If you’re like me, you absolutely LOVE the idea of rich, decadent comfort food but maybe not the intense commitment usually involved. Seriously, who has time for sautéing everything before setting the timer? That’s why I took the famous, crave-worthy flavors of Marry Me Chicken and morphed them into something warm, easy, and perfect for a weeknight: the Cozy Crockpot Marry Me Chicken Soup.
This recipe embraces my philosophy that comfort food should nourish your mood without wrecking your schedule. We get that signature creamy, savory depth using simple, slow-cooked steps. It’s everything you want in a hearty bowl, proving that balanced eating and true cozy indulgence can absolutely live together in your slow cooker. Check out the About Me page if you want to read more about how I approach balanced cooking!
Why This Cozy Crockpot Marry Me Chicken Soup is Your New Favorite Slow Cook Recipe
If you need something satisfying that doesn’t require hovering over the stove, this soup is for you. It’s a true winner in the easy recipes for kids category because it’s so hands-off!
- It’s the ultimate in Dump And Go Crockpot Dinners. Toss it in before work and come home to a warm meal. Hello, Lazy Dinners!
- This method is perfect for getting deep flavor without the fuss.
Hands-Off Cooking for Maximum Flavor
That’s the beauty of using the crockpot! We skip the initial browning step because the long, slow cook time allows those garlic, tomato, and spice notes to really marry together beautifully. It’s one of those perfect Slow Cook Recipes that just gets better as time goes on.
Balanced Comfort Food
While this soup tastes incredibly rich—thanks to that cream cheese finish—it’s constructed thoughtfully. It satisfies that deep craving for comfort food but still aligns with my goal of serving up Healthy Dinner Recipes that leave you feeling great, not weighed down. It’s indulgence done right.
Essential Ingredients for Cozy Crockpot Marry Me Chicken Soup
When you’re relying on the slow cooker, the ingredients you start with really have to do some heavy lifting. Since we aren’t doing much fussing on the stovetop, we load up the crockpot with all the flavor builders upfront. Don’t worry about grabbing fancy or obscure items here; most of this is pantry friendly!
Soup Base Components
This is where the rich, savory underpinning of your soup comes from. Make sure you get those sun-dried tomatoes chopped nicely so they disperse their flavor!
- 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
- 1/2 cup chopped sun dried tomatoes
- 3 Tablespoons tomato paste
- 1.5 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cartons chicken broth (that’s 64 ounces total, use low sodium if you like)
Pasta and Chicken Additions
We use rotisserie chicken here because it’s easy, but you can use any leftover or cooked chicken breast you have handy. Also, make sure you measure out that pasta!
- 8 ounces uncooked medium shell pasta (that’s just half a standard 16-ounce box)
- 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
Finishing Ingredients for Creaminess
This is the ‘Marry Me’ magic—the stuff that makes the broth luxurious! This step happens right at the end, so everything stays perfectly creamy.
- 8 ounce block cream cheese, softened and cut into cubes (do not skip softening it first!)
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese (plus extras for topping!)
- 4 teaspoons fresh basil, chopped (plus more for serving)
Step-by-Step Instructions for Your Cozy Crockpot Marry Me Chicken Soup
Seriously, this is the easiest dinner you’ll make all week. Once everything is assembled, your trusty crockpot takes over and does all the hard work! It’s so satisfying to come back to a simmering, fragrant soup. You can check out some other great soup recipes on the site later, but first, let’s get this flavor base going.
Building the Flavor Base in the Crockpot
First stop: the bottom of your slow cooker! Dump in all your concentrated flavors: the garlic, those sweet sun-dried tomatoes, the tomato paste, and all those lovely seasonings—onion powder, Italian seasoning, paprika, and pepper. Then, pour in both cartons of chicken broth. Trust me, you want to grab a whisk here. Really whisk it around until that tomato paste is totally dissolved into the broth. This ensures that beautiful, savory foundation for your Cozy Crockpot Marry Me Chicken Soup.
Initial Cook and Adding Pasta
Now, cover it up! Set your crockpot to HIGH. You need to let it come to a good, rolling boil first, which usually takes about two hours depending on your machine. Once it’s boiling, stir in the uncooked medium shell pasta. Replace the lid, but keep an eye on it, stirring every so often. This step is crucial! Cook until that pasta is *al dente*—usually 12 to 25 minutes. Since slow cooker times are tricky, test that pasta! If it’s hard, give it five more minutes.
Achieving the Signature Creamy Finish
When the pasta is perfect, it’s time for the payoff! Turn off the heat or switch to WARM. Stir in your cubed, softened cream cheese first—this needs a minute to melt down a bit. Then, add the heavy cream, shredded Parmesan, cooked chicken, and that fresh basil. Put the lid back on for just 5 to 10 minutes, stirring gently until everything is gloriously melted and the chicken is warmed through. That’s it—you’re done!
