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Comforting, filling and delicious Beef and Gnocchi Soup
This chunky soup is worthy of an entire meal, especially when served with a hunk of Artisan bread to sop up all the delicious broth!
The cool rainy days of fall have arrived here in Virginia and that means all I want is my super-ugly, 30+ year old sweater and hearty pot of this Beef and Gnocchi Soup simmering away on the stove.
Dinners like this are some of my most favorite meals of all. With vegetables, meat, chicken or fish and a rich savory broth, it’s hard to go wrong with a great soup recipe!
How to make Hearty Beef and Gnocchi Soup:
This hybrid stew-like-soup starts with a chuck roast cut into bite-sized pieces as the base. Next, add plenty of paprika, red wine, garlic, onions, carrots and celery. After simmering for about 2 hours, stir in the potato gnocchi, fresh chopped parsley and frozen peas.
That’s it! What a terrific and delicious bowl of flavor.
OVERVIEW: Ingredients
- chuck roast – about 3 pounds trimmed of extra fat
- salt and pepper
- vegetable oil –ย used for sautรฉing the beef and vegetables
- onionsย – two large sweet onions work well here
- carrots –ย two large carrots peeled and chopped
- celery – one large stalk
- garlic – we use plenty of fresh garlic in this recipe. You’ll need 6 medium to large cloves.
- thyme – I always have fresh thyme on hand, but dried will work well in a pinch. Use half the amount of dried to fresh in this soup.
- paprikaย – you’ll need 2 teaspoons Hungarian, hot, sweet or smoky paprika. We use Hungarian paprika if we have it on hand.
- tomato pasteย – 2 tablespoons is all you need to add a punch of flavor to this soup. Leftover canned tomato paste can be frozen in 1 tablespoon size mounds and placed in a zipper bag until needed.
- red wineย – any dry red wine will do
- beef broth – ย I typically use low-sodium beef broth. Check the seasoning when the soup is done and adjust the amount of salt needed.
- soy sauceย – always a nice addition to anything beefy. You’ll need 1 teaspoon.
- red pepper flakes (optional)
- bay leaf
- cornstarch –ย for thickening the broth, just a little
- prepared potato gnocchi –ย vacuumed sealed gnocchi works well here, but fresh or homemade are great too! If you don’t have gnocchi on hand, use diced potatoes instead. Add the potatoes with the other vegetables instead of at the end like the gnocchi.
- frozen peas
- fresh parsley – for garnish and stirring in at the end
While developing this recipe for beef and gnocchi soup, I thought about our trip to Hungary.
This recipe reminded me of our trip to Budapest Hungary last spring and about how much the Hungarians love to cook with copious amounts of paprika.
We enjoyed many good meals in Budapest and one of our favorites was those big bowls of authentic Hungarian goulash. Real Hungarian goulash is not like the goulash served here in the US. It’s more like a simple beef stew with potatoes, no carrots, and generous amounts of paprika.
Not a noodle or elbow macaroni shell could be found in their goulash, and no ground beef like the recipe I remember from my childhood.ย To experience the flavors of an authentic real-deal Hungarian goulash, try our recipe!
Being the foodies that we are, our first stop in Budapest was at the Great Market Hall.
If you get the chance to visit Budapest be sure to stop by the Great Market Hall for breakfast, lunch or to do a little shopping. Don’t forget to try a bowl or two of goulash while you’re there, and a few pastries too!
In addition to some delicious eats, we found great souvenirs for the family. Vendors sell everything from prepared foods to fresh meats and fish, vegetables, fruits, breads, linens, liqueurs, spices, toys, dolls and amazing works of art.
When traveling in Hungary, buy lots of paprika to bring home!
Since we traveled by train from Hungary to Austria, and then the Czech Republic, we had to carry all our belongings to each destination. We couldn’t buy a lot of bulky trinkets as space and weight were limited. I had to be able to carry all my own bags, including camera equipment.
However I managed to buy, and bring home, loads of Hungarian paprika anyway! I stored the bags of paprika in ziplock bags stuffed in my suitcase and to this day my suitcase still smells like this earthy, sweet, exotic spice we love.
What I learned from eating in Budapest is that we obviously don’t use enough paprika in our cooking.
I was inspired to push the paprika limits in this soup and while it’s well seasoned, the soup’s not overwhelmed by paprika so no worries. Everything from the beef to the gnocchi bind together for a lovely spoon full of rich meaty soup.
I use Hot Hungarian paprika which is earthy and sweet with a warm (not burning or overly hot) bite at the end. This spice is available in the United States too so check the link at the bottom for more information.
What kind of wine is best in this soup?
I’m not a wine expert but I enjoy cooking with both red and white wines. Since I’m never able to drink an entire bottle of wine before it goes bad, I started buying mini bottles of wine that come in a 4-pack. Many large wine shops carry these individual bottles.
