Creamy Tuscan Chicken Soup (Easy, Creamy & Comforting)
Ingredients You’ll Need
You’ll find most of these ingredients at any regular US grocery store. For the best flavor, use freshly grated Parmesan cheese and good-quality sun-dried tomatoes.
For the soup
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional
- 5 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 cups fresh baby spinach
- ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
Optional garnishes
- Extra freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Chopped fresh parsley
- A pinch of red pepper flakes
- Crusty bread for serving
Ingredient notes
Chicken: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts make a lean, tender soup. Chicken thighs are another excellent choice because they tend to stay juicy and have a richer flavor.
Sun-dried tomatoes: Oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes offer a soft texture and concentrated flavor. Drain them before chopping, and reserve a little of the oil if you want to sauté the vegetables for extra flavor.
Heavy cream: Heavy cream creates a smooth, rich broth. For a lighter version, you can use half-and-half, although the soup will be less thick and creamy.
Parmesan cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan melts more smoothly than many pre-shredded varieties. It also adds savory, slightly nutty flavor.
Spinach: Fresh baby spinach wilts quickly and gives the soup a fresh finish. Frozen spinach can work too; thaw and squeeze out excess water before adding it.