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Cold winter nights call for something warm, creamy, and easy enough for a weeknight. This soup has tender chicken, plenty of vegetables, pillowy potato gnocchi, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and Parmesan all simmered together in one cozy pot.
The broth is rich without feeling overly heavy, with Italian herbs, garlic, and a little paprika bringing plenty of flavor. Add crusty bread for dipping and you’ve got the kind of simple December dinner everyone can get excited about.
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When it snows all week in December it’s hard not to crave the most comforting foods. For me, that means roasted vegetables, chicken and rice, slow-simmered short ribs, and soup. Lots of soup. My favorite is probably a good broccoli cheddar, but chicken gnocchi soup is high on my list.
I made my very first gnocchi soup recipe two years ago around this time. I’ve made it multiple times since, we love the recipe! It’s a very creamy, white Italian-style gnocchi soup.
So today, I’m sharing a very creamy red version with chicken for protein. This has similar flavors to a really great sun-dried tomato chicken pasta, but in soup!
It’s full of yumminess!
Here are the steps:
In a dutch oven or large pot, start out by cooking up that onion, then add the veggies, chicken, herbs, and spices. Cooking the spices before adding in the liquid will help to intensify the flavors.
Once that’s all cooked up, stir in a pat of butter and some flour. I wanted to create a creamy soup, and the butter-flour roux helped to achieve that. In the end, you get a gnocchi soup that’s incredibly creamy. It’s fit for some of the coldest nights of the year.
Next, stir in a little chicken broth and simmer everything together to allow the chicken to cook and the flavors to mend together.
At this point, simply finish the soup with a splash of creamy milk and parmesan cheese. Then add the gnocchi and simmer for a few minutes until the gnocchi is soft.
Easy, EASY. Indulgent, but just right for this time of year, and so delicious.
As with most soups, I always recommend serving with a side of crusty bread for dipping into that creamy broth. Then add a nice side salad for color and you’ll have the perfect easy dinner.
If you’re planning to enjoy this soup leftover, be sure to first remove the gnocchi from the broth before placing in the refrigerator. That way the gnocchi won’t soak up all the broth. Then just add the gnocchi back in before serving.
FAQ
Can I use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts?
Yes. The recipe already allows either boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs. Thighs will give the soup a slightly richer flavor and especially tender texture.
How do I know when the gnocchi is done?
The gnocchi should be soft and tender when you bite into one. Avoid simmering it much longer once it reaches that point, since it can become overly soft and continue absorbing broth.
Why did my chicken gnocchi soup get so thick?
The flour and potato gnocchi both help thicken the broth, and the gnocchi can absorb more liquid as the soup sits. Stir in some of the additional broth allowed in the recipe until the consistency is creamy but still spoonable.
What’s the best way to store leftover gnocchi soup?
If you know you’ll have leftovers, remove and store the gnocchi separately from the broth when practical so it doesn’t soak up too much liquid. Reheat the soup gently, add broth if it has thickened, then return the gnocchi before serving.
Looking for other easy winter night dinners?? Here are my favorites:
Cozy Wild Rice and Orzo Chicken Soup
Creamy French Onion and Mushroom Soup
Slow Cooker Chipotle Chicken Tortilla Soup with Salty Lime Chips
One Pot Chicken and Sage Dumplings
Lastly, if you make this Creamy Gnocchi Chicken Soup, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Creamy Gnocchi Chicken Soup
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 6 carrots, chopped
- 4 celery stalks, chopped
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3/4 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 2-4 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning (see note)
- 1 teaspoon paprika or smoked paprika
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves, (or 2 teaspoons dried)
- 1 pinch chili flakes
- 1 pinch each kosher salt and black pepper
- 4-6 cups low sodium vegetable broth
- 1/2 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes
- 4-6 cups baby spinach
- 1 1/2 cups canned coconut milk, heavy cream, or whole milk
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan
- 1 pound fresh potato gnocchi
Instructions
- 1. In a large soup pot set over medium heat, combine the olive oil and onion. Cook 5 minutes, until fragrant. Add the carrots and celery. Cook another 3 minutes.2. Stir in the butter and flour, cook 1 minute. Add the chicken, garlic, Italian seasoning, paprika, thyme, and a pinch each of chili flakes, salt, and pepper. Toss to coat in spices. Add 4 cups broth. Simmer over medium heat for 20 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through. 3. Pull the chicken out and shred using 2 forks. Add back to the soup. 4. Stir in the spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, cream/milk, parmesan, and gnocchi. Cook until warmed throughout, about 5 minutes. If the soup is too thick, add additional broth. 5. Serve the soup topped with parmesan. Enjoy warm, preferably with a crusty piece of bread.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Can’t even read because the ads have gotten so bad :’( please dial them back. I wanna keep using your recipes but it’s impossible when it crashes every 5 seconds. Just some feedback ily!!
