Grilled Chicken Parmesan Soup (Printable Version)

Hearty soup with grilled chicken, tomatoes, and melted Parmesan cheese

# What You'll Need:

→ For the Soup

01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
04 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
05 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
06 - 1 large carrot, diced
07 - 2 celery stalks, diced
08 - 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
09 - 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
10 - 1 teaspoon dried basil
11 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
12 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ For Finishing

13 - 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
14 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
15 - 1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped
16 - 1 cup garlic croutons or toasted bread cubes

# Directions:

01 - Preheat a grill pan or outdoor grill to medium-high heat.
02 - Brush chicken breasts with olive oil and season with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Grill for 6-7 minutes per side until fully cooked with internal temperature reaching 165°F. Allow to rest, then dice or shred into bite-sized pieces.
03 - In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, carrot, and celery. Cook while stirring frequently until vegetables soften, approximately 5 minutes.
04 - Add crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, dried basil, and red pepper flakes to the pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
05 - Stir in the grilled chicken pieces and simmer for another 5 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
06 - Just before serving, stir in half of the Parmesan and mozzarella cheese until fully melted and incorporated.
07 - Ladle soup into serving bowls. Top each bowl with remaining cheeses, fresh chopped basil, and a handful of garlic croutons.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen, but you're really done in under an hour.
  • The grilled chicken brings a smokiness that lifts this beyond ordinary tomato soup.
  • Melting cheese into hot broth feels indulgent without being complicated.
  • High in protein, so it keeps you satisfied and full until dinner.
02 -
  • Don't skip the resting time for grilled chicken—those few minutes let the juices redistribute, keeping the meat tender instead of stringy.
  • Stir the cheese in off the heat, not over direct flame, or you'll end up with a grainy, broken sauce instead of something silky.
  • Fresh basil on top tastes completely different from the dried basil in the soup, so don't try to skip one or the other—they serve different purposes.
03 -
  • A splash of heavy cream stirred in at the very end makes this feel restaurant-luxurious without changing the core recipe—but it's honestly optional because the melted cheese already does that job.
  • Rotisserie chicken from the grocery store lets you skip the grilling step entirely and still get something that tastes homemade and intentional.
Go Back