Let your slow cooker make dinner for you: the whole family will enjoy Crock-Pot Chicken Gnocchi Soup as a filling meal.
I’m not a huge fan of the chain restaurant Olive Garden, but if we go, I do enjoy their chicken gnocchi soup with the unlimited breadsticks and salad. Their soup is creamy, filling, and pairs perfectly with the soft, garlicky breadsticks and crisp salad. Since we don’t eat out a lot, it seems like the slow cooker would be a great way to make a version of this soup at home.
Because they cook low and slow, slow cookers are ideal for soups. The lower temps and longer cooking time let the flavors mingle and marry, resulting in soups that are full of flavor and depth. Crock-Pot chicken gnocchi soup is a great option to make in your slow cooker.
You will love Crock-Pot chicken gnocchi soup because it is a delightful variation on the comfort food classic chicken noodle soup and is a hands-off dish, perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekends. This isn’t one of those slow-cooker recipes where you have to do a bunch of pre-cooking or browning; it is truly a dump-and-go kind of recipe using chicken and fresh veggies. The taste is great, too. The flavor profile is similar to chicken noodle soup, with the addition of fresh spinach and heavy cream. Crock-Pot chicken gnocchi soup is a dressed-up version of this comfort classic. The pillowy gnocchi provide the starch, and the onions, garlic, carrots, celery, and fresh spinach give color and texture to the creamy chicken broth layer.
Get to know gnocchi
Gnocchi (pronounced “NYOW-kee”) are small (acorn-sized) potato dumplings that are popular in many Italian dishes. They are made from cooked potatoes, flour, and eggs, and there are all kinds of wonderful regional variations throughout Italy. They do not need much cooking time and have a soft, pillowy texture that soaks up creamy sauces and broths particularly well. You can buy them pre-packaged in the pasta aisle of your grocery or make your own and keep them on hand to use in recipes like this one.
How do I store leftovers?
Once cooled, leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can also store the dish in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before gently reheating on the stove.
Serving suggestions
Crock-Pot chicken gnocchi soup is a hearty, stick-to-your-ribs kind of soup. It can definitely be a main dish, especially on a cold winter’s night. You can go the Olive Garden route and serve with warm breadsticks or homemade Ciabatta Bread spread with Garlic Butter. While the soup is finishing in the slow cooker, throw together a salad. A crisp Green Salad works well, while Arugula Caprese Salad is a zesty contrast to the soup. You can also serve this soup as a starter to a larger meal of roasted pork loin or Lasagna if you’re feeding a crowd.
Crock-Pot Chicken Gnocchi Soup
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 medium yellow onion diced
- 2 ribs celery chopped
- 2 medium carrots peeled and chopped
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 3/4 teaspoon dried basil
- 3/4 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Freshly ground black pepper plus more for serving
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 1/4 cups heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch dissolved in 2 tablespoons water
- 1 pound potato gnocchi
- 2 1/2 cups fresh baby spinach
Instructions
- Place the chicken breasts, chopped onion, celery, carrots, garlic, dried basil, oregano, nutmeg, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and chicken broth in a Crock-Pot.
- Cover the pot and cook on low for 6 hours until the chicken is tender.
- Temporarily remove the chicken from the Crock-Pot and use two forks to shred it. Return it to the pot.
- Slowly whisk together the heavy cream and cornstarch slurry. Stir into the Crock-Pot along with the potato gnocchi. Cover and cook on high for 30 minutes until the gnocchi are soft.
- Stir in baby spinach until wilted. Adjust seasonings as needed. Ladle into bowls and sprinkle with black pepper if desired before serving.
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