Check your local listings and see if you have a Total Wine in town. They carry the mini Sutter Home Cabernet Sauvignon bottles that I use in this recipe, but any dry red wine will do. If you don’t want to open an entire bottle of red, pick up a 4-pack of red wine for about $5.99.
Finally, don’t forget the crusty bread. This unique Hearty Beef and Gnocchi Soup is pure comfort food at it’s finest!
Did I mention how terrific gnocchi is in this soup?
Soft and pillowy, the texture of these potato dumplings is perfect and they take on the flavor of the soup when cooked in the broth. If you have time, try making your own Homemade Potato Gnocchi!ย Homemade gnocchi is fun to make and freezes well too. Watch the video to see how to form these pillowy soft bites of heaven.
Thanks for PINNING!
Beef and Gnocchi Soup
Ingredients
- 3 pound boneless beef chuck roast trimmed of fat
- salt and pepper
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil divided
- 2 onions chopped
- 2 carrots peeled and chopped
- 1 stalk celery sliced
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves or 1 teaspoon dried
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- ยฝ cup red wine (like Cabernet Sauvignon)
- 4 cups beef broth low-sodium
- 2 teaspoons paprika hot, sweet or smoky (I used Hot Hungarian)
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- ยผ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 cup water
- 1 pound potato gnocchi or peeled diced potatoes
- 1 cup frozen peas
- ยผ cup fresh parsley leaves minced
Instructions
- Pat the roast dry with paper towels. Remove all visible fat and any silver skin. Cut into 1-inch pieces and season with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy bottom soup pot until shimmering. Brown half the beef, about 10 minutes, and transfer to a bowl using a slotted spoon; cover to keep warm. Brown the remaining beef cubes and remove to the bowl along with any beef juices.
- Add the remaining tablespoon of oil to the now empty Dutch oven. Add the onions, carrots, and celery and cook until vegetables are softened and the onions start to brown and caramelize, about 8 minutes. Add the garlic, thyme leaves and tomato paste to the vegetables. Sautรฉ for about 30 second or until the garlic is fragrant. Stir in the wine and deglaze the bottom of the pot to remove any browned bits.
- Spoon the cooked beef into the pot along with the broth and paprika. Add the bay leaf to the soup, cover and reduce the heat to medium/medium-low. Simmer the soup, stirring occasionally, until the beef and vegetables are tender, about 1 ยฝ to 2 hours.
- Mix the cornstarch and the water until dissolved. Slowly stir the slurry into the soup. Add the soy sauce, red pepper flakes and gnocchi. Cook for 3-5 minutes or until the gnocchi is cooked through (check package directions for cooking time). The gnocchi will float to the top once cooked. Remove the bay leaf, stir in the peas and parsley and check the seasoning. Serve with crusty bread for sopping up the broth.
Recipe Notes
- If using potatoes instead of gnocchi, add them with the broth in step 3.
- Use fresh gnocchi or a vacuumed sealed package found in the pasta section of the store. If using frozen gnocchi, check the package for preparation directions.
- For this recipe I often use Sutter Home brand Cabernet Sauvignon wine.
Select sautรฉ on the Instant Pot. Pour in 1 tablespoon vegetable oil then add half the beef. Cook until browned on all sides. Transfer to a plate and repeat with remaining beef. Add the remaining oil and sautรฉ the vegetables following the directions in STEP 2. Press Cancel and return the beef to the pot. Place all remaining ingredients in the Instant Pot except the gnocchi. Lock the lid into place and set the vent valve to the sealing position. Cook on high pressure for 20 minutes. Allow 10 minutes of natural release before flipping the valve to venting to release any remaining pressure. Press cancel and then select sautรฉ again. Continue with the directions under STEP 4 until the gnocchi is cooked through. Enjoy! Nutritional information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered as an estimate. When multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.
Nutrition
Here are a few more hearty beef recipes you might enjoy:
Guinness Beef Stew Recipe –ย Tender chunks of beef are cooked, uncovered in a rich, thick and flavorful gravy with carrots and potatoes. This is a wonderful, hearty and flavorful stew thatโs super simple to make.
Homemade Vegetable Beef Soup –ย A family favorite for years and years.ย The broth is rich and tomatoey with plenty of herbs and flavor. Our recipe makes a lot of soup but it freezes beautifully.
Enjoy this rich and flavorful Hungarian Style Beef Goulash featuring super tender, slow cooked beef, potatoes, onions and a beefy broth packed with roasted red peppers, tomatoes and plenty of sweet paprika.
