Creamy Tuscan Chicken Soup (Ready in 45 Minutes!)

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 30 minutes | Total Time: 45 minutes | Servings: 6-8 | Difficulty: Easy

Imagine a bowl of velvety, creamy soup loaded with tender rotisserie chicken, vibrant kale, sun-ripened tomatoes, and fresh vegetables swimming in a rich, garlicky broth inspired by the rolling hills of Tuscany! This creamy Tuscan chicken soup transforms simple ingredients into pure Italian comfort food magic with layers of flavor from garlic, Italian herbs, and a touch of cream that makes every spoonful absolutely irresistible. Whether you’re craving cozy comfort on a chilly evening, need a quick weeknight dinner solution, or want to impress guests with minimal effort, this recipe delivers restaurant-quality results in just 45 minutes. Using rotisserie chicken as a shortcut means you can have this hearty, nutritious soup on the table faster than ordering takeout! It’s packed with protein from chicken, vitamins from kale and vegetables, and that creamy, dreamy texture everyone loves.

Why You’ll Love This Creamy Tuscan Chicken Soup

This Tuscan chicken soup is incredibly rich and satisfying without being overly heavy! The combination of tender chicken, hearty vegetables, and creamy broth creates amazing depth of flavor that tastes like it simmered for hours. Using rotisserie chicken makes this recipe incredibly fast and easy—perfect for busy weeknights when you want homemade flavor without the work. It’s nutritious and filling with kale, carrots, tomatoes, and protein-packed chicken in every bite. The creamy texture is luxurious yet the soup remains light enough for any season. Best of all, it’s highly customizable—add white beans for extra protein, pasta for heartiness, or pesto for fresh herby flavor!

Creamy Tuscan Chicken Soup (Ready in 45 Minutes!)

Creamy Italian-inspired soup with tender rotisserie chicken, fresh kale, tomatoes, and vegetables in rich, garlicky broth. Restaurant-quality comfort food ready in 45 minutes!

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Course Main Course, Soup

Cuisine Italian, Tuscan

Servings 8 bowls

Calories 280 kcal

Equipment

• Large soup pot or Dutch oven
• Wooden spoon or silicone spatula
• Sharp knife
• Cutting board
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Ladle
• Mixing bowl

Ingredients

  

For the Soup

• 1 rotisserie chicken shredded (about 3 cups), saves time and adds flavor
• 2 tablespoons olive oil for sautéing vegetables
• 1 small yellow onion diced, about 3/4 cup
• 2 cloves garlic minced fresh for best flavor
• 2 medium carrots peeled and diced into bite-sized pieces
• 1 medium zucchini diced, adds texture and nutrition
• 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes undrained, with juices for flavor
• 4 cups chicken broth low-sodium recommended for better control
• 1 bunch fresh kale stems removed, leaves chopped (about 4 cups)
• 1 cup heavy cream creates signature creamy texture; half-and-half for lighter version

Seasonings

• 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning blend of oregano, basil, thyme, rosemary
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional, adds gentle heat
• salt and black pepper to taste

For Garnish

• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped, for garnish
• 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese freshly grated, optional garnish

Instructions

 

• Prepare ingredients: Shred rotisserie chicken, removing skin and discarding bones. Pull meat into bite-sized pieces (about 3 cups total). Set aside in bowl.
• Dice onion, peel and dice carrots, dice zucchini into similar-sized pieces. Mince garlic and chop kale into small pieces, removing tough stems.
• Sauté vegetables: Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Once oil shimmers, add diced onion and sauté 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until translucent.
• Add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant. Be careful not to burn garlic.
• Add diced carrots and zucchini to pot, stirring to combine. Cook 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables begin to soften.
• Build soup base: Pour in 4 cups chicken broth and entire can of diced tomatoes with juices. Stir everything together, scraping up any browned bits from bottom of pot.
• Add dried Italian seasoning and crushed red pepper flakes if using. Stir well and bring mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
• Once boiling, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender and flavors meld.
• Add kale and chicken: Add chopped kale to pot, stirring into soup. Cook 5 minutes until kale wilts and softens.
• Add shredded rotisserie chicken, stirring evenly throughout soup. Simmer 5-7 minutes until chicken is heated through completely.
• Finish with cream: Pour in 1 cup heavy cream, stirring gently to incorporate throughout soup. Cook 2-3 more minutes until cream is fully incorporated and soup is heated through.
• Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper as needed. For thicker consistency, simmer a few more minutes to reduce liquid.
• Ladle into bowls and garnish with fresh chopped parsley and grated Parmesan cheese if desired. Serve hot with crusty bread.

