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Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup with a silky, creamy broth, tender chunks of chicken, loads of fresh spinach and pillowy soft gnocchi. This soup is comforting, easy to make and super satisfying!
Are you a fan of Olive Garden Restaurant soups? While this didn’t start out to be a copycat recipe, it must be pretty close! We were so thrilled with our Hearty Beef & Gnocchi Soup recipe I decided to bring gnocchi to a pot of creamy chicken soup too. I started with a base from our delicious Chicken Pot Pie Soup and then added shredded carrots instead of diced and loads of fresh baby spinach. The vegetables are crisp tender, the gnocchi is dreamy soft but not falling apart, and the broth is flavorful and surprisingly light.
We enjoy eating out sometimes but often find the sodium content in restaurant meals to be a little high.
I try to watch my salt intake daily, and all those other things I shouldn’t be eating regularly, but one bowl of OG soup has about twice the sodium I usually consume in one day. While our soup recipe needs a little salt, I find adding loads of fresh ground black pepper and plenty of fresh thyme to be the magic makers.
Sometimes creamy soups with chicken can be a little bit flavorless, but not this soup! It doesn’t taste milky or bland, and I don’t think you need a lot of salt to add flavor.
You can use whole milk or half-and-half or a combination of both. Chicken broth or chicken stock is fine too.
I enjoy making soups with the gnocchi found in the pasta section of the grocery store. It’s vacuumed sealed and keeps without refrigeration for a long time. However, if your store carries fresh pasta, you might look there for a package of gnocchi too. And if you’re looking for a little dumpling fun, try making your own with our Homemade Potato Gnocchi Recipe complete with how-to video!
Using pre-made gnocchi instead of potatoes is a wonderful way to speed up the process of soup making.
The onions and celery are finely diced, and the carrots are shredded so the vegetables cook quickly. Gnocchi is cooked through in just a few minutes and spinach wilts almost immediately in the hot broth. Using shredded rotisserie chicken or pre-cooked chicken breasts is the final key to cooking this soup up in less than 30 minutes.
And, leftover Chicken Gnocchi Soup is fantastic!
P.S. Don’t forget to serve with a big piece of crusty bread to dunk in the broth, it’s heavenly!
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Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup
Ingredients
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 large onion diced
- 2 stalks celery finely diced
- 1 large carrot peeled and shredded
- â…“ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves or 1 teaspoon dried
- 4 cups chicken stock or low sodium broth
- 2 cups half-and-half or whole milk
- 1 pound package prepared gnocchi
- 3 to 4 cups diced chicken breast cooked (about 3 small breasts)
- 3 cups sliced fresh baby spinach leaves packed
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a heavy bottom Dutch oven or soup pot, over medium heat. Add the onion and celery and sauté until the vegetables are slightly soft, about 5 minutes. Add the carrots, flour and thyme leaves and stir until all vegetables are covered in the flour. Continue cooking and stirring the vegetable/flour mixture for 2-3 minutes. Stirring constantly, gradually add the chicken broth. Bring the soup to a simmer then reduce the heat to low, cover the pot and simmer (stirring occasionally) until the vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes.
- Remove the lid and add the half-and-half, gnocchi, chicken and spinach. Cook gently (do not boil) until the gnocchi rises to the top and the chicken is warmed through, about 5 minutes. Taste and season with salt and plenty of black pepper, as needed. Serve immediately with crust bread for dipping.
Recipe Notes
- You can find gnocchi in the dried pasta section of most grocery stores. Look for a vacuum sealed package.
Nutrition
Here are a few more of our favorite hearty soups you might also like:
You’re going to love this comforting, filling and delicious Hearty Beef and Gnocchi Soup. Our chunky soup is worthy of an entire meal, especially when served with a hunk of crusty bread to sop up all the delicious broth! Click HERE to get the recipe for Hearty Beef and Gnocchi Soup.
Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup  – this delicious soup checks all the boxes for a perfect bowl of fall comfort food. It’s creamy and hearty with a nutty bite from the wild rice and a wonderful, flavor packed broth. Click HERE to get the recipe for Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup.