Originally published September 2018, updated October 2020
Destiny
Second time making this soup.it is absolutely delicious,I will be making it again and again.thankyou for such a wonderful recipeโค
Tricia Buice
Thank you Destiny! This is what I want to eat everyday – haha. LOVE everything about it. Thanks for trying it and for coming back to let us know how it turned out for you ๐
Carey
Do you have the nutritional data for this recipe?
Patricia Robinson
I do not have wine in my house is there something else I could use. Thank you
Tricia Buice
Hi Patricia. Yes you can replace the red wine with additional broth, or even a little red wine vinegar would work. I would only use half as much vinegar, so 2 tablespoons. Enjoy!
Chris
I also loved the soup, but didnโt have wine on hand. I used beef broth and a couple splashes of white vinegar. Loved the rich flavor, canโt wait to try with the red wine. Thanks for sharing!
Tricia Buice
Thanks for giving it a try Chris! I love this soup too and need to make another pot soon. So comforting and flavorful. Thanks for commenting!
Rebekah
This soup is devine!! So easy to prepare and absolutely delicious. Definitely doing it again, itโs perfect for a chilly autumn evening.
Tricia Buice
Thanks so much for giving it a try Rebekah. We LOVE this soup and could eat it once a week! Thanks for letting us know how it turned out for you ๐
Debbie Barr
I made this tonight and it was so delicious! For anyone adapting it to the instant pot, I cooked mine for 30 min on high pressure, then added in the step 4 ingredients after a 10 minute pressure release. It turned out perfect!
Tricia Buice
Thank you so much Debbie! I appreciate you sharing your tips for making this in the Instant Pot and I’m sure our readers will too! Enjoy and thanks again.
Tricia Buice
Oops – thanks for catching that Destiny. Nobody has ever mentioned it before! I corrected the recipe. Thanks a bunch!
Brenda
Made this today. It was so flavorful. I added a half cup of barley And a whole teaspoon of crushed red pepper. Thanks for the recipe. Perfect cold weather soup.
Tricia Buice
Thank you Brenda! I’ve been thinking about tweaking this basic recipe into a Beef and Barley soup – so glad you tried it out first ๐ Glad you enjoyed it.
kelly
I made this last night – all I had to stop at the grocery store for was the beef!
I can’t even explain how flavorful this broth was – with the red wine, the fresh thyme and the paprika – it was so full of punch! I sprinkled some parmesan on top and it brought a perfect amount of cheesiness (I even tried a little feta with my leftovers when I ran out of parm and it was also great!). I did add two extra celery ribs, one extra carrot and some more beef than recommended so I wasn’t surprised when the broth wasn’t very brothy – I would add more of everything next time, leftovers didn’t last long enough!
Tricia Buice
Thanks so much Kelly! What an awesome review – you said it all so well! This is truly one of our all time favorite soups. So happy you tried it and appreciate you taking the time to come back and comment. Thank you, thank you! You made my day ๐
Diane
Can you make in crockpot
Tricia Buice
Hi Diane – sure I think you could make this in the slow cooker or crockpot. I have not made this recipe in the slow cooker so I’m not sure of the timing. Low and slow would probably be great!
Shannon
If i want to serve it the next day should i add the gnocchi before serving or will it sit in fridge well?
Tricia Buice
Hi Shannon – great question. You can add the gnocchi to the soup when you make it, then immediately remove from the heat to cool and store. Or, feel free to bring the soup (without gnocchi) to a simmer the next day and add the gnocchi then. Even leftover, the gnocchi did not break down when reheated gently. Enjoy this soup – one of my all time favorites!
emily
Hi there! Do you think this recipe would work with a crock pot? Have you ever tried that before?! Looks delicious!
Tricia Buice
Hi Emily. I have not put it in the crockpot but am sure it all work. Not sure about the time because you don’t want the vegetables to be too soft. I like the meat super tender but not falling apart in the soup. Don’t add the gnocchi until the end as it only needs a few minutes. Thanks for the great question. If you try it please let us know how it turned out. Thanks so much!
Jennifer
Hello! Do you think this would freeze well? Canโt wait to try it!
Tricia Buice
Hi Jennifer. Yes the soup freezes well but I would wait to add the gnocchi until after it’s thawed and reheated. If you’re using potatoes instead of gnocchi, just undercook the whole pot of soup a little, then freeze. Gnocchi doesn’t need to be cooked very long and it’s easy just to add later. Enjoy, this is one tremendous soup!
Debbie
Thank you so much I absolutely love Hungarian food have visited by train two. The only thing I did different was instead of soy sauce I am using Maggi.s Wurze sauce.
Tricia Buice
Sounds great Debbie – glad you enjoyed this recipe!
