Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup

Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup

Cool weather means it's time for hot meals and this creamy chicken gnocchi soup will satisfy all your soup cravings.

With several different options for toppings — from herb-infused oil to buttery breadcrumbs to freshly shredded Parmesan cheese, there is something to garnish everyone’s bowl.

Pair a warm bowl of our creamy chicken gnocchi soup with some our sourdough bread to complete the meal. 

Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup with Herb Oil and Breadcrumbs
Start to finish: 45 minutes
Impresses: 8–12 

Ingredients

For the soup:
6 tablespoons salted butter
1 white onion, diced
3 carrots, peeled and diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
Kosher salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
4 garlic cloves, minced
¼ cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
3 cups rotisserie chicken meat, shredded
4 cups chicken stock
1 12-ounce package refrigerated gnocchi
2 ¾ cups fresh spinach
1 cup heavy cream
½ cup Parmesan cheese, shredded 

For the breadcrumbs:
2 tablespoons salted butter
½ cup plain breadcrumbs 

For the herb oil:
8 basil leaves
1 tablespoon fresh oregano
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil 

For the garnish:
Red pepper flakes, optional
Parmesan cheese, shredded 

Method

1 day in advance

For the soup:
Melt butter in a large pot with a lid set over medium heat. Add onion, carrots and red bell pepper. Add a few pinches of kosher salt and black pepper, stirring to coat. Cook until vegetables begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Add minced garlic, stirring until fragrant, about 1 minute more. Stir in flour and Italian seasoning, cooking for a few minutes to ensure the flour is no longer raw. Add chicken and chicken stock. Increase heat, cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes. Remove from heat, cool and store overnight in the refrigerator.

For the breadcrumbs:
Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in breadcrumbs and toast, stirring occasionally, until breadcrumbs are deeply golden brown. Remove from heat, and store in a sealed container until ready to serve.

For the herb oil:
Combine all ingredients in a high-powered blender, and blend until smooth. If desired, run the oil through a fine mesh sieve and discard the solids. Store in a sealed container until ready to serve.

The day of

Place creamy chicken gnocchi soup over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Stir in gnocchi, fresh spinach and heavy cream. Simmer 10 minutes, or until gnocchi are tender. Stir in Parmesan cheese and more salt and pepper, to taste.

Half & Half magazine is a food magazine celebrating dairy and those who make it. Subscribe today to get four seasonal issues per year packed with delicious recipes featuring dairy (hello milk, butter and cheese!).