Marry Me Chicken Soup

15 minutes · Serves approximately 4 generous bowls · Cook: 30 minutes · Easy

a very convincing argument for cancelling your evening plans

Chicken, sun-dried tomatoes and spinach in a creamy Parmesan broth.

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A note from Essy: This one lives or dies on restraint with the cream - 150 ml against 900 ml of stock keeps it a proper soup you can eat with a spoon, not a sauce you could serve over pasta. If it looks like it is tightening up too much as it sits, loosen it with a splash of hot stock before serving.

Ingredients

• Approx. 500 g chicken thigh
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 100-120 g sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
• 1 tbsp tomato purée
• 900 ml chicken stock
• 150 g orzo
• 150 ml cream
• 75 g Parmigiano Reggiano, finely grated
• Approx. 100 g spinach
• Italian herbs
• Chilli flakes
• Salt and pepper

Method

1. Season the chicken thighs and brown them well in the olive oil. Remove and set aside.
2. In the same pan, soften the onion.
3. Add the garlic and tomato purée and cook for a minute more.
4. Stir in the sun-dried tomatoes, Italian herbs, a pinch of chilli flakes and the chicken stock.
5. Bring to a simmer and add the orzo. Cook until nearly tender, stirring occasionally so it does not settle and stick.
6. Return the chicken to the pan and simmer until cooked through and the orzo is tender.
7. Lower the heat and stir in the cream and Parmesan. Taste and adjust the salt, pepper and chilli flakes.
8. Wilt the spinach through at the end, just before serving.

• Leftovers:Ideally keep the orzo separate when deliberately preparing leftovers - like most small pasta shapes, it keeps absorbing liquid and softening in the fridge.

Make It Yours

• Lighter: use chicken breast instead of thigh.
• More greens: stir through a handful of kale instead of, or alongside, the spinach.
• Extra sun-dried tomato flavour: add a spoonful of the oil from the jar along with the tomatoes.

Good to Know

Written by Esther

Esther is a photographer and storyteller, and the founder of Essy's Essentials - a seasonal home for stories, rituals, recipes and everyday luxuries.

Published 23 September 2026

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