Chicken Parmesan Soup

This comforting Chicken Parmesan Soup brings all the cozy flavors of your favorite Italian dish right into a warm, hearty bowl that busy families absolutely love. It’s packed with tender shredded chicken, wholesome pasta, and fresh vegetables that make dinner both delicious and nutritious. Plus, it’s ready in under an hour, making weeknight meals so much easier!

Recipe Details

Timing & Servings: Active Time: 35 minutes, Total Time: 55 minutes, Serves: 8 people.

Nutrition Profile: No Added Sugar, Gut Healthy, Mediterranean Diet, Sesame-Free, Weight Loss, Diabetes-Friendly, Nut-Free, Soy-Free, High-Fiber, Heart-Healthy, Healthy Cholesterol, High-Protein, Egg-Free.

Nutrition Facts (per serving): 249 Calories, 6g Fat, 30g Carbs, 21g Protein.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Extra-virgin olive oil: Just 1 tablespoon to get everything started and add that lovely Mediterranean flavor. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts: You’ll need 2 pieces that are about 8 ounces each – these will become perfectly tender and shreddable. Italian seasoning: 2 teaspoons divided, because this herb blend is what gives our soup that classic Italian taste we all love.

Ground pepper: Half a teaspoon divided throughout the recipe for just the right amount of warmth. Yellow onion: One medium onion chopped up gives you about 2 cups of sweet, aromatic base for the soup. Garlic: 2 tablespoons finely chopped because garlic makes everything better!

Crushed red pepper: Half a teaspoon adds just a tiny kick without making it spicy. Unsalted chicken broth: 6 cups of liquid gold that creates the perfect soup base. No-salt-added crushed tomatoes: One 28-ounce can brings that rich, tomatoey goodness we need.

Whole-wheat penne: 8 ounces (about 2 cups) of pasta that makes this soup super filling and hearty. Salt: Three-quarters teaspoon to bring out all the amazing flavors. Baby spinach: One 5-ounce package (about 5 packed cups) adds nutrition and beautiful color.

Fresh basil: One-third cup packed and chopped, plus extra for garnish because fresh herbs make everything taste amazing. Red-wine vinegar: 2 tablespoons add a lovely bright note at the end. Parmesan crisps: Three-quarters cup lightly crushed for the perfect crunchy topping that makes this soup special.

How to Make Chicken Parmesan Soup

Step 1: Heat your olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Season both chicken breasts with 1½ teaspoons Italian seasoning and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Cook the chicken, turning once, until beautifully browned on both sides, about 6 minutes total. Transfer to a plate but keep all that flavorful oil in the pot.

Step 2: Add your chopped onion to the same pot and cook over medium-high heat. Stir occasionally until it starts to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic, crushed red pepper, and remaining Italian seasoning. Cook while stirring often until everything smells absolutely amazing, about 1 minute.

Step 3: Pour in the chicken broth and crushed tomatoes, then add your browned chicken back to the pot. Bring everything to a boil, then stir in the penne, salt, and remaining pepper. Cook while stirring occasionally until the pasta is al dente and your chicken reaches 165°F, about 10 minutes.

Step 4: Turn off the heat and use tongs to transfer the chicken to a cutting board. Use two forks to shred the chicken while it’s still warm, then return it to the pot. Stir in the baby spinach and basil until the spinach wilts, about 1 minute. Stir in the red-wine vinegar for that perfect finishing touch.

Step 5: Ladle the soup into 8 bowls and divide the crushed Parmesan crisps among each serving. Garnish with extra fresh basil if you want to make it look extra pretty!

Easy and Quick Chicken Parmesan Soup Version

Want to make this even faster? You can totally use a rotisserie chicken instead! Skip the browning step and just add about 3 cups of shredded rotisserie chicken in Step 4. This saves you about 15 minutes and still tastes incredible. You can also use pre-chopped onions and garlic from the store to cut down on prep time even more!

Serving Ideas

This hearty soup is honestly a complete meal all by itself, but it’s absolutely wonderful with some warm, crusty garlic bread or soft dinner rolls. A simple green salad with vinaigrette makes a perfect light side that balances all the rich, comforting flavors. You could also serve it with some crispy breadsticks for extra dipping fun!

Storage

Store your leftover soup in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When you reheat it on the stovetop or in the microwave, you might need to add a splash of extra broth or water since the pasta absorbs liquid over time. Always add the Parmesan crisps just before serving to keep them nice and crunchy!

Substitutions

No whole-wheat penne? Regular penne or any short pasta shape works great! You can swap the baby spinach for chopped kale if that’s what you have. Instead of Parmesan crisps, freshly grated Parmesan cheese is delicious too. If you don’t have red-wine vinegar, a splash of lemon juice adds that same bright flavor.

Pro Tips

• Perfect Chicken: Shred the chicken while it’s still warm – it comes apart so much easier than when it cools down!
• Pasta Perfection: Don’t overcook the pasta since it will continue cooking a bit in the hot soup.
• Flavor Boost: Save some pasta cooking liquid if you make the pasta separately – it’s great for thinning the soup later.
• Fresh Herbs: Add the basil at the very end to keep that bright, fresh flavor and beautiful green color.

FAQs

Can I make Chicken Parmesan Soup ahead of time?

You bet! This soup actually tastes even better the next day as all the flavors meld together. Just store it in the fridge for up to 3 days and add a little extra broth when reheating since the pasta soaks up liquid. Save the Parmesan crisps to add fresh when serving!

What is the easiest way to shred chicken?

Sure thing! Use two forks while the chicken is still warm from cooking. Hold the chicken steady with one fork and use the other to pull and comb the meat apart. It should shred easily and give you perfect bite-sized pieces!

What should I serve with Chicken Parmesan Soup?

This soup is definitely hearty enough to be a complete meal, but it’s amazing with garlic bread, warm rolls, or breadsticks for dipping. A fresh green salad adds a nice crisp contrast to all the warm, comforting flavors. Keep the sides simple since this soup is already so satisfying!

Can I freeze this soup?

The soup base freezes well, but pasta can get mushy when frozen and thawed. If you want to freeze it, I’d suggest leaving out the pasta and adding fresh pasta when you reheat it. It’ll taste just as good and have much better texture!

I hope you and your family love this cozy soup as much as mine does! It’s become our go-to dinner when we want something warm and comforting. Let me know how yours turns out – I love hearing about your cooking adventures!