Terri Tomlinson
Just in case you’re looking for a real deal goulash recipe my mom’s friend was from Czechoslovakia, this is her version
Two tomatoes chopped
Two onions chopped
One green pepper chopped
One pound chicken breast or stew meat
Sear meat in just a little bit of oil in a deep heavy bottomed pan, cook onion and green pepper with it until the onion begins to go a bit clear. Add the tomatoes and then add water just to cover. Add two tablespoons of paprika and half teaspoon of salt or to taste. Cook down covered on low heat stirring occasionally for about an hour and a half. Serve on fresh homemade spaetzle. I add sour cream when serving.
Tricia Buice
Thanks so much Terri! Awesome ๐
Sue
I have been on this site for over 20 minutes and cannot fine this recipe anywhere. All I can get is photos and the recipe for homemade gnocchi. I even signed up for your E-cookbook. Help!!
Tricia Buice
Hi Sue – the recipe is at the end of the post, just before the box where you left this comment. Sorry if it’s hard to find. The recipe is always at the end of the post and it is beige in color. Thanks for signing up. Let me know if you don’t find it and I’ll email it to you.
Sue
Tricia~ I found it!!! Thank you so much for your help!! I cannot wait to try this soup. I live in Florida, so I have to wait for cooler temps to make it. So glad that I found your web site! Thanks again!!
Debbie Gomez
THIS WAS DELICIOUS!!!!!! IT’S GREAT ON COLD DAY. I ADDED A COUPLE OF POTATOES. I WILL BE MAKING THIS AGAIN!!!!!
Tricia Buice
Thanks so much for giving it a try Debbie! We love this soup – so rich and hearty and I can’t wait to make it again. We truly appreciate the feedback!
Kathleen
What kind of red wine did you use? I plan to make this tonight, from Ottawa, Canada. Thanks!
Tricia Buice
Hi Kathleen – I like to use a good Cabernet for beef dishes. Thanks for the great question. This soup is so good! I hope you love it as much as we do.
Karen (Back Road Journal)
What a great idea to combine gnocchi and goulash in the same dish…it got to be delicious.
Tricia Buice
Thanks Karen! It really is terrific
Ann Phend
Can the soup with gnocchi be frozen.
Tricia Buice
Hi Ann – Yes, you can freeze the soup with or without the gnocchi. If you choose to wait and add the gnocchi after it’s thawed and reheated, that would be great. If you decide to freeze the soup with the gnocchi, add it and immediately remove the soup from the heat. You don’t want the gnocchi to overcook and become mushy. When you rewarm the soup, it will cook enough. Hope you love this soup as much as we do! Thanks for the great question.
Liz
What a yummy, comforting meal for the next chilly day! Back in the 80’s today, but I’m sure that will change soon!
Tricia Buice
We got a sneak peak of fall weather too – ready for more!
Susan
This looks incredibly delicious, Tricia! Especially with that Hungarian paprika brought home from Hungary! You’re right, I don’t use paprika often enough. This delightful soup would be a great way to break that habit ๐
Tricia Buice
Thanks Susan!
Sue | the view from great island
This sounds so wonderful, I don’t think I’ve ever had gnocchi in soup before, it sounds decadently comforting!
Tricia Buice
I just don’t know why I never added gnocchi before – it is absolutely perfect in soup! I have another gnocchi soup recipe coming soon ๐ Love it!
Gerlinde
What a perfect soup for the colder days, full of flavor and so filling.
Tricia Buice
Thanks Gerlinde – it really is wonderful.
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
Loving this hearty soup! Beef soup is always a favourite with my husband, so will be adding this one to the menu soon ๐
Tricia Buice
Thanks Jennifer – it’s so tasty!
Mandy Stills
When do you add the peas ?
Tricia Buice
Hi Mandy. The peas are added after the gnocchi is cooked. They don’t need to cook long, so they’re just stirred in when the soup is pretty much done. All the ingredients should be in order of when they are added. Enjoy, this recipe is good enough to put on repeat!
Lisa
Hi, what kind or red wine do you use? I donโt drink and am never really sure what wine to use when cooking so knowing what kind/brand to buy would be helpful. Thanks!!
Lisa
Tricia Buice
Hi Lisa! Great question – I’m going to add this info to the printable recipe card. I don’t drink a lot of wine myself but love to cook with it. I usually buy a 4-pack of mini bottles of Sutter Home Cabernet Sauvignon. Any dry red wine will do but this seems to be an all around good wine for cooking and it’s not expensive, bonus! If you use the individual serving bottles like I do, you only need to open one and you’re done! Save the other three bottles for the next recipe. They keep a very long time, too. Take care and enjoy this soup. It’s a keeper!
angiesrecipes
So comforting, comforting, and not to mention it’s deeeeeeeeeeeeeelicious with homemade gnocchi!
Tricia Buice
Thanks Angie – gnocchi is pretty magical ๐