01 -
First things first, get all your chopping out of the way. Dice the onion, carrots, and celery. Mince that garlic. Cut your chicken into bite-sized pieces, about 1-inch cubes. Honestly, I find this step the most therapeutic, though sometimes my knife skills are a bit... rustic. Having everything ready before you start cooking makes the whole process so much smoother, trust me on this one!
02 -
Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Once shimmering, add the chicken pieces and sear them until they're golden brown on all sides. You don't need to cook them through, just get some nice color. This step adds so much flavor to the Marry Me Chicken Soup! Remove the chicken from the pot and set it aside. Don't clean the pot, those browned bits are flavor gold.
03 -
Reduce the heat to medium. Add the diced onion, carrots, and celery to the pot. Sauté for about 5-7 minutes, until the onions are soft and translucent. Then, stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant. Oh, that smell! This is where the kitchen starts to smell absolutely incredible, and I always take a deep breath, knowing something good is coming.
04 -
Sprinkle the flour over the sautéed vegetables and stir constantly for about 1-2 minutes. This cooks out the raw flour taste. Slowly, and I mean *slowly*, whisk in the chicken broth, making sure to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, whisking occasionally, until it starts to thicken slightly. This is where I always get impatient, but a little patience makes for a smoother soup!
05 -
Return the seared chicken to the pot. Stir in the heavy cream, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, dried oregano, dried basil, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Give it a good stir to combine everything. Let the Marry Me Chicken Soup simmer gently for about 10-15 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the soup has thickened to your liking. Keep an eye on it; you don't want it boiling too vigorously.
06 -
Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until it’s melted and fully incorporated. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. This is the fun part, where you get to make it truly yours! Ladle the creamy Marry Me Chicken Soup into bowls and garnish with fresh chopped parsley and a little extra Parmesan. It should be rich, fragrant, and utterly comforting. Get ready for some happy sighs!