Description
Comfort meets classic Italian cuisine in this luscious Chicken Parmesan Soup, blending rich marinara with velvety cream. Hearty ingredients and robust seasonings create a soul-warming dish you’ll crave on chilly evenings and want to share with loved ones.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Protein:
- 1 lb (450 g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Dairy and Cheese:
- 1 cup (100 g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup (100 g) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
Main Cooking Components:
- 4 cups (1 liter) chicken broth
- 1 can (14 oz / 400 g) crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup (100 g) uncooked pasta (small shapes like ditalini or elbow)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the base: Combine chicken breasts, crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, diced onions, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes in the slow cooker. Gently mix all ingredients to ensure even distribution.
- Allow the mixture to simmer slowly, ensuring the chicken becomes tender and fully infused with aromatic flavors. Set the slow cooker on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
- Once cooking is complete, carefully extract the chicken and use two forks to meticulously shred the meat into delicate, bite-sized pieces. Return the shredded chicken to the soup.
- Introduce rich, velvety elements by stirring in heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese. Add uncooked pasta directly into the warm liquid, allowing it to absorb the robust flavors.
- Continue cooking on high heat for 20-30 minutes, monitoring the pasta’s texture until it reaches perfect al dente consistency.
- Enhance the soup’s creamy texture by incorporating shredded mozzarella cheese, stirring until it melts completely and creates a luxurious, smooth consistency.
- Finish the dish by ladling the soup into warm serving bowls. Drizzle with a touch of olive oil and garnish with freshly chopped basil leaves. Accompany with crusty bread or garlic toast for a complete, comforting meal.
Notes
- Adjust spice levels by reducing or omitting red pepper flakes for a milder soup that suits sensitive palates.
- Select boneless, skinless chicken breasts for the most tender and easy-to-shred meat texture.
- Opt for whole milk or half-and-half as lighter alternatives to heavy cream without compromising richness.
- Prevent pasta from becoming mushy by adding it later in the cooking process and checking for al dente consistency.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 465
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg