Italian Chicken Gnocchi Soup

This Italian Chicken Gnocchi Soup is thick and hearty and full of flavor. Tender pieces of chicken, fluffy gnocchi, sweet sun dried tomatoes and nutritious spinach all cook in a savory and creamy broth that is infused with tomato and Italian seasonings. It is pretty simple to put together and makes a great dinner! Just add some garlic bread for dunking.

Gnocchi are like little pasta pillows made with potato. They are perfect in this Italian Chicken Gnocchi Soup and in this Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup.

Gnocchi

Gnocchi is a type of Italian pasta or dumpling. As opposed to an American dumpling that are large and fluffy, these are little pillow like pastas that are dense and traditionally made with potato.

The word gnocchi is derived from the word “nocca”, meaning knuckle. Which makes sense because if you look at the pasta it does kind of resemble a knuckle!

The actual pronunciation of gnocchi can be a divisive conversation… so I will just tell you how I say it – “ny-oh-key”.

I have only tested this recipe with store-bought potato gnocchi. However you could also make your own! There are two types of gnocchi:

1. Ricotta Gnocchi
2. Potato Gnocchi

Ingredient Details

Chicken: Opt for boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs for this soup. You can either poach the chicken in the broth/water or use pre-cooked chicken, like rotisserie chicken, for added convenience. Shred the warm chicken with two forks or in a stand mixer for a rustic texture.

Gnocchi: Gnocchi are small Italian dumplings made from potatoes, flour, and sometimes eggs. You can find them fresh, frozen, or dried in the pasta aisle of most grocery stores.

Broth: Use a good-quality chicken broth as the base for this soup. You can use store-bought broth or homemade stock.

Sun Dried Tomatoes: Opt for a sun dried tomato packed in oil. You can use this oil to sauté the veggies, adding extra flavor to the soup.

Vegetables: Classic Italian vegetables like carrots, celery, onion, garlic and spinach add color, flavor, and nutrients to the soup.

Herbs and Seasonings: We add a ton of flavor to this Italian chicken Gnocchi Soup with herbs and seasonings; a mix of Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, onion powder, kosher salt, and black pepper. Add a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese before serving adds a delicious finishing touch.

Tomato Paste: Makes for a tomato flavored broth in this Italian soup.

Chicken Base: If you are making a chicken soup from Mom’s Dinner, chances are it is going to include Chicken Base. It is like a flavor punch for any recipe. We prefer the Better Than Bouillon brand. It comes in a paste form in a glass jar. It can be found in the soup aisle at the grocery store.

Evaporated Milk: This is a great product to use when you are making a creamy soup, We use this product in soups like this Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup and Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup.

Make sure you buy Evaporated Milk, which will come in a can and be the consistency of milk, and not Condensed Milk, which will be super sugary and the consistency of caramel.

How To Make Italian Chicken Gnocchi Soup

1. Heat 2 tablespoons of reserved sun dried tomato oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onions, carrots, and celery, and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.

2. Stir in the chopped sun dried tomatoes, minced garlic and seasonings. Cook for an additional minute until fragrant.
3. Stir in the tomato paste, chicken base and flour and stir around the pan for another minute.
4. Pour in chicken broth and deglaze the bottom of the pot. Bring the pot to a simmer. Simmer for 15 minutes.

5. Add the chopped cooked chicken, baby spinach, evaporated milk and gnocchi. Cook over medium-low heat for 5-10 minutes.

6. Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with grated Parmesan cheese and additional herbs, if desired.

More Italian Inspired Recipes for Dinner

---