and then the spinach. Give the pot a good stir. Cover it with the lid and allow the spinach to steam a couple of minutes until it has shrank quite a bit.
- Pour in the chicken broth and the wine. Stir well. Cover again and bring the soup to a gentle boil.
- Add the uncooked pasta. Cook according to package directions. I let mine boil in the soup for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta was al dente tender.
- Stir in the heavy cream. Turn the heat to low to keep warm.
- Serve bowls of soup topped with the cooked bacon.
How to Prepare This Dish
Steps and time-saving tips
First, gather all your ingredients for the Romantic Comfort Food: Marry Me Chicken Soup. Next, generously season your chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Meanwhile, heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken for about 5-7 minutes per side until you achieve a beautiful golden-brown crust. Then, remove the chicken and set it aside on a plate. Now, add your diced onion, carrots, and celery to the same pot. Sauté the vegetables for about 5 minutes until they just begin to soften. After that, stir in the minced garlic and sun-dried tomatoes, cooking for one more minute until fragrant. Pour in your chicken broth and heavy cream, then whisk everything together smoothly. Finally, return the chicken to the pot, reduce the heat to low, and let the soup simmer gently for 15-20 minutes. Shred the chicken directly in the pot using two forks. Stir in the fresh spinach and Parmesan cheese until the spinach wilts. For a time-saving tip, use a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken. Simply skip the searing step and add the shredded chicken at the end with the spinach. Your Romantic Comfort Food: Marry Me Chicken Soup is now ready to warm hearts and bellies.
Mistakes I’ve made and learned from
I have absolutely curdled this creamy Romantic Comfort Food: Marry Me Chicken Soup by rushing the process. Adding the cold cream directly to a boiling broth is a surefire way to break the sauce, so now I always temper it first. I ladle a little hot broth into the cream to warm it up gradually before stirring it all back into the pot. Another common mistake I made was overcooking the chicken, which resulted in a dry, stringy texture. I learned that gently poaching the chicken in the simmering broth, rather than a rolling boil, keeps it incredibly tender and juicy. For more on mastering creamy sauces, my guide on perfect creamy sauces breaks it down simply. Also, if you love this flavor profile, you must try my Marry Me Chicken Pasta, which uses a similar technique for a different, equally delicious dish.
