Description
Indulge in Hearty Chicken Bacon Gnocchi Soup, a creamy and comforting dish featuring tender chicken, crispy bacon, soft gnocchi, and a rich, flavorful broth. Perfect for cozy dinners!
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 chicken breasts or thighs, diced
- 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1 package (16 oz) gnocchi
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp dried basil
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Ingredients: Cook and crumble the bacon, dice the chicken into bite-sized pieces, and chop the vegetables.
- Cook the Bacon: In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook the bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove and set aside, leaving the bacon grease in the pot.
- Sauté the Vegetables: Add butter to the bacon grease and sauté the onion, garlic, carrots, and celery until softened.
- Cook the Chicken: Add the diced chicken to the pot, seasoning with salt, black pepper, thyme, and basil. Cook until the chicken is browned and no longer pink inside.
- Make the Roux: Sprinkle flour over the mixture, stirring constantly to create a roux. Cook for about a minute to eliminate the raw flour taste.
- Add the Broth: Slowly pour in the chicken broth while stirring to avoid lumps. Let it simmer for 10-15 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
- Incorporate the Gnocchi: Add the gnocchi and cook until they float to the surface, indicating they are done.
- Stir in Cream and Cheese: Reduce heat and stir in the heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. Mix until fully incorporated and creamy.
- Add Spinach and Bacon: Stir in fresh spinach and cooked bacon, allowing the spinach to wilt.
- Final Seasoning: Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or red pepper flakes if desired.
- Serve and Enjoy: Ladle into bowls and serve warm, garnished with extra cheese or bacon if preferred.
Notes
- Dairy-Free: Use coconut milk instead of heavy cream and omit Parmesan.
- Vegetarian: Replace chicken with mushrooms or white beans and use vegetable broth.
- Spicy Version: Add a dash of cayenne pepper or extra red pepper flakes.
- Low-Carb: Swap gnocchi for cauliflower florets or zucchini noodles.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Soup, Comfort Food
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Keywords: chicken gnocchi soup, creamy soup recipe, bacon soup, comfort food, easy dinner recipe