This high-protein Marry Me white bean soup is creamy, cozy, and packed with chicken, cannellini beans, spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes. It comes together in one pot in about 30 minutes, making it an easy protein-forward dinner for busy weeknights.
If you enjoy comforting chicken dinners, explore our high-protein chicken recipes for more easy ideas.
Why You’ll Love This High-Protein Marry Me White Bean Soup
- Protein-forward: chicken and white beans make this soup satisfying without relying on a huge amount of cream.
- One-pot dinner: everything cooks in a single Dutch oven or large saucepan.
- Weeknight friendly: using cooked chicken keeps the total time around 30 minutes.
- Comforting but balanced: spinach and beans add vegetables and fiber to the creamy broth.
Ingredients
You need cooked chicken breast, cannellini beans, baby spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, onion, garlic, chicken broth, Parmesan, a little cream, olive oil, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Choose low-sodium broth so you can control the seasoning at the end.
How to Make Marry Me White Bean Soup
1. Build the flavor base
Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven. Cook the onion until softened, then add garlic, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and sun-dried tomatoes. Stir briefly until fragrant.
2. Add broth, beans, and chicken
Pour in the chicken broth, then add drained cannellini beans and shredded cooked chicken. Bring everything to a gentle simmer and cook for about 10 minutes so the flavors come together.
3. Make it creamy
Reduce the heat. Stir in the cream and Parmesan until the cheese melts into the broth. Keep the soup at a gentle simmer rather than a hard boil after adding the dairy.
4. Finish with spinach
Add the baby spinach and stir just until wilted. Taste and adjust salt, pepper, or red pepper flakes. Serve hot with fresh basil or a little extra Parmesan if desired.
High-Protein Marry Me White Bean Soup
Ingredients
Method
- Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until softened, about 4 minutes. Stir in the garlic, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and sun-dried tomatoes; cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in the chicken broth. Add the cannellini beans and shredded cooked chicken. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 10 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream and Parmesan until the cheese melts and the broth is creamy. Do not let the soup boil vigorously.
- Add the baby spinach and stir until just wilted, about 1 to 2 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Serve with fresh basil or extra Parmesan if desired.
Notes
Easy Variations
Extra vegetables: add chopped zucchini or mushrooms with the onion. More heat: increase the red pepper flakes. Lighter broth: reduce the cream and add a splash more chicken broth. Bean-forward version: add another can of cannellini beans and slightly reduce the chicken.
Meal Prep and Storage
Cool leftovers before refrigerating them in an airtight container. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding a splash of broth if the soup thickens. For another practical make-ahead chicken meal, try our Chicken Quinoa Meal Prep Bowls.
Estimated Nutrition per Serving
Approximate per serving (1 of 4 bowls): 520 calories, 44 g protein, 34 g carbohydrate, 25 g fat and 9 g fiber. Assumes two 15-oz cans of cannellini beans drained and rinsed (about 480 g total), 12 oz cooked skinless chicken breast, 1/2 cup heavy cream, 1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan (about 50 g), 1/2 cup drained sun-dried tomatoes and low-sodium chicken broth. Extra Parmesan, garnishes and changes in brands or drained weights can affect the totals.
Nutrition is estimated from typical ingredients and USDA FoodData Central reference values, not measured in a laboratory. Check ingredient labels for a closer estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is this Marry Me white bean soup high in protein?
It combines chicken breast and cannellini beans, two protein-containing ingredients, in the same meal. Exact nutrition depends on the brands and serving size you use.
Can I use rotisserie chicken?
Yes. Shredded rotisserie chicken is a convenient shortcut. Remove the skin and add the cooked chicken when you add the beans and broth.
Can I make this soup ahead of time?
Yes. Prepare it ahead, cool it promptly, and refrigerate it in an airtight container. Reheat gently and add a splash of broth if needed.
What are the best white beans for this soup?
Cannellini beans are ideal because they are creamy and hold their shape well, but great northern beans also work.
Can I make Marry Me white bean soup without heavy cream?
Yes. You can use a lighter cream or reduce the amount and add extra broth. The final texture will be less rich but still flavorful.
Is this soup spicy?
It has only mild heat from red pepper flakes. Reduce or omit them for a milder soup, or add more if you prefer extra heat.
Bottom Line
This high-protein Marry Me white bean soup turns simple pantry staples and cooked chicken into a creamy one-pot dinner that’s easy enough for a weeknight. The beans, chicken, spinach, Parmesan, and sun-dried tomatoes give it plenty of texture and flavor without making the recipe complicated.
Nutrition will vary depending on the chicken, beans, broth, cream, Parmesan, brands, and serving sizes used.
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