Marry Me Chicken Soup (Creamy One-Pot Wonder!)

Picture this: a velvety, creamy soup loaded with tender rotisserie chicken, perfectly cooked pasta shells, vibrant spinach, and the irresistible flavors of sun-dried tomatoes, fresh basil, and Parmesan cheese. This Marry Me Chicken Soup takes the viral Marry Me Chicken phenomenon and transforms it into a soul-warming, one-pot meal that’s so delicious, it might just inspire a marriage proposal! The rich, creamy broth gets its depth from cream cheese and heavy cream, while sun-dried tomatoes add tangy sweetness and gorgeous color to every spoonful. Whether you’re cooking for a romantic dinner, feeding hungry family members on a busy weeknight, or meal prepping for the week ahead, this soup delivers restaurant-quality flavor with minimal effort. The best part? Everything cooks in one pot, making cleanup a breeze while delivering maximum comfort. Ready in under an hour with mostly pantry staples, this soup proves that impressive cooking doesn’t need to be complicated.

Why You’ll Love This Marry Me Chicken Soup Recipe

This creamy chicken soup comes together in just one pot, meaning less mess and fewer dishes to wash. The combination of cream cheese, Parmesan, and heavy cream creates an ultra-rich, velvety texture that coats every ingredient perfectly. Using pre-cooked rotisserie chicken cuts prep time dramatically while adding incredible flavor. The soup is ready in about 45 minutes from start to finish, making it perfect for busy weeknights when you want something special without the fuss. Leftovers taste even better the next day as flavors continue to meld and deepen. This recipe is completely customizable—adjust the spice level, swap different pasta shapes, or add extra vegetables to suit your preferences.

What You Need for Marry Me Chicken Soup

Essential Soup Base Ingredients

• 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes – julienne-cut, packed in oil with herbs for maximum flavor
• 1 tablespoon sun-dried tomato oil – from the jar, adds depth and richness
• 1 1/2 cups yellow onion – chopped, provides sweet aromatic base
• 4 cloves fresh garlic – minced for pungent, savory notes
• 3 tablespoons tomato paste – concentrates tomato flavor and adds body

For the Creamy Broth

• 32 ounces chicken broth – 2 standard boxes or cartons, use low-sodium to control salt
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream – creates luxurious, velvety texture
• 4 teaspoons fresh basil – chopped, plus more for garnish
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt – adjust to taste
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning – blend of oregano, basil, thyme
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder – enhances garlic flavor throughout
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes – adds gentle heat, adjust to preference

The Star Players

• 8 ounces uncooked medium shell pasta – perfect for catching creamy sauce
• 3 cups fresh baby spinach – roughly chopped, adds color and nutrition
• 2 cups rotisserie chicken – shredded or chopped, already cooked for convenience
• 8 ounces cream cheese – cubed and room temperature for smooth melting
• 1 1/2 ounces Parmesan cheese – finely shredded, plus extra for garnish

Marry Me Chicken Soup

Creamy one-pot soup with tender rotisserie chicken, Parmesan, sun-dried tomatoes, and pasta shells. So delicious it might inspire a proposal! Ready in 45 minutes.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 35 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Course Dinner, Main Course, Soup

Cuisine American, Italian-Inspired

Servings 6 servings

Calories 520 kcal

Equipment

• Large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot (6-8 quart)
• Wooden spoon or spatula
• Sharp knife and cutting board
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Ladle

Ingredients

  

For the Soup Base

• 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes julienne-cut, packed in oil with herbs
• 1 tablespoon sun-dried tomato oil from the jar, adds rich flavor
• 1 1/2 cups yellow onion chopped – about 1 large onion
• 4 cloves fresh garlic minced for aromatic depth
• 3 tablespoons tomato paste concentrates flavor

For the Creamy Broth

• 32 ounces chicken broth 2 standard boxes, low-sodium recommended
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream creates velvety texture
• 4 teaspoons fresh basil chopped, plus more for garnish
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt adjust to taste
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning blend of herbs
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder enhances garlic flavor
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes adjust for heat preference

The Star Ingredients

• 8 ounces uncooked medium shell pasta about 2 cups – catches sauce perfectly
• 3 cups fresh baby spinach roughly chopped, packed measurement
• 2 cups rotisserie chicken shredded or chopped – saves major time
• 8 ounces cream cheese cubed and room temperature – one standard package
• 1 1/2 ounces Parmesan cheese finely shredded, plus extra for garnish

Instructions

 

