Description
Hearty crockpot chicken gnocchi soup brings comfort straight from Italian kitchens to dinner tables. Creamy potato dumplings mingle with tender chicken, creating a rich, warming bowl that beckons hungry souls to savor each spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) chicken breasts or thighs (boneless, skinless)
- 4 cups (946 ml) chicken broth
- 1 16 oz (454 g) package potato gnocchi
- 1 ½ cups (355 ml) half-and-half or heavy cream
- 1 cup (240 ml) shredded carrots
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 cup (240 ml) fresh spinach, chopped
- ½ cup (120 ml) chopped celery
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) cornstarch + 2 tbsps (30 ml) water (optional, for thickening)
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- Optional toppings: grated Parmesan, fresh parsley
Instructions
- Crockpot Preparation: Layer chicken, aromatic vegetables, herbs, and seasonings into the slow cooker, then pour chicken broth over the ingredients, ensuring even distribution and maximum flavor infusion.
- Slow Cooking Process: Seal the crockpot and allow ingredients to simmer gently on LOW temperature for 6-7 hours or HIGH temperature for 3-4 hours, transforming chicken into tender, succulent morsels and melding herb-infused flavors.
- Protein Breakdown: Carefully extract chicken from the liquid, delicately shred using two forks, then reintegrate the pulled meat back into the developing soup base, maintaining its rich, hearty character.
- Final Enrichment: Introduce pillowy gnocchi and creamy half-and-half into the simmering liquid, continuing cooking to ensure pasta achieves perfect tenderness while simultaneously creating a luxurious, velvety texture.
- Verdant Finish: Incorporate fresh spinach leaves, allowing them to delicately wilt and release their vibrant green color; optionally enhance soup’s consistency by whisking cornstarch with water and gently stirring into the mixture.
- Presentation: Ladle the sumptuous soup into serving bowls, garnishing with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley for an elegant, restaurant-quality presentation that elevates this comforting dish.
Notes
- Choose boneless, skinless chicken breasts for tender, easily shreddable meat that absorbs flavors beautifully.
- Add gnocchi in the last 30-45 minutes of cooking to maintain perfect texture and prevent overcooking.
- Use cornstarch slurry sparingly to control soup thickness without compromising rich, creamy flavor profile.
- Swap chicken broth for vegetable broth, use gluten-free gnocchi, and replace half-and-half with coconut milk for alternative diet versions.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-7 hours (low) or 3-4 hours (high)
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 60mg