Creamy Chicken Soup (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Main Components
01 -
1 package (5 oz) baby spinach, chopped roughly
02 -
20 oz pack of cheese-filled tortellini from the fridge
03 -
2 1/2 pounds chicken breasts, bone-in and skin-on
→ Aromatics and Tomatoes
04 -
6 oz can of thick tomato paste
05 -
2 teaspoons garlic, minced (about 2 cloves)
06 -
A large yellow onion, chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
07 -
2/3 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, plus a tablespoon of the oil
→ Dairy and Cheese
08 -
1 1/2 cups shredded Parmesan cheese (4 1/2 ounces)
09 -
1 cup of rich heavy cream
10 -
1 1/2 cups shredded Havarti cheese (6 ounces)
→ Liquids and Seasonings
11 -
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
12 -
8 cups of chicken stock or broth
13 -
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
14 -
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
15 -
2 teaspoons of kosher salt, divided
16 -
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning blend
# Instructions:
01 -
Over medium-high heat, warm the oil from the sun-dried tomatoes in a big pan. Sprinkle salt (1/2 tsp.) and pepper on the chicken. Cook each side for three minutes to brown them, then move the pieces to the slow cooker.
02 -
Use the same pan to cook up the onion until golden, about five minutes. Toss in the garlic and let it cook for two more minutes. Add the tomato paste, stirring it around for 2-3 minutes until it smells amazing.
03 -
Pour 1 cup of broth into the pan, scraping up all that nice brown stuff on the bottom. Dump this into the slow cooker along with the rest of the broth, salt, and seasonings.
04 -
Cover the slow cooker and leave it to do the work. Cook on LOW for 5-6 hours, or on HIGH for 3-4 hours, until the chicken is cooked through. Take the chicken out, let it cool just a bit, then pull it apart, tossing the bones and skin.
05 -
Toss the tortellini, spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes into the slow cooker. If it’s not already on HIGH, switch it over. Cook for about 10 minutes until the pasta is soft. Add the lemon juice.
06 -
Pour the cream in and slowly mix in the cheeses until they melt completely. Stir the shredded chicken back into the slow cooker, then taste and tweak the seasoning if needed.
# Notes:
01 -
If your chicken doesn’t move when you try flipping it, let it cook for 1-2 more minutes before trying again.
02 -
To avoid curdling, wait for the tortellini to be fully cooked before you add the cream and cheese.