Notes

PRO TIPS: Rotisserie chicken is ultimate time-saver with deep flavor. Substitute leftover cooked chicken or turkey. Customize vegetables—add celery, bell peppers, or potatoes. For lighter soup, use half-and-half or whole milk instead of heavy cream. For dairy-free, use full-fat coconut milk. Add white beans for extra protein and fiber. Fresh herbs like basil, rosemary, or thyme elevate flavor. VARIATIONS: Add cooked pasta (ditalini, orzo) during last 10 minutes. Add 1-2 cans white beans with chicken. Stir in pesto before serving. Add sun-dried tomatoes. Use spinach instead of kale. STORAGE: Refrigerate in airtight container up to 3-4 days. Flavors improve after a day. Reheat gently on stovetop over low-medium heat—avoid boiling to prevent cream separation. Freeze up to 3 months (cream may separate slightly; stir well when reheating).

Keyword creamy chicken soup, italian chicken soup, kale chicken soup, rotisserie chicken soup, tuscan chicken soup, tuscan soup

What You Need for Creamy Tuscan Chicken Soup

Main Ingredients

• 1 rotisserie chicken – shredded (about 3 cups), saves so much time
• 2 tablespoons olive oil – for sautéing vegetables
• 1 small yellow onion – diced, adds sweet savory depth
• 2 cloves garlic – minced fresh for aromatic flavor
• 2 medium carrots – peeled and diced into bite-sized pieces
• 1 medium zucchini – diced, adds texture and nutrition
• 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes – undrained, with juices
• 4 cups chicken broth – low-sodium recommended
• 1 bunch fresh kale – stems removed, leaves chopped (about 4 cups)
• 1 cup heavy cream – creates that signature creamy texture

Seasonings

• 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning – blend of oregano, basil, thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes – optional, adds gentle heat
• Salt and black pepper – to taste
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley – chopped, for garnish
• 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese – grated, optional garnish

How to Make Creamy Tuscan Chicken Soup (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Preparing Ingredients (10 minutes)

Shred the rotisserie chicken by removing the skin and discarding the bones. Pull the meat into bite-sized pieces—you should have about 3 cups total. Set aside in a bowl. Dice the onion, peel and dice the carrots, dice the zucchini into similar-sized pieces for even cooking. Mince the garlic cloves and chop the kale into small pieces, removing the tough stems. Having everything prepped before you start cooking makes the process smooth and easy!

Step 2: Sautéing Vegetables (8 minutes)

Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Once the oil shimmers, add the diced onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion becomes translucent and softened. Add the minced garlic and sauté for just 30 seconds until wonderfully fragrant—be careful not to burn it! Add the diced carrots and zucchini to the pot, stirring to combine. Let the vegetables cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they begin to soften. This sautéing step builds incredible flavor depth!

Step 3: Building the Soup Base (15 minutes)

Pour in the 4 cups of chicken broth and the entire can of diced tomatoes with their juices. Stir everything together, making sure to scrape up any flavorful browned bits from the bottom of the pot—that’s pure flavor gold! Add the dried Italian seasoning and crushed red pepper flakes if using. Stir well and bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and let the soup simmer for about 15 minutes. This allows all the flavors to meld together beautifully and the vegetables to become tender.

