I Turned Marry Me Chicken Into the Ultimate Comfort Soup

Name: Marry Me Chicken Soup (Easy, Creamy, & Budget-Friendly)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1 ½ pound Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts ((cut into bite size pieces)); 2 Tablespoons Butter; 1 Yellow Onion (chopped); ½ teaspoon Pepper; 2 teaspoons Salt; 3 cloves Garlic (minced (or 1 Tablespoon minced garlic)); ½ cup Sun Dried Tomatoes (drained); 2 Tablespoons Tomato Paste; 6 cups Chicken Broth; 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning; ½ teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes; 8 ounces Medium Pasta Shells; 2 cups Spinach (packed and chopped); 1 cup Heavy Cream; ½ cup Grated Parmesan Cheese

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This Marry Me Chicken Soup is a creamy, comforting dinner that’s perfect for busy families on a budget. Made with simple pantry staples like chicken, pasta, and broth which makes it perfect to feed a crowd.

If you love the rich flavors of the viral Marry Me Chicken but a need a budget-friendly family meal, this is the soup to make. It delivers big flavor with minimal effort and the best part is, it is ready in under 40 minutes.

Two bowls of creamy Marry Me Chicken Soup with shell noodles, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and shredded cheese, surrounded by fresh spinach, spoons, a striped napkin, grated cheese, and sun-dried tomatoes on a white surface—an easy dinner delight.

Why You’ll Love Marry Me Chicken Soup!

A woman with long dark hair, wearing earrings and a burgundy top, smiles at the camera in front of a textured, beige background.

As someone who cooks for a big family, I’m always looking for meals that feel special without requiring complicated steps or expensive ingredients.

This Marry Me Chicken Soup checks every box — it’s comforting, filling, and made with simple pantry staples. Even with picky eaters at the table, this soup always gets rave reviews, and it’s one of those recipes that tastes even better the next day.

This Easy Marry Me Chicken Soup delivers everything you want in a comfort meal, creamy texture, bold flavor, and simple preparation! Whether you’re cooking for your family or serving guests, this is the kind of recipe people ask for again and again.

If you love the flavors of this soup, then you must try our Marry Me Chicken or Crockpot Marry Me Chicken Recipe. For more comfort food recipes, you must check out Budget-Friendly Comfort Food Dinners Series, easy soup recipes for families, Slow Cooker Dinners on a budget, and these Easy Chicken Dinners.

Why This is a Budget-Friendly Family Dinner

Uses affordable pantry staples
Feeds 6 people (or more with sides)
Easy to stretch with extra pasta or broth
Great way to use leftover or rotisserie chicken
Tastes even better the next day

Ingredients

While this soup tastes rich and indulgent, it’s made with everyday ingredients and small amounts of cream and cheese, making it an affordable option for feeding a family.

Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts – Cut into bite size pieces
Butter – We used unsalted butter
Yellow Onion – Chopped into small pieces. Learn How to Cut an Onion
Cloves Garlic, minced – Learn How to Mince Garlic Cloves
Sun Dried Tomatoes – Make sure to drain
Tomato Paste – Adds to the tomato flavor
Chicken Broth – See Chicken Broth Substitutes
Italian Seasoning – Make Homemade Italian Seasoning with simple spices
Red Pepper Flakes – Adds a hint of spice
Medium Pasta Shells – Use any medium pasta shells. You can easily omit if you prefer
Fresh Spinach – Packed and chopped
Heavy Cream – Creates a rich liquid
Grated Parmesan Cheese – Delicious topping when serving in bowls

Scroll to the recipe card for the full recipe details.

How to Make Marry Me Chicken Soup

A white Dutch oven with two cubes of butter and a wooden spatula inside, ready to start Marry Me Chicken Soup, sits on a white marble surface next to a beige striped kitchen towel.

Step 1 – Heat a large stock pot or large dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the butter and melt.

A white pot with chopped raw chicken, diced onions, and black pepper—perfect for Marry Me Chicken Soup—is being stirred with a wooden spoon on a marble surface next to a beige striped kitchen towel.

Step 2 – Add in the diced chicken and onions. Season it with salt and pepper. Saute for about 5-7 minutes until the chicken is browned on both sides.

Cubed chicken pieces cooking in a white pot with minced garlic and onions, stirred with a wooden spoon—the start of a cozy Marry Me Chicken Soup. A beige striped kitchen towel sits next to the pot on a white marble surface.

Step 3 – Add in the garlic and cook for about 30-60 seconds until you can smell the garlic.

A white pot containing cooked diced chicken, onions, and a pile of tomato paste being stirred with a wooden spoon sits on a light marble surface—perfect for starting your own Marry Me Chicken Soup—next to a beige-striped kitchen towel.

Step 4 – Add in the sun dried tomatoes and tomato paste. Cook, stirring often, until the tomato paste is slightly darkened in color (approximately 2-3 minutes).

A white pot filled with Marry Me Chicken Soup, brimming with tomato-based broth, diced vegetables, and herbs, sits on a white marble surface. A wooden spoon rests in the pot, and a tan striped cloth is placed to the side.

Step 5 – Stir in the chicken broth, Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes. Bring the mixture to a boil.

A white pot filled with Marry Me Chicken Soup featuring pasta shells and herbs sits on a marble surface next to a beige striped kitchen towel.

Step 6 – Stir in the pasta shells. Reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is cooked to al dente (about 10-12 minutes). Cooking time will vary.

A round white skillet with a creamy spinach and tomato mixture, reminiscent of Marry Me Chicken Soup, is topped with fresh chopped spinach and grated Parmesan cheese. It sits on a marble surface beside a beige striped kitchen towel; a wooden spoon rests in the pan.

Step 7 – Add in the chopped baby spinach, heavy cream and the grated parmesan cheese. Cook, stirring often, until the spinach is wilted and cream is heated through.

A pot of creamy Marry Me Chicken Soup garnished with shredded cheese, surrounded by fresh parsley, spinach, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and a wedge of Parmesan on a white marble countertop with a striped towel.

Step 8 – Serve warm topped with additional parmesan cheese (if desired), with a side of crusty bread and enjoy!

A bowl of creamy Marry Me Chicken Soup with shell noodles, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and chicken, garnished with herbs. Grated cheese and sun-dried tomatoes are in small bowls nearby on a white table.

Recipe Tips

Use chicken thighs for extra tenderness. You can even use rotisserie chicken or leftover chicken to save a few steps.
Add cream slowly to prevent curdling
Parmesan thickens the soup naturally
Let the soup rest 5–10 minutes before serving

Variations (Spicy, Slow Cooker, Low Carb)

Low-Carb Version – Skip pasta and add more spinach or other veggies such as chopped bell peppers and shredded carrots
Spicy – Add in more red pepper flakes to taste
Dairy-Free – Use coconut cream or other dairy free options
Slow Cooker – Add the Chicken Breasts, onions, pepper, salt, garlic, sun dried tomatoes, tomato paste, chicken broth, Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes to the a 6 quart crock pot.
- Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 3 hours until the chicken is cooked through.
- Stir in the uncooked pasta, cover and cook on high for 20-30 minutes until the pasta is tender.
- Stir in the heavy cream, chopped spinach and parmesan cheese. Cook until the spinach is wilted.

Storing and Freezing Marry Me Chicken Soup

Fridge – Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days in the refrigerator. We love that the flavors improve overnight.
Freezer – For the best texture, freeze before adding cream, cheese and pasta, then add them when reheating.