Tips for Perfecting Your Crockpot Dishes
I love that this recipe falls right into the easy Crockpot Dishes category, but even the most hands-off meals need a couple of little tricks to ensure the texture is spot-on when serving time rolls around. Since we add that pasta right at the end, management is key!
Pasta Management in the Slow Cooker
You might notice that Step 3 asks you to get the broth boiling on HIGH for about two hours before adding the pasta. That initial high heat is super important because it ensures the liquid is hot enough to cook the shells quickly without turning them into mush during the final 15 minutes. If you skip that initial pre-boil, the pasta spends too long soaking in simmering liquid, and we end up with something closer to baby food.
Achieving the Best Consistency for Cozy Crockpot Marry Me Chicken Soup
Here’s a real-life scenario: You finish cooking, and everything looks perfect. Then, you leave the soup on the WARM setting for two hours while everyone gets home. What happens? It gets thicker! That’s the cream cheese and starch working away. If your Cozy Crockpot Marry Me Chicken Soup looks too thick when you’re ready to serve, just stir in an extra splash of heavy cream or broth until you hit that perfectly comforting, soul-soothing consistency.
Ingredient Substitutions for Healthy Crockpot Meals
I get it—sometimes you’re missing an ingredient, or maybe you’re just trying to lighten things up a bit while still keeping that deep flavor our Cozy Crockpot Marry Me Chicken Soup is famous for. Because I’m a dietitian, I always have swaps ready! These adjustments let you keep this recipe in the rotation for Healthy Crockpot Meals all year long.
If you want to explore more lighter options, I have tons of great high-protein swaps you can check out on the site, too! See my high-protein recipe roundup here.
Dairy Swaps
The heavy cream and full-fat cream cheese are what give us that signature silkiness, but we can absolutely make intelligent swaps. For the heavy cream, try using half-and-half or even evaporated milk. Just understand the trade-off: it might not be quite as rich, but it will still be wonderfully creamy. If you want to swap the cream cheese, Neufchatel cheese (often labeled as 1/3 less fat) melts beautifully and cuts the fat content nicely.
Pasta Alternatives
If you are skipping the pasta entirely, my go-to filling addition is small, finely diced potatoes—maybe a cup added right at the beginning with the broth. They break down just enough to naturally thicken the soup, which is great for low-carb days. If you need a gluten-free option, any sturdy gluten-free shell will work great in place of the medium shells in your Cozy Crockpot Marry Me Chicken Soup.
Serving Suggestions to Complete Your Cozy Crockpot Marry Me Chicken Soup
This Cozy Crockpot Marry Me Chicken Soup is absolutely a meal on its own, thanks to the pasta, chicken, and creamy richness. But every amazing soup needs a partner, right? I always look for something that gives a little textural contrast or a pop of freshness to balance out all that savory goodness.
When I serve this, especially on a chilly evening, I treat it like the main event. Here are my favorite ways to round out the meal:
- Crusty Bread for Dipping: You absolutely need something to soak up every last drop of that parmesan-laced broth! Grab a loaf of crusty sourdough or a rustic Italian bread. Slice it thick, toast it lightly, and maybe rub it with a cut clove of garlic—perfection!
- A Simple Green Side: Because the soup is so rich, I keep the side salad incredibly simple. Think mixed greens tossed with just lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper. It provides that necessary bright, acidic cut that keeps the whole meal feeling balanced.
- Extra Freshness: Don’t forget that fresh basil garnish we put in the recipe! If you’re feeling fancy, thinly slice some fresh green onions or chives to sprinkle on top just before serving. That little bit of raw bite makes a huge difference.
If you are looking for some easy side inspiration that pairs well with soups, check out my quick guide to easy snacks and small bites—some of those recipes work great as light pairings!
Storage and Reheating Instructions
The best part about this Cozy Crockpot Marry Me Chicken Soup? It tastes even better the next day! Since it’s got so much dairy and starchy pasta in it, knowing how to store and reheat it properly is key to keeping that amazing texture.
First things first: leftovers need to be put away safely. Once you are done serving for the evening, get that soup into the fridge within two hours. That keeps everything safe, especially with the chicken and cream in there. Always use an airtight container, whether it’s glass or good quality plastic. It should keep perfectly well for about three to four days.
We also need to talk about how long it can hang out in the slow cooker. Remember how I mentioned it can stay warm for a few hours? Well, the rule of thumb is to not leave it on the WARM setting for more than four hours total. After that, the pasta starts getting really soft, and the texture just suffers. If your party runs long, scoop out what you need for later and turn the crockpot off!
Reheating Secrets to Bring Back the Cozy
When it’s time for seconds, you never want to shock the soup with high heat! That can cause the cream cheese to separate or curdle, and we definitely don’t want that. The goal is gentle heat.
My preferred method is the stovetop. Ladle the amount you need into a saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir it frequently. It usually only takes 5 to 8 minutes to get piping hot again. If it seems too thick, just splash in a little extra chicken broth or water—whatever you have on hand—until it loosens up again.
