Shredded chicken, fresh potato gnocchi, and baby spinach simmer in a vegetable broth flavored with Italian seasoning, thyme, paprika, and sun-dried tomatoes. Parmesan and heavy cream finish the pot in the final five minutes. The soup takes about 45 minutes and serves 6.
Gnocchi goes in during the last five minutes, not the beginning, and that timing is what keeps each piece pillowy. Fresh potato gnocchi overcooks quickly and only needs five minutes of simmering to heat through and absorb the broth’s flavor. Any longer and the pieces bloat, turn gluey, and fall apart in the bowl.
Chopped sun-dried tomatoes go into the pot late, alongside the gnocchi and spinach, not early with the aromatics. Added late, they keep their concentrated chew and release small pockets of sweet, acidic flavor into each spoonful. Added early, they dissolve into the broth entirely and the texture contrast they provide disappears.
Easy Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup Recipe
Course: SoupsCuisine: Italian-AmericanDifficulty: Easy6
servings10
35
minutes483
kcalEasy Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup Recipe with fresh potato gnocchi, shredded chicken, baby spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, parmesan, and heavy cream. Serves 6
Ingredients
- Soup
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
¾ lb boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs
2–4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon paprika or smoked paprika
2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves (or 2 teaspoons dried)
1 pinch chili flakes
Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
4–6 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
- Finish
½ cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes
4–6 cups baby spinach
1½ cups canned coconut milk, heavy cream, or whole milk
½ cup grated parmesan, plus more for serving
1 lb fresh potato gnocchi
Directions
- Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes until fragrant. Add the carrots and celery and cook for 3 more minutes.
- Stir in the butter and flour and cook for 1 minute. Add the chicken, garlic, Italian seasoning, paprika, thyme, chili flakes, and a pinch each of salt and pepper, and toss to coat in the spices. Pour in 4 cups of broth and simmer over medium heat for 20 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.Stir in the butter and flour and cook for 1 minute. Add the chicken, garlic, Italian seasoning, paprika, thyme, chili flakes, and a pinch each of salt and pepper, and toss to coat in the spices. Pour in 4 cups of broth and simmer over medium heat for 20 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.
- Remove the chicken and shred with two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the pot.
- Stir in the spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, cream, parmesan, and gnocchi. Cook for 5 minutes until the gnocchi is warmed through and the spinach has wilted. Add extra broth if the soup is too thick.
- Serve topped with additional parmesan and enjoy warm, preferably with crusty bread.
FAQs
Can the spinach be left out or swapped for a different green?
Spinach can be left out without disrupting the soup since it’s a finish ingredient that doesn’t affect the broth. Kale is the best direct swap for a heartier green that stays firm longer in the bowl without wilting. Remove the tough stems before adding, and give kale an extra 2 minutes of simmering since it’s denser than spinach.
Can rotisserie chicken replace the raw chicken breasts?
Rotisserie chicken can replace raw, and the change speeds the recipe up by about 20 minutes. Skip the 20-minute simmer in step 2 and stir in 2 to 3 cups of shredded rotisserie chicken at step 3 instead. The broth will be slightly less rich without the raw chicken cooking in it, but the finished bowl is still full-flavored.
What should be served alongside this soup?
Crusty bread is the natural companion for a creamy gnocchi soup and handles the leftover broth in the bowl better than any side. Garlic bread or Italian focaccia fits the Italian seasoning profile of the soup without competing with its flavor. If the soup is the only dish, serve in a larger bowl and skip the side entirely.
What other creamy chicken soup covers the same comfort food territory with different vegetables?
Corn brings a different sweetness and texture to a creamy chicken bowl when leafy greens and gnocchi aren’t the focus. A creamy chicken and corn soup on this site builds a rich, sweet broth around chicken and corn kernels in a simple, satisfying way. Together the two cover the creamy chicken soup range from Italian-inspired to classically American.
What chicken pasta dish uses the same creamy sauce concept on the stovetop?
Pasta and gnocchi share the same affinity for cream sauces, and the two translate to completely different dinner occasions. A creamy chicken broccoli pasta on this site combines chicken and broccoli in a rich cream sauce tossed with pasta, no broth required. Together the two give a creamy chicken weeknight plan one soup option and one pasta option.