Crockpot Chicken Gnocchi Soup

Ingredients

• 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 2 cup mirepoix (A simple mixture of chopped onions, celery, and carrots.)
• 1 tsp dried basil (Source specifies 1–2 teaspoons.)
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning (Source specifies 1–2 teaspoons.)
• 1 tsp poultry seasoning
• 1 tsp salt (Plus additional salt to taste at the end.)
• 4 cup chicken broth
• 3 tbsp cornstarch (Dissolved in 2 tablespoons water.)
• 2 tbsp water (For dissolving the cornstarch; additional water may be added later as needed.)
• 12 oz evaporated milk (Two 12-ounce cans.)
• 2 lb gnocchi (Two 1-pound packages, about 4 cups total.)
• 6 slices bacon (Cut into small pieces.)
• 2.5 cloves garlic (Minced; source specifies 2–3 cloves.)
• 2 cup fresh baby spinach
• black pepper (Season to taste at the end.)

Steps

1. 1

   Place the chicken breasts, mirepoix, dried basil, Italian seasoning, poultry seasoning, salt, and chicken broth in a crockpot or slow cooker.

2. 2

   Cover and cook on high for 4–5 hours or on low for 6–8 hours, until the chicken is cooked through.

3. 3

   Shred the chicken directly in the crockpot.

4. 4

   Add the cornstarch dissolved in water, the evaporated milk, and the gnocchi. Stir to combine, then replace the cover.

5. 5

   Cook for another 45 minutes to 1 hour, until the soup has thickened and the gnocchi has softened.

6. 6

   While the soup is thickening, cut the bacon into small pieces and fry it until crispy.

7. 7

   Drain the bacon on paper towels. Wipe most of the bacon grease out of the pan, leaving a little in the pan for the spinach and garlic.

8. 8

   Add the minced garlic to the pan and sauté for 1 minute.

9. 9

   Add the baby spinach and stir until it has wilted. Remove the pan from the heat.

10. 10

    Add the crispy bacon and wilted spinach to the crockpot and stir to combine.

11. 11

    Add additional liquid as needed; the source notes that about 1 cup of water may be needed once the soup begins to thicken. Season again with salt and pepper as needed.

Notes

The source describes the soup as cream-free and recommends serving it with crusty bread and a green salad. The gnocchi may absorb additional broth as the soup sits, so additional liquid can be added as needed.

Nutrition per serving

• soup
• main
• slow-cooker
• comfort food
• chicken
• creamy
• vegetable-rich