Step 4: Adding Kale and Chicken (12 minutes)

After 15 minutes of simmering, add the chopped kale to the pot. Stir it into the soup and cook for 5 minutes until the kale wilts down and softens—it will reduce significantly in volume. Add the shredded rotisserie chicken, stirring it in evenly throughout the soup. Let everything simmer together for 5-7 minutes until the chicken is heated through completely. The chicken will absorb some of the delicious broth flavors!

Step 5: Finishing with Cream (5 minutes)

Pour in 1 cup of heavy cream, stirring gently to incorporate it throughout the soup. The cream transforms the broth into a rich, velvety, luxurious texture that’s absolutely divine. Let the soup cook for 2-3 more minutes until the cream is fully incorporated and everything is heated through. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper as needed. If you prefer a thicker consistency, simmer for a few more minutes to reduce the liquid slightly. Ladle into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley and Parmesan cheese!

Expert Tips for Perfect Tuscan Chicken Soup

Using rotisserie chicken is the ultimate time-saver—it adds deep flavor without hours of roasting. Feel free to substitute leftover cooked chicken or turkey. Customize vegetables based on what you have—try adding celery, bell peppers, or even potatoes. For lighter soup, substitute half-and-half or whole milk for the heavy cream. For dairy-free version, use full-fat coconut milk which adds creaminess without dairy. Add white beans (cannellini or Great Northern) for extra protein and fiber—they make the soup even heartier. Fresh herbs like basil, rosemary, or thyme elevate the flavor—add with the garlic. If you love creamy Italian soups, try our Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup for another restaurant copycat favorite!

How to Store and Serve Creamy Tuscan Chicken Soup

Store leftover Tuscan chicken soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. The flavors actually deepen and improve after a day! When reheating, warm gently on the stovetop over low-medium heat, stirring occasionally. Avoid boiling as high heat can cause the cream to separate. Add a splash of chicken broth if the soup has thickened too much. For freezing, cool the soup completely and transfer to freezer-safe containers. Freeze for up to 3 months. Note that cream-based soups can sometimes separate slightly when frozen—just stir well when reheating. Serve this soup piping hot with crusty bread, our Garlic Bread, or Homemade Ciabatta Bread for dipping into that creamy broth!

Creamy Tuscan Chicken Soup Recipe Variations

Add cooked pasta like ditalini, orzo, or small shells during the last 10 minutes for Tuscan chicken pasta soup. Stir in 1-2 cans of drained white beans (cannellini or Great Northern) with the chicken for extra protein and heartiness. Add a tablespoon of pesto just before serving for fresh, herby flavor and beautiful green swirls. Make it spicy by increasing red pepper flakes or adding diced jalapeño with the vegetables. For dairy-free version, replace heavy cream with full-fat coconut milk or cashew cream. Add sun-dried tomatoes for intense tomato flavor and chewy texture. Try baby spinach instead of kale for a milder green. Include diced potatoes with the carrots for an even heartier soup. If you enjoy Italian-inspired soups, check out our Sausage Tortellini Soup for another creamy, comforting option!

Frequently Asked Questions About Tuscan Chicken Soup

Final Thoughts on This Creamy Tuscan Chicken Soup

This creamy Tuscan chicken soup delivers restaurant-quality Italian comfort food in just 45 minutes with minimal effort! The combination of tender chicken, nutritious vegetables, and that luxurious creamy broth makes every spoonful absolutely satisfying. Serve it with our Italian Herbs and Cheese Bread or Cheddar Cheese Bread for the ultimate cozy meal. It’s perfect for meal prep, freezes beautifully, and tastes even better the next day. Once you try this easy Tuscan-inspired soup, it’ll become a regular in your dinner rotation! Love this recipe? Save it to your Pinterest boards and follow us on Pinterest for more amazing recipes!