Creamy & Smoky Marry Me Chicken Soup Recipe (video)

One spoonful of this hearty and cozy chicken soup will have you wanting to marry the chef! My creamy and smoky ‘Marry Me’ Chicken Soup is an instant hit! It’s made with smoky bacon bits, smoked cheddar cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, tender chicken, bits of pasta, and loads of garlic. A combination of the most delicious flavors! This creamy chicken soup is perfect for cozy nights in.

Watch My Marry Me Chicken Soup Video Tutorial

Watch my YouTube Marry Me chicken soup video tutorial for step-by-step instructions and see just how easy this delicious soup is to make! Want to stay up to date on my newest recipes? Make sure to subscribe to my website email list and my YouTube channel for notifications.

Ingredients for Creamy & Smoky Chicken Soup

Here are my tips for the main ingredients you’ll need to make this cozy chicken soup. Find the full list of ingredients in the printable recipe card below.

• Chicken – you can prepare this soup with a whole chicken, making a broth from scratch (my favorite method!). Or you can use boneless chicken breast or chicken thigh.
• Bacon – smoky and aromatic bacon is a must for this recipe! You can use turkey bacon, too.
• Smoked Cheddar Cheese – this creamy cheese melts beautifully into the soup and adds incredible depth of flavor and extra richness and creaminess.
• Pasta – I recommend using a small variety of pasta; just about any type will work great. My favorite is ditalini.
• Sun Dried Tomatoes – in my kitchen, I use sun-dried tomatoes preserved in olive oil. Before dicing these, I pat the excess oil off the tomatoes with a paper towel.
• Chicken Broth – if you’re not making this soup with a whole chicken, use a good quality chicken bone broth for the best flavor!
• Peppers – I like to use green bell peppers and a few serrano chili peppers. The serrano chilis don’t add too much heat, they just make the soup extra warming!

Preparing a Homemade Chicken Broth

You can prepare my Marry Me Chicken Soup two ways – with homemade chicken broth using a whole chicken, or you can use store-bought broth and boneless chicken. Both preparations are delicious! Here’s how to make homemade broth.

1. Fill a large pot with about 13 cups of water and season generously with salt. Portion the whole chicken into pieces – chicken thighs, drumsticks, breast, and wings.
2. Place all the pieces, including the body of the chicken, into the water and bring it up to a boil. Skim off any foam that forms on the surface of the broth.
3. Cook the chicken for about 30 minutes, until the meat is cooked all the way through. Remove the chicken meat pieces carefully with tongs onto a plate.
4. Using two forks, remove all the cooked meat from the bones and remove the skin. Shred the meat into bite-sized pieces and set aside for later.
5. Return all the bones and skin back into the pot and continue to cook for another 30 minutes. Afterwards, remove all the bones and skin and discard them. The broth is ready to use.

Preparing the Base for ‘Marry Me’ Chicken Soup

This incredible, cozy chicken soup comes together in no time! Here’s how to make it:

1. Use a large soup pot for this recipe. Drop the diced bacon into the cold pot and heat it over medium heat. Render the bacon until it’s golden and crispy around the edges.
2. Next, add a few tablespoons of butter and let it melt. Add the diced onion, carrots, celery, and bell pepper next. Sauté this mixture for about 10 to 12 minutes, until the onions are tender and caramelized.
3. To the sauteed mixture, add the minced garlic, sliced chilis, sun-dried tomatoes, thyme, rosemary, basil, oregano, smoked paprika, dried onion, and dried garlic. Season the soup with salt and pepper.
4. Stir everything together, cooking for a minute, then pour in the chicken stock (homemade or store-bought).

Adding Chicken Meat to the Soup

Once you have the base for the soup ready, it’s time to add the chicken!

• If you are not using a whole chicken to make homemade broth, you can drop the chicken meat into the soup at this time. Use whole pieces of chicken breast or chicken thigh; no need to cut them.
• Cover the pot, bring the soup to a simmer, and reduce the heat to low. Cook for about 20 to 25 minutes, until the chicken meat is cooked through. Remove it carefully using tongs and use two forks to shred the meat into bite-sized pieces.
• Return the shredded chicken back into the pot.

Adding the Finishing Touches to Chicken Soup

1. With the chicken back in the pot, it’s time to add the pasta. Cook the pasta for about 8 to 10 minutes, depending on package instructions.
2. Once the pasta is al dente, pour in half-and-half (or cream for a richer soup) and add the grated cheese. Stir until the cheese is melted, then remove the soup from the heat.
3. Finish the soup with fresh chopped parsley and chopped green scallions. Stir the soup, cover, and let it stand for 30 minutes before enjoying.
4. This soup will develop even more flavor overnight, making the leftovers even better! Serve the soup with toasted garlicky bread.

Storing Recommendations for Chicken Soup

Store any creamy chicken soup leftovers covered in the refrigerator. They’re great for reheating the next day.

This soup will also freeze very nicely. I recommend transferring cooled soup into freezer-friendly containers. To reheat, thaw the soup overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat on the stovetop.

More Recipes to Try!

Enjoyed this delicious and hearty marry me chicken soup? Check out some of my other recipes you’re sure to enjoy!

• Smoky Chicken Gnocchi Soup – a family favorite! This rich, thick and creamy soup is made with gnocchi, chicken, and smoky bacon bits!
• Chicken Noodle Soup – a warming classic that’s great any time of the year! With homemade broth and egg noodles.
• Creamy Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup – light and creamy chicken soup with a hint of lemon, with orzo pasta.
• Creamy Chicken Stew – a hearty and warming stew with chicken, mushrooms, bacon, and potatoes.

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