• Heat 1 tablespoon sun-dried tomato oil in large Dutch oven or heavy pot over medium heat. Add chopped onions and minced garlic. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently, until onions soften and become translucent and garlic is fragrant. Don’t let garlic brown.
• Stir in tomato paste and sun-dried tomatoes. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until tomato paste deepens to dark red color. This caramelizes the paste and removes raw taste.
• Pour in chicken broth and heavy cream. Add fresh basil, kosher salt, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and crushed red pepper flakes. Stir to combine everything thoroughly.
• Increase heat slightly to bring mixture to gentle boil, stirring occasionally. Once boiling, reduce heat to maintain gentle simmer. Let it bubble for 12 minutes, stirring occasionally to meld flavors.
• Add uncooked shell pasta to simmering broth, stirring to separate shells and ensure they’re submerged. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook pasta for 12 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
• Reduce heat to low. Stir in roughly chopped spinach and shredded rotisserie chicken. The spinach will wilt almost immediately.
• Add cubed cream cheese and shredded Parmesan to soup. Stir frequently for 5 minutes, pressing cream cheese cubes against side of pot to help them melt smoothly. Continue stirring until all cheese is completely melted and soup is creamy and uniform.
• Ladle hot soup into bowls. Top each serving with extra shredded Parmesan, fresh basil leaves, and pinch of red pepper flakes if desired. Serve immediately with crusty bread for dipping.

Notes

Cream Cheese Tip: Room temperature cream cheese melts smoothly without clumps. If clumps form, press against pot side with spoon.

Heat Level: Start with 1/4 tsp red pepper and adjust to taste. Omit completely for mild version.

Pasta Options: Orecchiette, ditalini, or orzo work well—adjust cooking time per package.

Thicker Soup: Pasta absorbs liquid as it sits. Add extra broth when reheating.

Storage: Refrigerate in airtight container up to 4 days. Reheat gently on stovetop over low heat.

Freezing: Cream soups don’t freeze as well but can be frozen up to 2 months. Reheat gently, whisking to re-emulsify.

Make Ahead: Cook soup base through step 4, refrigerate, then add pasta and finish when ready to serve.

Keyword chicken pasta soup, Comfort Food, creamy chicken soup, easy dinner soup, marry me chicken soup, one pot soup, rotisserie chicken soup

How to Make Marry Me Chicken Soup (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Building the Flavor Base

1. Heat the pot (1 minute): Place large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon sun-dried tomato oil and let it heat until shimmering.
2. Sauté aromatics (3-4 minutes): Add chopped onions and minced garlic to pot. Cook, stirring frequently, until onions soften and become translucent and garlic becomes fragrant. (Don’t let garlic brown or it becomes bitter.)
3. Add tomato paste and sun-dried tomatoes (2 minutes): Stir in tomato paste and sun-dried tomatoes. Cook, stirring constantly, until tomato paste deepens to dark red color. (This caramelizes the paste and removes raw taste.)

Step 2: Creating the Creamy Broth

4. Add liquids and seasonings (2 minutes): Pour in chicken broth and heavy cream, then add fresh basil, kosher salt, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and crushed red pepper flakes. Stir to combine everything thoroughly.
5. Bring to gentle boil (3-5 minutes): Increase heat slightly to bring mixture to gentle boil, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
6. Simmer for depth (12 minutes): Once boiling, reduce heat to maintain gentle simmer. Let it bubble away for 12 minutes, stirring occasionally. (This melds flavors and reduces liquid slightly for concentrated taste.)

Step 3: Cooking the Pasta

7. Add pasta shells (1 minute): Add uncooked shell pasta to simmering broth, stirring to separate shells and ensure they’re submerged.
8. Cook until tender (12 minutes): Reduce heat to medium-low and cook pasta for 12 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. (Pasta will continue cooking slightly as soup sits, so don’t overcook.)

Step 4: Final Creamy Magic

9. Lower heat (30 seconds): Reduce heat to low setting before adding cheese to prevent curdling.
10. Add spinach and chicken (2 minutes): Stir in roughly chopped spinach and shredded rotisserie chicken. The spinach will wilt almost immediately.
11. Melt in cheeses (5 minutes): Add cubed cream cheese and shredded Parmesan. Stir frequently, pressing cream cheese cubes against side of pot to help them melt smoothly into soup. (Room temperature cream cheese melts much easier.)
12. Final stir (1 minute): Continue stirring until all cheese is completely melted, soup is creamy and uniform, and chicken is heated through.

Step 5: Serving

13. Ladle and garnish (2 minutes): Ladle hot soup into bowls. Top each serving with extra shredded Parmesan, fresh basil leaves, and pinch of red pepper flakes if desired. Serve immediately with crusty bread.

