Okay, so I need to tell you about this soup that literally made my husband propose again. Just kidding, but he did say “if you weren’t already my wife, I’d marry you for this soup.” Which is… basically the same thing, right?

Look, I’m gonna be honest with you. I stumbled onto this Marry Me Chicken Meatball Soup recipe completely by accident last month when I was trying to use up some ground chicken before it went bad. You know that panic when you realize the meat’s been sitting in your fridge for three days? Yeah, that was me on a rainy Tuesday evening.

How I Actually Discovered This Recipe :

So everyone’s been obsessed with Marry Me Chicken for like, forever now. But here’s the thing… I got tired of making the same pan-seared chicken breasts. Don’t get me wrong, it’s delicious, but sometimes you want something you can eat with a spoon while curled up on the couch. Am I the only one who thinks soup is the ultimate comfort food?

Anyway, I had this random idea. What if I turned the whole concept into meatballs? And then dumped everything into soup? My neighbor thought I was crazy when I told her. She was like “that’s too much work” but honestly? It’s not. Actually, it’s way easier than the original because everything cooks in one pot.

The first version was… interesting. Let’s just say I used way too much cream and it turned into this weird thick paste situation. My 6-year-old took one look and said “Mom, that looks like glue.” Kids are brutally honest, aren’t they?

Why This Marry Me Chicken Meatball Soup Actually Works :

Here’s what makes this soup absolutely amazing:

The meatballs stay super tender because they cook directly in the broth. No dry, sad meatballs here.

That creamy sun-dried tomato sauce? It literally coats every single bite.

You can make this on a weeknight. Start to finish, about 35 minutes. Maybe 40 if your kids are “helping.”

It tastes fancy but uses totally normal ingredients from the grocery store.

Leftovers somehow taste even BETTER the next day. (Learned this the hard way when I tried to save some for lunch and my husband ate it all for breakfast.)

Ingredients for Marry Me Chicken Meatball Soup :

Okay, shopping time. Most of this stuff you probably already have, except maybe the sun-dried tomatoes. Good luck finding good ones this time of year – I usually grab the Trader Joe’s ones in oil because they’re already soft and flavorful.

For the Meatballs:

1 pound ground chicken (I use thighs because they’re juicier, but breast works too)
1/3 cup breadcrumbs (Italian seasoned if you have them)
1 egg
3 cloves garlic, minced (I’m obsessed with garlic, so I use like 5 cloves honestly)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan (don’t buy the pre-shredded stuff in a can. Just don’t. It’s gross and doesn’t melt right)
Salt and pepper
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

For the Soup:

2 tablespoons butter (or olive oil if you’re being healthy… but butter is better)
1 small onion, diced (makes me cry even through sunglasses, weird right?)
4 cloves garlic, minced (yes, more garlic)
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, chopped (drain them first unless you want an oily soup)
4 cups chicken broth (use the good stuff, not that watery nonsense)
1 cup heavy cream (I’ve used half-and-half when trying to be healthier, works fine)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 cups fresh spinach (my kids actually eat this and don’t complain!)
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Red pepper flakes if you like a little kick

How to Make Marry Me Chicken Meatball Soup :

Step 1: Make the Meatballs

Mix all your meatball ingredients in a bowl. Now, here’s the thing – don’t overmix it or the meatballs get tough. I learned this from my mom who makes the best meatballs ever. Just combine until everything sticks together.

Roll them into balls about 1.5 inches wide. I get roughly 16-18 meatballs. They’ll look small but they puff up when cooking. Set them aside on a plate.

(Pro tip: Wet your hands slightly when rolling. Keeps the meat from sticking to your fingers. You’re welcome.)

Step 2: Start the Soup Base

Heat butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add your diced onion and cook until it’s soft and translucent – maybe 4-5 minutes. Try not to burn it. I always get distracted and almost burn the onions because I’m usually unloading the dishwasher at the same time.

Throw in the minced garlic and sun-dried tomatoes. Cook for like a minute until your kitchen smells absolutely incredible. This is the moment my husband usually wanders in asking “what are you making?”

Step 3: Add Liquids and Meatballs

Pour in the chicken broth and Italian seasoning. Bring everything to a gentle simmer. The key is—oh wait, I forgot to mention—don’t boil it aggressively or the meatballs might fall apart. Gentle simmer, okay?

Carefully drop your meatballs into the simmering broth. They’ll sink at first, totally normal. Cover the pot and let them cook for about 12-15 minutes. They’re done when they float to the top and aren’t pink inside. (Cut one open to check if you’re paranoid like me.)

Step 4: Make It Creamy

This is where the magic happens. Lower the heat and stir in the heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. Stir until the cheese melts and everything looks smooth and dreamy.

Taste it. Does it need more salt? More garlic? More cheese? (The answer is always more cheese, honestly.)

Add the fresh spinach and stir until it wilts down. Takes like 30 seconds. If you burn the bottom at this point (been there), just scrape it off and keep going. No one will know.

My Honest Tips for Perfect Marry Me Chicken Meatball Soup :

Don’t skip the sun-dried tomatoes. I know they seem fancy and unnecessary but they’re literally what makes this taste like Marry Me Chicken. Without them, it’s just… regular meatball soup.

Make extra meatballs. Seriously. Freeze them for next time. Future you will be so grateful.

Add pasta if you want. Sometimes I throw in some small pasta like orzo or ditalini to make it more filling. Just cook it separately and add it at the end because cooking pasta directly in cream-based soups can get weird.

Serve with crusty bread. You’re gonna want something to soak up all that creamy sauce. I usually buy the take-and-bake baguettes from the grocery store bakery section. (Trust me on this one.)

Actually, you know what? If you have picky eaters, this soup is surprisingly kid-friendly. The meatballs feel like fun, the cream makes everything mild and non-threatening, and the spinach mostly disappears. My kids call it “special chicken ball soup” and fight over who gets more.

Storing and Reheating :

Leftovers keep in the fridge for about 3-4 days. Reheat gently on the stove with a splash of extra broth or cream because it thickens up overnight. Don’t microwave it on high or the cream might separate and look weird. Low power, stir occasionally.

Can you freeze it? Ehh, I’ve tried and the cream doesn’t always come back together perfectly. The meatballs freeze great though. So maybe freeze the meatballs separately and make fresh soup when you want it?

Wait, I almost forgot – if you make this for company, they’re gonna ask for the recipe. Just warning you. Last month I had friends over and they literally pulled out their phones to take notes. It’s that good.

Why You Need This in Your Life :

Here’s my final pitch: This Marry Me Chicken Meatball Soup is cozy, creamy, and honestly tastes like you spent hours on it. But you didn’t. It’s just one pot, about 40 minutes, and ingredients you can grab at any grocery store.

It’s become my go-to when I need something comforting but don’t want to deal with complicated cooking. Plus, there’s something really satisfying about serving soup that makes people go “wow, this is restaurant-quality” when you know it’s just chicken, cream, and a little bit of love. And garlic. Lots of garlic.

If I can make this without setting off my smoke alarm (which happens more than I’d like to admit), anyone can.

Let me know how yours turns out! Seriously, try this and tell me what you think. I’m curious if anyone else’s husband makes the same “I’d marry you again” joke or if that’s just my weird life. 😊

Happy cooking! (And may your meatballs stay intact and your cream not separate!)