Warm your heart and fill your belly with this delightful Slow Cooker Chicken Gnocchi Soup, featuring juicy chicken and pillowy gnocchi. Simply add everything into the crockpot and let it simmer to perfection for a dinner that’s effortlessly delicious.
Get ready to cozy up with a bowl of happiness with this Slow Cooker Chicken Gnocchi Soup! Very similar to the popular Olive Garden chicken gnocchi soup, this hearty delight is like a warm hug in a bowl!
It features tender chicken, fluffy gnocchi, and a medley of tender veggies all in a savory broth. Perfect for any occasion, whether it’s a chilly evening on the couch or a get-together of friends—this soup is sure to be the star of the show!
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The best part? It takes 15 minutes to prep then you can toss everything into your trusty slow cooker. Crockpot soup recipes are tough to beat! It'll do the work while you kick back and put your feet up!
Need it made even quicker, follow my stovetop directions below. With this soup warming your belly and brightening your evening, you’ll be counting down the hours until the next delicious bowl.
Be sure to check out more of our soups that warm the soup! My Copycat Dolly Parton’s Stampede Soup and Lasagna Soup are two of my easy go-to feel good food soups!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll like this Recipe
- Easy Recipe: Simply throw everything into the slow cooker and let it work its magic! Slow cooker chicken and gnocchi soup is perfect for a busy day!
- Comforting and Hearty: This creamy soup is filling thanks to the chicken and gnocchi, making it a great option for a satisfying dinner.
- Flavor-Packed: The combination of seasonings along with fresh spinach and Parmesan adds layers of flavor that you’ll crave again and again.
- Customizable: Adjust the ingredients to this chicken gnocchi soup recipe to suit your taste—add more veggies, spice it up, or make it creamy according to your preference!
Ingredients
Scroll Down for Ingredient Amounts Listed in the Recipe Card Below
- Chicken Broth: Forms the savory base of the soup. Chicken stock can also be used
- Shredded Carrot: Provides natural sweetness and vibrant color.
- Garlic Powder: Delivers a subtle garlic flavor that rounds out the dish.
- Onion Powder: Offers an oniony flavor while keeping prep easy. Fresh diced onion works as well.
- Flaky Poultry Seasoning: A mix of savory spices that complements the chicken and adds warmth to the soup.
- Dried Basil: Adds a hint of herbaceous flavor.
- Boneless, Skinless Chicken: Provides protein and heartiness. Boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts will work.
- Cornstarch: Used as a thickening agent to create a nice creamy texture.
- Milk: Contributes creaminess and a rich flavor to the broth.
- Gnocchi: Pillowy soft gnocchi makes this soup filling and comforting.
- Fresh Baby Spinach: Adds a pop of color, freshness, and nutritional benefits.
- Parmesan Cheese (not pictured): Sprinkled on top, it adds a savory, rich finish.
Tools You’ll Need
- Crockpot
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Liquid Measuring Cups
- Chef’s Knife
- Cutting Board
- Meat Chopper
- Cheese Grater
How to Make Slow Cooker Chicken Gnocchi Soup
- To a large Crockpot, stir together broth, carrots, celery, garlic powder, onion powder, flaky poultry seasoning, basil, salt, pepper and chicken.
- Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
- Uncover and either break apart the chicken inside the Crockpot with a meat chopper or transfer to a bowl, shred with 2 forks, and return to the Crockpot.
- In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and milk.
- To the Crockpot, stir in the cornstarch slurry, gnocchi, and spinach.
- Set the Crock pot to the high setting, if not already set on high. Cover and cook until the potato gnocchi is cooked through (15-20 minutes). They will float to the top when finished.
- Stir in the parmesan cheese. Taste and adjust seasonings to preference. Garnish with parmesan cheese and crushed red pepper flakes.
Stovetop Chicken Gnocchi Soup
To make this on the stove top, simmer step 1 ingredients until the chicken is cooked through. Shred, then add remaining ingredients. Cook until the gnocchi is tender.
Make this easy soup recipe even quicker on the stovetop by using a leftover chicken or a rotisserie chicken. Bring step 1 ingredients to a simmer. Add the cornstarch/milk mixture and gnocchi. (NOTE: If you're using pre-packaged gnocchi, check the package directions for recommended cook time. Some brands require only 5 minutes, so make sure you don't over cook them or they'll dissolve.)
Once thickened and gnocchi tender, add shredded chicken and spinach. Cook until the chicken is heated and spinach has wilted. Lastly, add the parmesan cheese.
How to Serve Slow Cooker Chicken Gnocchi Soup
Some delicious topping options for Slow Cooker Chicken Gnocchi Soup to add extra flavor, texture, and visual appeal are toasted pine nuts, grated parmesan cheese, cracked black pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, drizzle of olive oil, crispy bacon, crispy prosciutto, crispy pancetta, or fresh herbs like parsley or basil. My homemade croutons are also an excellent touch!
A nice crusty bread or Dolly Parton Biscuit are perfect for dipping. This soup is also excellent to have with a sandwich! Some of our favorites are a Pimento Grilled Cheese, Party Sub Sandwich, and Down Under Chicken Sliders!
