Description
A comforting bowl of creamy chicken Parmesan soup with shredded chicken, orzo, and spinach in a rich tomato broth.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 3 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded (about 2–3 medium breasts)
- 5 cups chicken broth
- 1 can (14 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 3/4 cup orzo pasta (dry)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 cups baby spinach, chopped
- Fresh basil or parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and sauté until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes, stirring constantly for about 1 minute until fragrant; avoid browning the garlic.
- Stir in the shredded chicken, chicken broth, crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Combine well.
- Bring the soup to a gentle boil over medium heat. Once boiling, add the orzo pasta.
- Reduce heat to a simmer and cook until the orzo is tender, about 8–10 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Stir in the heavy cream and heat through for about 2–3 minutes (do not boil vigorously once cream is added).
- Add the Parmesan cheese, stirring until completely melted and integrated into the soup. If the cheese clumps, lower the heat and stir steadily.
- Mix in the chopped spinach and allow it to wilt in the hot soup for a minute or two before removing the pot from the heat.
- Ladle into bowls and garnish with fresh basil or parsley before serving.
Notes
For a lighter option, swap heavy cream for half-and-half or milk + cream. For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free pasta.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 460
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 33g
- Cholesterol: 80mg