Expert Tips for the Best Marry Me Chicken Soup

Bring cream cheese to room temperature at least 30 minutes before using—it melts smoothly without clumping. If cream cheese does clump, press pieces against pot side with wooden spoon to break them down. Control heat level by adjusting crushed red pepper—start with less if you’re spice-sensitive. For thicker soup, reduce cream slightly or add extra pasta. For thinner consistency, add more chicken broth. Rotisserie chicken is key for saving time, but you can use 2-3 cooked chicken breasts instead. Freshly shredded Parmesan melts better than pre-shredded versions. Don’t skip the sun-dried tomato oil—it adds incredible flavor depth. Try our Chicken Alfredo Lasagna Rolls for another creamy chicken dinner.

How to Store and Serve Marry Me Chicken Soup

Store cooled soup in airtight container in refrigerator for up to 4 days—the flavors actually deepen overnight, making leftovers even more delicious. To reheat, warm gently on stovetop over low heat, stirring frequently and adding splash of chicken broth or cream if soup has thickened too much. Avoid microwaving at high power as it can cause cream to separate. This soup is hearty enough to serve as complete meal on its own, but pairs beautifully with garlic bread for dipping, crusty baguette slices, or fresh green salad with vinaigrette to balance richness. For special occasions, serve with crisp white wine like Pinot Grigio or Chardonnay. Garnish generously with fresh Parmesan and basil for restaurant-worthy presentation.

Marry Me Chicken Soup Recipe Variations You’ll Love

Create tortellini version by swapping shell pasta for cheese tortellini—reduce cooking time to 8-10 minutes. Make lighter soup by using half-and-half instead of heavy cream and reducing cream cheese to 4 ounces. Try different pasta shapes like orecchiette, ditalini, or orzo—just adjust cooking time per package instructions. Add extra vegetables like mushrooms, bell peppers, or cherry tomatoes sautéed with the onions. Make it spicier by doubling crushed red pepper or adding diced jalapeños. Create keto-friendly version by omitting pasta and adding cauliflower florets or zucchini noodles instead. For more creamy chicken recipes, try our Boursin Garlic Herb Chicken or Creamy Ranch Chicken.

Frequently Asked Questions About Marry Me Chicken Soup

Can I make Marry Me Chicken Soup ahead of time?

Yes! You can prep all ingredients ahead and cook when ready, or make the soup completely and refrigerate for up to 4 days. Note that pasta will absorb liquid as it sits, so you may need to add extra broth when reheating. For best texture, some cooks prefer adding pasta fresh when serving rather than storing it with soup.

Why is my cream cheese clumping instead of melting smoothly?

Clumping happens when cream cheese is too cold or heat is too high. Always bring cream cheese to room temperature before adding, and reduce heat to low before stirring it in. If clumps form, press them against the pot side with your spoon to break them down and continue stirring—they’ll eventually incorporate smoothly.

Can I use fresh tomatoes instead of sun-dried tomatoes?

While fresh tomatoes work in a pinch, sun-dried tomatoes provide concentrated, intense flavor that’s key to this recipe’s signature taste. They add tanginess and umami that fresh tomatoes can’t replicate. If you must substitute, use oven-roasted tomatoes or add extra tomato paste for depth.

Can I freeze Marry Me Chicken Soup?

Cream-based soups don’t freeze as well as broth-based soups because dairy can separate when thawed. If you must freeze it, do so for up to 2 months and reheat very gently on stovetop, whisking frequently to re-emulsify the cream. For best results, freeze the soup base without pasta and add freshly cooked pasta when reheating.

Final Thoughts on This Marry Me Chicken Soup Recipe

This Marry Me Chicken Soup transforms the beloved Marry Me Chicken concept into a comforting, one-pot meal that’s pure magic in a bowl. The combination of creamy Parmesan broth, tender rotisserie chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, and perfectly cooked pasta creates a symphony of flavors that will have everyone asking for seconds—and maybe even marriage proposals! With minimal prep work and just 45 minutes from start to finish, it’s the perfect weeknight dinner that tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen. The one-pot cooking method means easy cleanup, while the rich, restaurant-quality flavors make it special enough for entertaining. Whether you’re cooking to impress someone special or simply treating yourself to ultimate comfort food, this soup delivers on every level. Love this recipe? Save it to your Pinterest boards and follow us on Pinterest at https://pinterest.com/recipeinspired_ for more amazing comfort food recipes that warm hearts and bellies!