Hi Lexi,
Thanks so much for sharing your feedback! I am so sorry for any issues regarding the ads and we will certainly take this into consideration. Happy Holidays! xx
Great soup. Even my soup hating sister loves it
Hey there,
Wonderful! Thanks a lot for trying this recipe and your comment, love to hear it turned out well! Happy December:) xT
If I were to want to make this and take for a noon lunch at work, which steps/ingredients would you complete to put this in a crockpot and finish at work? What would be the timeline to do that and finish at work, i.e. when to add the rest of the ingredients and times so that it would be done in time for noon. I make gnocchi soup a lot at home, but always on the stovetop. I will be planning to make this for lunch Thursday. Thanks!
Hi Kaitlyn,
I would just follow the recipe exactly as written and then transfer to your crockpot to bring to work. Leave the crockpot on warm until you are ready to serve. I hope this helps! xx
This is the best soup I’ve ever had! Despite fall and winter being deemed “Soup season,” my husband and I make this year-round. It’s also our go-to when we have company over and everyone compliments it and always asks for the recipe. We add a cup of white wine for a little extra touch.
Hey Anna,
Happy Monday! I’m so glad you always enjoy this recipe and appreciate you making it so often! Have a wonderful week! xxT
This was ah-mazing! I made it last week, and I’m making it again already lol! A new favorite for sure.
Hey Amber,
Thanks so much:) So glad to hear you enjoyed this recipe, I appreciate you giving it a try! xT
Hi – is there a macro count for this?
Hi Marie,
So sorry, I do not have that info at this time. Please let me know if I can help in any other way! xT
Can you freeze this recipe?
It’s amazingly delicious
Thank you
Hey Fernanda,
Wonderful! So glad to hear this recipe turned out well for you, thanks for giving it a try! Sure, that will work well for you! Xx
Wonderful. Easy and delicious. A family favorite.
Hey Sarah,
Happy Wednesday! I appreciate you trying this recipe and your comment:) Love to hear that it turned out well for you! Xx
I love this recipe! It is a family staple. I add whatever veggies are on hand as well ( zucchini, yellow bells, mushrooms) and some grated ginger and curry powder. My 18 month old granddaughter actually ask for it on a regular basis! Thank you for this:)
I also do meal prep and my family asks for it each time I go!
Hey Gretchen,
Happy Sunday! So glad to hear that this dish turned out nicely for you, thanks for making it! xT
Hi T,
This came out so delicious. So easy to make. Do you think the leftovers can be frozen?
Thanks!
Cindy
Thanks so much, Cindy! Glad to hear this recipe was enjoyed:) Yes, you could definitely freeze the leftovers! xT
Thank you for this recipe! Do you have any tips on how to know when the gnocchi is cooked?
Hi Alisa,
The gnocchi will float to the top once it is cooked:) Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
This was delicious!! Thank you 😊
Hi Alegra,
Love this!! Thanks a lot for trying this recipe and your feedback! So glad it was enjoyed:) Xx
Quite good but we thought it was missing something so we added a spritz of fresh lemon juice and it was perfect
So glad to hear this soup turned out well for you, thanks for making it! Love the squeeze of lemon:) xT
Thank you for this recipe. I have made it four times so far in the last year. I’ve used rotisserie chicken canned chicken cooked chicken and today is my fifth time and I’m using raw chicken. This is the greatest chicken soup recipe. I share with a lot of people and they seem to love it and my family. Love it, thank you again
Hi Sheila,
Amazing! Thank you so much for making this soup so often and your feedback, so glad it has been turning out well for you! xT
Quick, easy to make, great with bread for dipping. I wouldn’t change a thing. And great tip to remove the gnocchi before storing so it doesn’t soak up the rest of the soup! First time i had heard that.
Thanks so much, Kica! Glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, I appreciate you making it! xT
I made this tonight. It is so amazing! This soup recipe is definitely going to be one of our favorites. The coconut milk made it so creamy and cozy and tasty! Thanks for the great recipe.
Hey Kim,
Thanks so much for trying this recipe and your comment, love to hear that it turned out well for you! Have a great Monday! xT
Great recipe. Made it for my family for dinner and had crusty bread for dipping. Definitely will make again. Thanks for a good recipe Tieghan !!
Thanks so much, Christine! Love to hear this recipe was enjoyed! Have the best Sunday! xT