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Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup Recipe

4.5 from 127 reviews

This creamy chicken gnocchi soup is a comforting and hearty dish perfect for any season. It combines tender chicken, pillowy gnocchi, fresh vegetables, and aromatic herbs in a rich, creamy broth. Simmered to perfection and finished with fresh spinach and parmesan cheese, this soup is easy to make and sure to please the whole family.

Ingredients

Scale

Protein

  • 2 large chicken breasts (substitute shredded rotisserie chicken)

Vegetables and Herbs

  • 1 small onion (finely diced)
  • 1 1/2 cups carrots (sliced, about 34 large carrots)
  • 3 cloves garlic (minced or pressed)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh sage (finely chopped)
  • 2 teaspoons fresh thyme
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 3 cups fresh spinach

Liquids

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil (divided)
  • 1/2 cup white cooking wine (optional)
  • 4 cups chicken broth (substitute vegetable stock or water)
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice (optional)

Other

  • 16 ounces mini potato gnocchi (regular size gnocchi work too)
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions

  1. Sear the Chicken: In a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add chicken breasts and sear for about 2 minutes on each side until golden. Remove chicken and set aside.
  2. Sauté Vegetables and Aromatics: Add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to the pot. Add sliced carrots, diced onion, and minced garlic. Cook for about 5 minutes until softened and fragrant. Stir in kosher salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes (if using), fresh sage, and thyme. Cook for an additional 2 minutes to release the herbs’ flavors.
  3. Deglaze the Pot: Pour in the white cooking wine to deglaze, scraping up any browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pot to incorporate deep flavors into the soup base.
  4. Simmer the Chicken: Return the seared chicken breasts and bay leaves to the pot. Add chicken broth and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for about 20 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked through.
  5. Shred Chicken and Cook Gnocchi: Remove chicken breasts from the soup and shred them with forks. Add shredded chicken back to the pot along with the mini potato gnocchi. Simmer the soup for another 5 minutes until the gnocchi is tender and cooked through; if using frozen gnocchi, allow extra cooking time.
  6. Finish with Cream and Greens: Turn off the heat. Stir in heavy cream, fresh spinach, grated parmesan cheese, and lemon juice if using. The residual heat will gently wilt the spinach and blend the flavors.
  7. Serve: Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Serve the soup warm, ideally with crusty bread or focaccia on the side for dipping.

Notes

  • You can substitute shredded rotisserie chicken for a quicker prep.
  • If you do not have white wine, you may omit it or replace it with additional broth.
  • Using fresh herbs enhances the flavor, but dried herbs can work in a pinch—reduce quantity by half.
  • For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or whole milk, but it will be less creamy.
  • Frozen gnocchi will require a slightly longer cooking time than fresh.
  • Make sure to cook gnocchi until tender to avoid a chewy texture.

Keywords: chicken gnocchi soup, creamy chicken soup, Italian soup, hearty soup, comfort food