If you’re just warming up a single bowl, the microwave works fine! Just use medium power settings and heat in 60-second intervals, stirring in between each blast. This slow approach prevents scorching the dairy components while getting it back to that satisfying temperature.
Frequently Asked Questions About This Recipe
I always get so many questions when readers try a new soup because slow cooker cooking times can be finicky! Here are a few things folks often want to know about making this famous Cozy Crockpot Marry Me Chicken Soup.
Can I adapt this Cozy Crockpot Marry Me Chicken Soup for the Instant Pot?
That’s a great question! While I absolutely adore my Instant Pot for quick-cooking veggies or beans, this specific recipe really shines when it gets that long, gentle simmer from the slow cooker. The initial step requires bringing the liquid to a boil on HIGH heat before adding pasta, which can be a bit awkward in a pressure cooker environment. If you try it, I’d suggest cooking the base ingredients for maybe 10 minutes on Sauté mode, then adding the broth and bringing it to pressure time for just 4 minutes before moving to the pasta step done manually on Sauté mode. Honestly? For these Lazy Dinners, sticking to the crockpot is simpler!
Is this suitable for Fall Dinner Recipes?
Oh my goodness, yes! This soup was practically engineered for those crisp, chilly evenings when you just want hearty, warming meals. It’s packed with those savory, creamy elements people crave when the weather turns. If you’re planning out your menu, consider this a top-tier choice for your Fall Dinner Recipes lineup. It smells amazing while it cooks all afternoon, too—perfect for setting a cozy mood!
What if I don’t have rotisserie chicken?
No problem at all! Rotisserie chicken is just a shortcut, and we all need those sometimes. If you’re starting from scratch, I highly recommend throwing about 1.5 pounds of raw, boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs right into the crockpot at the very beginning with the broth and spices. They will cook perfectly while the base simmers—just make sure they are fully cooked before you shred them! You might need to add an extra 30 to 45 minutes to that initial slow cook time depending on how thick your chicken pieces are. You can find my full guide on handling raw chicken in slow cookers over on the site disclaimer page if you have any doubts about temperature.
Nutritional Information Estimate
As a Registered Dietitian, I always want you to know what you’re putting into your body, even when enjoying rich comfort food like this Cozy Crockpot Marry Me Chicken Soup. Since this recipe is designed to be balanced, it packs a satisfying punch without being overly heavy!
Based on using full-fat cream cheese and heavy cream (Option A for maximum deliciousness!), here are the estimated nutritional facts per serving (this recipe makes 6 generous servings):
- Calories: Approximately 580-620 kcal
- Total Fat: Roughly 38g
- Protein: About 32g
- Carbohydrates: Around 35g
Keep in mind these numbers are educated estimates, okay? If you swap out the heavy cream for evaporated milk or use lower-fat cream cheese, those fat and calorie counts will definitely drop. Also, the amount of parmesan cheese you sprinkle on top at the end really adds up! It’s all about balancing that wonderful flavor with how you want to feel after dinner. Enjoy every spoonful!
Share Your Cozy Crockpot Marry Me Chicken Soup Experience
Wow, we made it through! You now have everything you need to whip up what might be the coziest, least complicated comfort meal in your kitchen arsenal. This Cozy Crockpot Marry Me Chicken Soup truly captures that rich, creamy feeling without demanding too much time or effort from you.
Now that you’ve tasted the magic, I really, really want to hear about it! Did your family fall in love with it? Did you try one of the dairy swaps I suggested? Don’t keep those delicious results to yourself!
Leave a star rating right down below—it helps other busy folks know this recipe is worth their time. Maybe snap a picture while you’re garnishing it with that extra parmesan we talked about. Tag me on social media; seeing your bowls of soup makes my day, knowing I’ve helped you put a truly satisfying meal on the table.
If you have any questions that weren’t covered in the FAQ, or if you just want to share a favorite dinner moment, please send a quick message through the contact page. Happy slow cooking, and I can’t wait to see how you enjoyed this creamy comfort!
Cozy Crockpot Marry Me Chicken Soup
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Add minced garlic, sun dried tomatoes, tomato paste, onion powder, Italian seasoning, paprika, and black pepper to a 5-6 quart crock pot.
- Pour in the chicken broth and use a whisk to combine the ingredients.
- Cover the crockpot and set it to high until it reaches a boil. This may take about 2 hours depending on your appliance.
- Stir in the uncooked medium shell pasta. Cook until the pasta is al dente, which takes approximately 12-25 minutes. Replace the lid and stir occasionally during this time.
- Stir in the fresh basil, cubed cream cheese, heavy whipping cream, shredded parmesan cheese, and shredded rotisserie chicken. Cover the pot. Stir occasionally until the cream cheese and parmesan are fully melted and the chicken is heated through, which takes about 5-10 minutes.
- Turn the slow cooker to a warm setting until you are ready to serve. The soup can stay warm for 3-4 hours.
- Serve the soup garnished with additional parmesan cheese and fresh chopped basil.