Description
Hearty crockpot chicken parmesan soup brings comfort from Italian kitchens to home dining tables. Creamy textures and rich marinara combine with tender chicken, melted cheese, and perfectly seasoned broth for a satisfying meal you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs)
- 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes
- 4 cups (32 fl oz) chicken broth (low sodium)
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup small pasta (ditalini, rotini, or penne)
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese, shredded (for serving)
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar (optional, adds depth)
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp dried basil
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional for heat)
- ½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ cup fresh basil or parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preparation: Merge chicken, tomatoes, broth, onion, garlic, and seasonings in the crockpot, crafting a robust flavor foundation for the hearty soup.
- Slow Cooking: Cover and let the mixture simmer on LOW for 6 hours or HIGH for 3 hours, allowing chicken to become perfectly tender and infused with rich flavors.
- Meat Transformation: Remove chicken, methodically shred using two forks into delicate morsels, then reintegrate into the aromatic liquid.
- Pasta Integration: Introduce uncooked pasta directly into the crockpot, continue cooking on HIGH for 15-20 minutes, gently stirring to ensure uniform texture and prevent clumping.
- Flavor Elevation: Enrich the soup’s complexity by incorporating Parmesan cheese and a touch of balsamic vinegar, blending thoroughly to distribute nuanced taste elements.
- Serving Finale: Ladle the steaming soup into bowls, crown with melted mozzarella and fresh basil leaves, creating a visually appealing and delectable culinary presentation.
Notes
- Optimize Chicken Tenderness: Slice chicken breasts into even, smaller pieces before slow cooking to ensure uniform cooking and maximum flavor absorption.
- Prevent Pasta Clumping: Stir pasta gently every 5-7 minutes during cooking to avoid sticking and maintain consistent texture throughout the soup.
- Adjust Liquid Consistency: Add extra broth if soup seems too thick, or let it simmer uncovered to reduce and concentrate flavors if too thin.
- Customize Dietary Needs: Swap regular pasta with gluten-free or whole wheat options, and use low-sodium broth for health-conscious variations of the recipe.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4-6 hours (low) / 2-3 hours (high)
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg