Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup

Ingredients

• 1 lb boneless chicken thighs or breast (shredded after cooking)
• 1 cup carrots (shredded)
• 2 celery stalks (diced)
• 1 medium onion (diced)
• 5 garlic cloves (minced)
• 2 cups spinach (chopped)
• 0.25 cup butter (divided for chicken and roux)
• 0.25 cup flour
• 2 tbsp olive oil (divided; 1 tbsp for chicken, 1 tbsp for vegetables)
• 4 cups chicken stock
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1.33 cup heavy cream
• 16 oz gnocchi
• 0.5 tbsp chicken bouillon paste
• 4 pieces bacon (chopped, for topping)
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 2 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp basil
• 1 tsp thyme
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• salt and pepper (to taste)
• parsley (for garnish)
• Parmesan cheese (for garnish)
• pepper flakes (for garnish)

Steps

1. 1

   In a large pan, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil and a portion of the butter over medium heat.

2. 2

   Add the chicken to the pan and cook until browned and cooked through, about 7-10 minutes.

3. 3

   Remove the chicken from the pot, shred it, and set it aside.

4. 4

   In a large Dutch oven, add the remaining olive oil and butter.

5. 5

   Add the diced onion, shredded carrots, and diced celery to the Dutch oven. Cook for about 5-7 minutes, or until the vegetables begin to soften.

6. 6

   Add the minced garlic and stir for one minute until fragrant.

7. 7

   Add the flour and mix until well combined to create a roux.

8. 8

   Pour in the chicken broth and chicken bouillon paste, stirring to combine.

9. 9

   Add the milk and heavy cream, and stir until well combined.

10. 10

    Add in the seasonings (garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, basil, thyme, and smoked paprika), using about 1 1/2 tsp of the combined spice mix or seasoning to taste.

11. 11

    Add the shredded chicken and chopped spinach to the pot and mix until well combined.

12. 12

    Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Let it cook for about 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.

13. 13

    Stir in the gnocchi and cook according to the package instructions (usually about 5 minutes). The gnocchi will float to the top when they are done.

14. 14

    Serve the soup hot and garnish with fresh parsley, Parmesan cheese, chopped bacon bits, and red pepper flakes.

Notes

The recipe mentions using the same seasonings from the chicken in the soup (1.5 tsp each), suggesting you can season the chicken with a portion of the spice blend before cooking for extra flavor.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• soup
• chicken
• gnocchi
• creamy
• winter
• comfort food