Description
Crockpot Marry Me Chicken Orzo Soup is a comforting and creamy slow-cooked soup featuring tender chicken breasts, delicate orzo pasta, and a flavorful broth enriched with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, Italian seasoning, and Parmesan cheese. This easy, hands-off recipe is perfect for busy days or cozy evenings, delivering rich layers of flavor with minimal effort and customizable options to suit dietary preferences.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2–3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
- 1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley or basil, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare your ingredients: Chop the sun-dried tomatoes and mince the garlic. Measure out the Italian seasoning and Parmesan cheese. Trim any excess fat from the chicken breasts to ensure even cooking.
- Combine broth and seasonings: Pour the chicken broth into the crockpot. Add the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and chopped sun-dried tomatoes, stirring to mix all the flavors together.
- Add chicken breasts: Place the chicken breasts directly into the flavored broth in the crockpot. Cover and set to cook on low.
- Slow cook for 4-6 hours: Let the soup cook slowly to allow the chicken to become tender and soak up the seasoning, developing a deep, rich flavor.
- Shred chicken and add orzo: Remove the chicken breasts, shred them finely using two forks, then return the shredded chicken to the crockpot. Add the orzo pasta at this stage to prevent overcooking.
- Add cream and Parmesan: Stir in the heavy cream (or half-and-half) and Parmesan cheese for a luscious, creamy texture. Cook on high for an additional 20-30 minutes until the orzo is tender and the soup is well combined.
- Finalize and serve: Adjust seasoning to taste. Garnish with fresh parsley or basil and optionally drizzle with olive oil or sprinkle additional Parmesan before serving.
Notes
- Don’t overcook the orzo: adding it after shredding the chicken prevents it from becoming mushy.
- Use quality chicken broth for the best flavor.
- Shred chicken finely so it blends seamlessly into the soup.
- Adjust seasoning at the end to balance salt and herbs perfectly.
- Ensure your crockpot size is appropriate to avoid overcrowding and uneven cooking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4-6 hours
- Category: Soup
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (about 1.5 cups)
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg
Keywords: crockpot soup, chicken soup, creamy soup, orzo soup, comfort food, slow cooker recipe, easy dinner, family-friendly soup