If you are a fan of the Olive Garden copycat recipes like this on, Crockpot Olive Garden Chicken Pasta will also be a hit.
Pro Tips and Substitutions
- Make a Thicker Soup. For an extra creamy texture, you can add more cornstarch slurry as needed. You can also opt to thicken it with half and half, heavy cream, or heavy whipping cream.
- Swap the Chicken Options. Boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs will work. Feel free to use leftover or rotisserie chicken instead; just add it in for the last 30 minutes.
- Add some Vegetables. Try adding diced bell peppers or peas for added flavor and nutrition.
- Use Low-Sodium Chicken Broth. Low-sodium chicken broth can also be used.
- Swap out the Gnocchi. You can substitute store-bought gnocchi with homemade or other similar pasta if desired. Mini penne shells or rotini works great as well!
- Seasoning Options. Feel free to adjust the seasoning according to your taste preferences. Fresh garlic, Italian seasoning, and herbs can be used in place of dried.
- More Cheese Options. Romano cheese can be used in addition to or along with parmesan for extra richness.
Storage
Once leftovers have cooled, store in the refrigerator in an airtight container up to 4-5 days.
While you can freeze leftovers up to 2-3 months in a freezer-safe container, it can compromise the texture of the gnocchi. Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and then reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave.
Frequently Asked Questions
It's recommended to use pre-thawed chicken for more even cooking, but frozen chicken can be used as well. Simply adjust the cooking time as needed.
Absolutely! Here's a link a homemade gnocchi recipe!
Absolutely! You can add vegetables like green beans, mushrooms, peppers or peas for added flavor and nutrition. Just chop them into small, bite-sized pieces and add them to the Crockpot.
If the soup is too thin despite the cornstarch you’ve already used, you can add more. Simply stir together 1 tablespoon cornstarch and 1 tablespoon water or milk then add to the soup.
Yes, you can use pre-cooked chicken, such as rotisserie chicken. It's excellent for making it on the stovetop. Add the pre-cooked chicken towards the end of the cooking time to prevent it from overcooking and becoming dry.
More Recipes Like This
- Cheesy Chicken Alfredo Soup
- Green Chicken Enchilada Soup
- Copycat Dolly Parton’s Stampede Soup
- Loaded Vegetable Soup
Slow Cooker Chicken Gnocchi Soup
Ingredients
- 48 ounces chicken broth regular or low sodium
- ¾ cup shredded carrot
- ½ cup diced celery
- 2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoon flaky poultry seasoning (½ teaspoon if using ground)
- 2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1-2 teaspoon salt
- 1-2 teaspoon white or black pepper
- 2-2 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, breasts or tenderloins
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 cups milk
- 16 ounce package ready-made mini gnocchi
- 6 ounces fresh spinach
- ½ cup parmesan cheese plus more for garnish
- Garnish: crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- To a large Crockpot, stir together broth, carrots, celery, garlic powder, onion powder, flaky poultry seasoning, basil, salt, pepper and chicken.
- Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
- Uncover and either break apart the chicken inside the Crockpot with a meat chopper or transfer to a bowl, shred with 2 forks, and return to the Crockpot.
- In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and milk.
- To the Crockpot, stir in the cornstarch slurry, gnocchi, and spinach.
- Set the Crockpot to the high setting, if not already set on high. Cover and cook until the potato gnocchi is cooked through (15-20 minutes).NOTE: Check pre-package gnocchi directions for the recommended cook time. Some brands require only 5 minutes, so make sure you don't over cook them or they'll dissolve.
- Stir in parmesan cheese. Taste and adjust seasonings to preference. Garnish with parmesan cheese and crushed red pepper flakes.
Video
Notes
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- To make this on the stovetop, simmer step 1 ingredients until the chicken is cooked through. Shred, then add remaining ingredients. Cook until the gnocchi is tender.
- Make this soup even quicker on the stovetop by using a rotisserie chicken. Bring step 1 ingredients to a simmer. Add the cornstarch/milk mixture and gnocchi. Once tender and thickened, about 15-20, add the shredded rotisserie and spinach. Cook until the chicken is heated and spinach has wilted. Lastly, add the parmesan cheese.
- If you can't find gnocchi, you could substitute with a small pasta like mini penne shells or rotini.
- If you want to add a creamier or thicker texture, the milk can be substituted with half & half or heavy cream.
- Feel free to adjust the seasoning according to your taste preferences. Fresh garlic and herbs can be used in place of dried.
- Romano cheese can be used in addition to or along with parmesan for extra richness.
- Consider adding a dollop of pesto, a sprinkle of grated cheese, or a drizzle of olive oil when serving for added flavor and pizzazz.
- Breadsticks or French bread are excellent dippers for this soup!
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Denise B.
Sounds delicious..I would love to make this for my bunco group..if I substitute milk for half and half or heavy cream would I still use cornstarch? Also would this serve 8 ? I thought 7 sounded odd. Thank you, Denise B.
Laura Ashley
Hi Denise! 🙂 You can use half and half, heavy cream or milk. Just add a cornstarch slurry if it's not the thickness that you'd like. The amount it will serve will more-so depend on how much guests eat. If your bunco group is like the ones I've been too, there's several dishes, so it would feed 8 no problem in that case.