Description
Delightful chicken parmesan soup brings classic Italian flavors into a comforting bowl of warmth. Rich ingredients meld together, creating a satisfying meal that satisfies hearty appetites and provides pure culinary pleasure.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450 g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 4 cups (1 liter) chicken broth
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
- 1 cup (100 g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup (100 g) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 can (14 oz / 400 g) crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup (100 g) uncooked pasta
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
Instructions
- Base Preparation: Nestle chicken breasts in the slow cooker with crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, onions, garlic, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Gently blend ingredients to ensure harmonious flavor distribution.
- Slow Infusion: Allow the mixture to simmer on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours, transforming chicken into tender, flavor-packed morsels.
- Meat Transformation: Delicately shred chicken using two forks, creating soft, bite-sized pieces. Reintroduce the shredded meat back into the aromatic liquid.
- Creamy Enhancement: Fold in heavy cream and Parmesan cheese, then add uncooked pasta directly into the warm broth, enabling it to absorb the rich, robust essence.
- Pasta Integration: Cook on high for 20-30 minutes, monitoring pasta until it reaches perfect al dente texture. Stir in mozzarella cheese, allowing it to melt into a silky, luxurious consistency.
- Serving Finale: Ladle the creamy soup into warm bowls. Drizzle with a whisper of olive oil, sprinkle freshly chopped basil, and serve alongside crusty bread for a soul-warming dining experience.
Notes
- Optimize Chicken Tenderness: Slice chicken breasts evenly to ensure uniform cooking and prevent dry, tough meat during the slow cooking process.
- Manage Pasta Absorption: Add pasta in the final 20-30 minutes to prevent overcooking and maintain ideal texture; short pasta varieties like rotini or shells work best for consistent absorption.
- Control Cream Consistency: Reduce heat and stir gently when adding cream to prevent curdling; lower-fat alternatives like half-and-half can be substituted for a lighter version without compromising richness.
- Customize Dietary Needs: Transform the recipe into a gluten-free option by using gluten-free pasta or replacing pasta with cauliflower rice; for a lower-carb version, swap pasta with zucchini noodles or reduce overall pasta quantity.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 455
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg