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Why You’ll Love My Recipe

A soup that’s both filling and genuinely satisfying can be surprisingly hard to find, but this one delivers on every level. With tender chicken, soft gnocchi, fresh spinach, and a rich, creamy broth, every spoonful is hearty, comforting, and packed with flavor! This nourishing soup feels like a full meal in one bowl, and it’s perfect for cozy nights when you want something warm and nutritious.

If you have a little extra time, learn How to Make Crock Pot Bone Broth for the soup base – it adds even more richness! And don’t forget to serve your soup with my Classic Homemade Garlic Bread for the perfect meal.

Reader Review

You can make the soup as directed, and it is very good. I tried making it with shrimp instead, and it was fantastic. The chicken and shrimp gnocchi were both great. Will definitely be making again.

– Elaine

Karlynn’s Recipe Notes

Skill Level: This recipe is super easy to make and uses plenty of simple ingredients you might already have on hand.
Total Time: You’ll have this comforting soup on the table in just 35 minutes.
Variations: For extra depth of flavor, sauté a tablespoon of tomato paste with the vegetables or stir in some finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes for a slightly sweet, tangy touch. Instead of boiling the gnocchi directly in the soup, you can also pan-fry them in a little butter until lightly crisped, then add them to each bowl right before serving. Pair your soup with a Classic Wedge Salad, some Roasted Broccoli, or my Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Sandwiches for a full-on feast!
Tools For This Recipe: You will need a large pot, a spoon or spatula for stirring and sautéing, a measuring cup, a whisk, a grater for the cheese, and a ladle for serving.

A bowl of creamy chicken and gnocchi soup with pieces of chicken, gnocchi, carrots, celery, and spinach, served with a bread roll on a white plate. Another bowl and bread are in the background.

What You’ll Need for Ingredients

Chicken: This soup uses cooked chicken, ideally chopped into small cubes, but you can really use whatever type of cooked chicken you prefer. Karlynn’s Tip: Want to switch things up? Try using leftover pork or even beef instead for a different flavor twist.

Potato Gnocchi: Gnocchi is easy to find at most grocery stores and is usually very budget-friendly. This is one of those recipes where store-bought gnocchi is both easier and honestly just as good as homemade!

Various ingredients are arranged on a white surface, including bowls of gnocchi, spinach, sliced carrots, chopped celery, cubed chicken, diced onion, seasonings, parmesan cheese, garlic, olive oil, milk, broth, and flour.

Vegetables: Onion, celery, garlic, carrots, and baby spinach create the hearty vegetable base of the soup. Karlynn’s Tip: Frozen vegetables are incredibly convenient, usually pre-cut, and can be stored for months until needed. Frozen onion, celery, and carrots work especially well here, just thaw them before cooking. However, avoid frozen spinach for this recipe, as it can create a watery texture in the soup!

Chicken Broth: Chicken broth brings all the ingredients together and gives the soup its rich, savory taste. Combined with the half-and-half, Parmesan cheese, and cornstarch slurry, it creates the creamy texture that makes this soup so comforting.

Seasonings: Salt, pepper, ground thyme, and cayenne add both warmth and flavor. Karlynn’s Tip: Feel free to add extra seasonings like paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, or your favorite spice blend to customize the taste.

How To Make Chicken Gnocchi Soup

This is a quick overview of the recipe. The full list of ingredients & complete step-by-step instructions are in the recipe card below.

A white pot contains sautéed carrots and celery. Surrounding it are bowls of gnocchi, cubed chicken, spinach, broth, shredded Parmesan, and various spices on a white marble counter with a red-striped dish towel.

In a large pot over medium heat, add the oil and the carrots, celery, onion, and garlic.
Sauté until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes.
Stir in the cubed chicken, ground thyme, and chicken broth, then bring it to a simmer.
Add the gnocchi into the soup and cook until they begin to float, about 3 to 4 minutes.
In a measuring cup, add the cold water and cornstarch, whisking until mixed. Add this to the soup and stir quickly until combined.
Add the cream to the soup and stir gently, then sprinkle in the Parmesan cheese and spinach, and stir.
Cook until the soup thickens slightly, about 5 minutes.
Season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of cayenne for heat.
Serve the soup hot with fresh cracked pepper on top and a sliced baguette on the side.

A close-up of a spoonful of creamy chicken and vegetable soup, featuring chunks of chicken, spinach, carrots, potatoes, and grated cheese, held above a bowl of the same soup.

Karlynn’s Tips and Tricks for the Perfect Chicken Gnocchi Soup

Skip Homemade Gnocchi: While homemade gnocchi sounds impressive, it’s honestly one of those foods that’s usually better left to the store-bought version – especially for soup. Making gnocchi from scratch can be messy, time-consuming, and tricky to get just right, and once it’s simmering in a rich soup like this, the difference is barely noticeable anyway!
Focus on Homemade Flavor Elsewhere: If you really want to elevate this soup, your time is better spent making homemade chicken broth or roasting your own chicken instead. Both will add incredible flavor to the soup, and you’ll likely have extra chicken left over for other meals, too!
Choose the Chicken Texture You Like Best: This soup works with all kinds of cooked chicken. If you’re not a fan of pre-cubed chicken because of the texture, try shredded chicken instead for a more natural bite. Store-bought cooked chicken breasts work beautifully, or you can use leftover roast chicken from another dinner to make this recipe even easier!

A white pot filled with creamy chicken soup containing carrots, spinach, and herbs sits on a countertop near a red-striped towel, with bread, garlic, bowls, glasses of water, and salt and pepper shakers in the background.

Storage Instructions

This chicken gnocchi soup makes amazing leftovers and tastes even better the next day once the flavors have had more time to come together!

Refrigerator: Let the soup cool completely, then store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Keep in mind that the gnocchi will continue to soften as it sits in the broth. Reheat gently on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally.

Freezer: Because of the cream and gnocchi, the texture may change slightly after freezing. If you plan to freeze the soup, it’s best to leave the gnocchi out and add fresh gnocchi when reheating. Store the soup in freezer-safe containers for up to 2 months following USDA food safety guidelines. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating slowly on the stovetop!

More Delicious Soup Recipes

Who doesn’t love a good bowl of soup? If you’re looking for more cozy Soup Recipes to get you through the colder months, try one of these next:

My Creamy Sausage Potato Soup is rich, decadent, and surprisingly easy to make!
Creamy Potato & Hamburger Soup is comfort food at its absolute best – the whole family loves this one.
This Cheesy Cream of Cauliflower Soup is a great way to use up cauliflower and can easily be made low-carb, too!

And there you have it, folks! This creamy, hearty soup is packed with savory flavor in every bite. Between the tender chicken, pillowy gnocchi, and fresh spinach, you’ll find yourself craving it again and again all soup season long.

Make a big pot, grab some garlic bread, and settle in with a bowl while it’s hot! I can’t wait to hear how everything came together in the comments below.

Happy Cooking!

Karlynn

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