Hearty Chicken Pot Pie Soup ~ a creamy chicken soup with potatoes, peas, onion, celery and carrots. Â All the flavors of a homey chicken pot pie without the crust! Click HERE to get the recipe for Hearty Chicken Pot Pie Soup.
Favorite Kitchen Tool Spotlight:
There’s nothing like making a big pot of soup in a heavy, enameled cast iron Dutch oven. This less expensive brand performs well and is great for everything from browning, braising, stewing and for making casseroles and even bread! This Dutch oven works well on all types of stove tops such as gas, electric, glass stovetop, it’s induction safe and oven safe to 500ºF. Click on the photo for more information.
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Thanks so much for stopping by! Â Tricia
Julie says
Such a comfort soup is! And this one is no exception — SO good. This recipe is a keeper. I made it for the first time a couple nights ago and took some out to a sick friend and her family. They loved it and she asked me for the recipe. Thanks for posting it.
Tricia Buice says
Thanks for trying this recipe Julie! It’s one of my favorites. You are a wonderful friend to others and they are blessed to have you in their life. Thanks again!
Cindy Alcorn says
This is my go to Pinterest pin for this recipe! I absolutely love it! Now I am planning on trying to make the gnocchi from scratch:)
Tricia Buice says
Thank you Cindy! So glad you enjoyed the soup. Making homemade gnocchi is fun and easy. Hope you give it a go 🙂
Pamela Allard says
Absolutely delicious! My husband loved it. Going in the rotation. Thank you for the wonderful recipe.
Tricia Buice says
Thank you Pamela! So glad you both enjoyed this luscious soup 😉
KAREN says
Husband diabetic is ot possible to nutrional value
Tricia Buice says
Hi Karen – I don’t have that information on my site yet. Still working on it.
Debbie says
Delicious! Only change I made was to add a little bit of poultry seasoning!
Tricia Buice says
Oh, I love that idea Debbie. I bet the poultry seasoning added a nice punch of flavor – thanks for sharing! I’m going to try your tip 🙂
mimi rippee says
I love this soup! I don’t think I’ve ever put gnocchi in soups before. Tortellini, yes, but not gnocchi. I have no idea why not! Plus, it’s so pretty. Love the spinach in it, also.
Tricia Buice says
Thank you Mimi – you are so sweet. I know you’re going to love gnocchi in soup – it’s just wonderful!
Susan says
Sometimes I forget when I’ve commented on IG or here 🙂 I loved this the second I saw your photo on IG. It truly looks delicious and so comforting on a cool, damp evening.
Tricia Buice says
You are so sweet Susan – and I appreciate you reading and commenting very much! Have a lovely weekend.
Gerlinde says
What a great soup for the cooler days. I love the gnocchis in it.
Tricia Buice says
Thanks Gerlinde – we do too!
sue | the view from great island says
Loving your gnocchi soups, I’ve got to try, they sound so comforting!
Tricia Buice says
Thanks Sue – we’re all about the soup these days 😉
Chris Scheuer says
Whoa… what a beautiful and hearty soup! It looks good enough to serve at a dinner party!
Tricia Buice says
Thanks Chris – it’s so good 🙂
Monique says
I need to buy gnocchi..have spotted many good recipes:) I won’t tell you what happend to my last chicken soup:(
Tricia Buice says
Sorry about your soup Monique – you might be surprised how many recipes I go through until I’m happy with the final version. I bet you’ll love gnocchi in soup – it’s so pillowy soft. Yummy stuff!
angiesrecipes says
What a wonderfully creamy and flavourful soup! And as always, great shots, Tricia!
Tricia Buice says
Thanks Angie – so loving soups these days!
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers says
What a lovely soup and I’m loving bringing gnocchi to the soup bowl. I’ll be putting this one on the menu soon 🙂
Tricia Buice says
We are smitten with gnocchi in soups Jennifer. Hope you give it a try and thanks 😉
Larry says
Good looking soup Tricia. I’ve been meaning to buy some gnocchi to give them a try in something.
Tricia Buice says
Thanks Larry – hope you get the chance to make this luscious soup!