Description
This Creamy Tuscan Chicken Soup is a comforting and flavorful one-pot meal featuring tender chicken thighs, a medley of aromatic vegetables, and small pasta shells in a rich, creamy broth enhanced with Parmesan, spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes. The soup is balanced with a touch of dry white wine and thickened to perfection, making it a perfect hearty dish for any season.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 500 g (1 lb) skinless boneless chicken thighs (or skinless boneless chicken breast)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 30 g (2 tbsp) unsalted butter
Vegetables
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 large celery stems, finely sliced (or substitute 2 carrots)
- 2 packed cups baby spinach (or chopped kale or similar)
- 1/2 cup sun dried tomato strips, chopped into 1 cm pieces, plus some oil for drizzling
Liquids & Broth
- 1/2 cup Chardonnay or other dry white wine (optional)
- 4 cups low sodium chicken stock/broth
- 3 cups water
- 1 tsp cooking/kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 cup heavy cream (or thickened cream)
Other
- 250 g (8 oz) small pasta shells (or other small pasta, rice, potato, etc.)
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, finely grated (tightly packed, sandy type)
- 2 tsp cornflour (cornstarch) mixed with 2 tsp water
Instructions
- Cook outside of chicken: Sprinkle each side of the chicken thighs with salt and pepper. Melt the butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Once foamy, place the chicken in and cook the first side for 3 minutes or until light golden, then cook the other side for 2 minutes. The inside may still be raw; it will finish cooking later. Remove the chicken to a plate.
- Soup flavour base: Reduce heat to medium-low. Add the minced garlic, chopped onion, and sliced celery into the same pot and cook for 3 minutes or until the onion becomes soft and translucent.
- Deglaze: Increase heat to high, add the white wine, stir well, and let it simmer until the wine reduces by half, intensifying the flavors.
- Broth & pasta: Add the chicken stock, water, cooking salt, and black pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil. Add the pasta shells and cook according to the pasta package instructions (around 10 minutes), stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Add chicken partway: While the pasta cooks, chop the partially cooked chicken into 1.5 cm (1/2 inch) pieces. Add the chopped chicken back into the pot to finish cooking alongside the pasta.
- Finish soup: Once the pasta is fully cooked, reduce the heat to low. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted. Then add the cornflour and water mixture, heavy cream, and chopped spinach. Stir continuously for about a minute until the spinach wilts and the soup thickens slightly.
- Serve: Ladle the soup into bowls. Garnish with the chopped sun-dried tomato strips and a drizzle of their oil for a beautiful finish. Serve immediately and enjoy.
- Storing: To store leftovers, separate the pasta from the soup to prevent it from becoming mushy. Refrigerate both components separately. When reheating, scoop out the desired portions with a slotted spoon to keep the pasta texture intact.
Notes
- Note 1: Chicken breast can be used as a substitute for thighs if preferred, but thighs provide more flavor and tenderness.
- Note 2: The dry white wine is optional but adds depth to the soup’s flavor profile. If omitted, simply skip that step.
- Note 3: Small pasta shells work best, but feel free to substitute with other small pasta shapes, rice, or even small diced potatoes depending on your preference.
- Note 4: Use finely grated Parmesan with a sandy texture for best melting and flavor integration.
- Note 5: Heavy cream gives the soup its creamy texture. You can substitute with full-fat milk, but the soup will be less rich.
- Note 6: Sun-dried tomatoes add a burst of umami and color. Use those packed in oil and save a little oil for drizzling when serving for extra flavor and presentation.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Tuscan, Italian
Keywords: Tuscan chicken soup, creamy chicken soup, Italian soup, chicken thigh soup, comfort food, creamy pasta soup, chicken and spinach soup
