Budget-Friendly Slow Cooker Marry Me Chicken Soup (Easy Dinner)
This creamy, comforting chicken soup is made in the slow cooker with budget-friendly ingredients like chicken thighs, sun-dried tomatoes, and Parmesan. It’s a crowd-pleasing, hands-off dinner that tastes like a special occasion.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 hours on LOW or 3-4 hours on HIGH
- Total Time: 6 hours 15 minutes to 8 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs (680g) boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups (960ml) low-sodium chicken broth
- 14.5 oz (411g) canned diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1/3 cup (55g) oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 1 cup (240ml) heavy cream
- 1/2 cup (50g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or to taste)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
- Optional but recommended: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat with a drizzle of oil. Sear the chicken thighs for 2-3 minutes per side until golden.
- Place the seared chicken thighs in the slow cooker. Add the diced onion, minced garlic, canned diced tomatoes (with juices), chopped sun-dried tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Pour the chicken broth over everything and stir gently.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours.
- Carefully remove the chicken thighs to a cutting board. Use two forks to shred the meat. Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and cold water until smooth. Pour the slurry into the slow cooker and stir well. Let it cook uncovered for 10-15 minutes on HIGH until the broth thickens.
- Turn the slow cooker to warm or low. Stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese until melted and combined. Taste and adjust salt and pepper.
- Ladle into bowls and garnish with fresh basil or parsley and extra Parmesan if desired.
Notes
For a lighter version, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream. For a vegetarian adaptation, skip the chicken and use vegetable broth with chickpeas or white beans. To prevent cream from curdling, add it when the soup is on warm or low heat, not boiling. Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1.5
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 800
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 14
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 32
Keywords: slow cooker chicken soup, marry me chicken soup, budget-friendly soup, creamy chicken soup, easy dinner, comfort food