Chicken Gnocchi Soup Recipe is creamy comfort food at its best! This one-pot meal is ready in 30 minutes and packed with gnocchi, vegetables, and tender chicken.

author’s note
A 30-Minute Dinner That Tastes Like Hours of Work!
Not too long ago, I asked you guys over on Instagram what kind of recipes you wanted to see more of. The top request? Easy soup recipes! And honestly, I couldn’t agree more.
That’s where this Chicken Gnocchi Soup comes in. It’s creamy, cozy, and packed with flavor, everything you asked for in a simple, weeknight-friendly soup. I use a couple of shortcuts to keep things quick, and while this one does take a few extra minutes to make a roux for the creamy base, it still comes together in 30 minutes or less.
If you’re new here and love easy soups, you’ll also want to try my Chicken Parmesan Soup and Chicken Tortilla Soup. Both are ready in about 20 minutes and are longtime reader favorites!
Ingredients
Ingredient | Swaps / Tips |
---|---|
Gnocchi | Use frozen, shelf-stable, or homemade. Cook time may vary. |
Chicken | Rotisserie chicken is fastest. Leftover grilled or baked chicken works too. |
Spinach | Kale or Swiss chard for sturdier greens. |
Cream & Milk | Half & half for a lighter soup. Add more cream for extra indulgence. |
Seasoning | Italian blend, oregano, thyme. Try rosemary or a pinch of nutmeg for variation. |
Quick Tip
Gnocchi are small, smooth dumplings, usually made from potato or flour, and served with sauce. You can find them in the pasta section of most grocery stores. Pronounced “nyow·kee” with a soft ‘y’ sound at the start.
How To Make Chicken Gnocchi Soup Recipe
- Cook veggies: Sauté onion, celery, and carrots until soft. Add garlic.
- Add butter & seasonings: Stir in seasonings and melt butter.
- Make roux: Whisk in flour, then slowly add broth until smooth.
- Simmer: Add milk, cream, bay leaf, and gnocchi. Cook until gnocchi is almost done.
- Finish: Stir in spinach and chicken, cook until spinach wilts. Remove bay leaf.
What To Serve With Chicken Gnocchi Soup Recipe:
- Crusty bread: Perfect for dipping into the creamy soup.
- Side salad: Keep the copycats going with this Olive Garden salad!
- Roasted veggies: A side of roasted vegetables complements the hearty soup.
- Cheddar biscuits: Warm, cheesy biscuits are great for soaking up the soup.
- Fruit: I love a side of this Winter Fruit Salad.
More Delicious Soup Recipes
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Crockpot White Chicken Chili
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Zuppa Toscana Soup
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Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli Soup
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Creamy Vegetable Soup
Chicken Gnocchi Soup Recipe
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup diced yellow onion
- 3/4 cup diced celery
- 3/4 cup diced carrot
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon chicken bouillon powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 6 tablespoons flour
- 3 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 (16-ounce) package gnocchi
- 2 cups baby spinach
- 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
- fresh thyme optional
- Hearty buttered bread optional
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, celery, and carrots. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 7–9 minutes until the vegetables are tender. Add minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds, stirring constantly.
- Add salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, chicken bouillon, parsley, oregano, and thyme. Stir for 15 seconds to combine. Add the butter and stir until it melts.
- Sprinkle flour over vegetables and whisk constantly for 1 minute. Gradually pour in the chicken broth, continuing to whisk until smooth and slightly thickened. Add the bay leaf, milk, and cream. Bring the mixture to a boil.
- Once boiling, add the gnocchi and cook according to package instructions, but reduce the cooking time by 1 minute.
- Reduce heat to low. Stir in spinach and chicken. Cook for 1–2 minutes until the spinach is wilted and the chicken is heated through. Remove the bay leaf and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with fresh thyme if desired. Serve with hearty buttered bread on the side.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Storage
Chicken Gnocchi Soup Recipe is best enjoyed the same day. The gnocchi tends to soak up liquid and can get mushy when stored.
If you plan to store it, cook the gnocchi separately or make a smaller batch. Freezing isn’t recommended since the gnocchi will absorb more liquid over time.
This is my second time within one week of making this recipe! I have a similar one at work from the hospital cafeteria, obviously this one is 10 times better and I double up the amount of vegetables and the amount of chicken just to make it a little more nutrient dense! I buy a rotisserie chicken from Costco and use the whole thing in this recipe! Anyone questioning whether they should make this recipe or not, absolutely do it!
Yay! I’m so thrilled to hear this! Thanks so much for sharing Emily!
Chelsea, you knocked it out of the park once again! This soup is soooo flavourful. Iโve made it a few times now, and my family LOVES it! 10/10 definitely recommend.
Yay! I am so happy to hear this! Thanks Jenna!
Thank you for the recipe, I will make this! Could I substitute arugula for spinach?
Janet
Hey Janet! You’re so welcome! That should be fine, I would just chop it up a bit and remove the stems of the arugula.
This was really good and makes a lot! I made a few small alternative like reglazing with a little wine after cooking the celery onion mixture to get all the fond up. I used smoked chicken beggar I had some in the freezer and added a diced leftover kielbasa link to clear out the fridge. At the end of cooking, the consistency was thicker than what I like so I thinned it with 1.5 cups of milk (2 %) and it came out like a clam chowder thickness. I’ll definitely make this again
I’m so thrilled to hear this! Thanks for your comment, Fiona!
Love this. Will try it soon.
I hope you enjoy! Thanks Jimmie!
6 table spoons of flour but otherwise the soup is delicious
What?
Sooo delish and easy to make. Didnโt need to worry about storing left oversโฆ.family ate it right up.
So thrilled to hear this! Thanks Deborah!
Soup
yummy soup, love gnocchi in it, have never used it in a soup. thank you!
You’re welcome! ๐