Chicken and Gnocchi Soup

Cozy, creamy, and downright delicious, this Chicken and Gnocchi Soup is just what you want to warm you up on a chilly night! With nutritious veggies, tender chicken, and delicious gnocchi, this soup feeds a crowd and will warm your soul.

Why You’ll Love This Easy Chicken Gnocchi Soup

• Pure Comfort in a Bowl. This rich, thick, and creamy soup with plump rounds of gnocchi, tender chunks of chicken, and a sneaky number of vegetables, is my take on the Olive Garden chicken gnocchi soup. Like this Chicken Alfredo Bake, it’s a downright scrumptious comfort food meal that the entire family will enjoy.
• Great for Busy Weeknights. Like my Broccoli Cheddar Soup, this soup is fast and easy enough for a weeknight. We used ready-made, quick-cooking gnocchi (meaning you don’t need to cook gnocchi before adding it to soup) and sauteed the meat and veggies first so that the soup didn’t need to simmer as long.
• It’s Delicious Left Over. When the weather is chilly, nothing makes me happier than opening my fridge to find a surplus of cozy, hearty leftover soup. This creamy chicken gnocchi soup is a favorite (along with Healthy Turkey Chili and Pasta Fagioli)! It will last in the refrigerator for a few days and freezes well too.
• A Nutritious Family Favorite. With veggies, chicken, and that can’t-get-enough-of-it flavor, no one will complain about enjoying this chicken and spinach gnocchi soup on repeat!

How to Make Chicken Gnocchi Soup

The Ingredients

• Gnocchi. Although gnocchi is commonly thought of as pasta, gnocchi is actually a potato dumpling. Like pasta, you can serve it with a variety of sauces and toppings, and of course, use it to make the most delicious spin on chicken soup. (For a traditional version of chicken soup with pasta, try this Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup.)
• Chicken Breast. For lean protein, I used boneless, skinless chicken breasts. The chicken adds rich flavor to the soup and helps make it super satisfying. (This Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup is another satisfying favorite.)

• Carrots + Celery + Onion. Frequently referred to as a mirepoix, this combination of ingredients helps build the soup’s flavor right from the start.
• Evaporated Milk + Cornstarch. My sneaky swap for heavy cream also lets me avoid making a roux with flour. Instead, a slurry with evaporated milk and cornstarch thickens the soup like a dream but with less saturated fat and cholesterol than heavy cream.
• Spices. Italian seasoning, dried thyme, and poultry seasoning enhance the flavors of the soup, add wonderful earthiness, and give it Italian flair (like my Crockpot Lasagna Soup). A dash of celery salt adds saltiness with a special touch, and black pepper is always delicious.
• Chicken Broth. The main liquid for our soup. I like to use low sodium chicken broth.
• Baby Spinach. The spinach is barely noticeable once it’s stirred into the soup. However, you will still reap the nutritional benefits from it.

The Directions

1. Brown the Chicken. Remove it to a plate.

2. Sauté the Mirepoix. Don’t let the onion brown!

3. Make the Slurry. Whisk cornstarch into evaporated milk.

4. Simmer. Add the spices and garlic. Pour in the slurry, milk, and broth.

5. Stir in the Gnocchi. Let simmer for 8 to 10 minutes more.

6. Add the Chicken. Remove the pot from the heat.

7. Stir in the Spinach. ENJOY!

Storage Tips

• To Store. Refrigerate soup in an airtight container for up to 3 days. 
• To Reheat. Gently reheat soup in a pot on the stovetop over medium-low heat, adding splashes of broth or water as needed to thin the soup. You can also reheat leftovers in the microwave. 
• To Freeze. Chicken gnocchi soup can be frozen for up to 3 months. Freeze soup in an airtight, freezer-safe storage container. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. 

What to Serve With Chicken and Gnocchi Soup

• Bread. This soup was made for dunking! Try my No Knead Focaccia, Crock Pot Bread, or Rosemary Olive Oil Bread.
• Salad. Soup and salad is a classic. Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad, Burrata Salad, or Arugula Salad would be wonderful with this soup.
• Vegetables. Pair this soup with Roasted Broccolini, Air Fryer Zucchini, or Sauteed Spinach.
• Crackers. If you prefer serving your soup with crackers, these Ranch Crackers are a delightful option.

Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe

• Stockpot. Standard for all your soup simmering needs when the cold weather arrives.
• Dutch Oven. Another great option for making large batches of soup on the stovetop.
• Chef’s Knife. Essential for everyday chopping, dicing, and mincing.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

• Find Your Preferred Consistency. This soup cooks up THICK, which is exactly how we love it (think of it as an Italian version of Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings). If you prefer it thinner, stir in additional chicken broth, milk, or water until you reach your desired consistency.
• Make it Meat-Free or Vegetarian. You can omit the chicken from this recipe if desired. The soup will still be tasty and filling without it. If you need the soup to be vegetarian, you can also swap the chicken broth for vegetable broth.
• Gnocchi Quality Matters. Good store-bought gnocchi is melt-in-your-mouth tender; bad gnocchi is chewy and gummy. Don’t waste your time on bad gnocchi (for this recipe or this One Skillet Butternut Squash Gnocchi with Italian Sausage).

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