Description
This Slow Cooker Chicken Gnocchi Soup is a comforting and hearty dish featuring tender chicken breasts, fresh vegetables, tender gnocchi, and a creamy broth enriched with Parmesan cheese and spinach. Perfect for a cozy meal with minimal hands-on time, it’s cooked low and slow to bring out deep flavors and a rich, satisfying texture.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables & Herbs
- 2 ribs celery, chopped
- 1 large carrot, peeled and chopped
- ½ medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 ½ cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped
Proteins & Dairy
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1 lb)
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Pantry
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 4 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon corn starch
- 3 cups small gnocchi (500g)
Instructions
- Prepare Slow Cooker: Line a 4-6 quart slow cooker with a slow cooker liner for easy cleanup. This will also prevent sticking and enhance the cooking process.
- Add Ingredients: Add the chopped celery, peeled and chopped carrot, finely chopped onion, dried parsley, minced garlic, dried thyme, salt, pepper, and low sodium chicken broth to the slow cooker. Stir gently to combine. Place the boneless skinless chicken breasts on top of the vegetable mixture and press them slightly into the liquid.
- Cook Chicken and Vegetables: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until the chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are tender.
- Shred Chicken: Carefully shred the chicken directly in the slow cooker using two forks or remove the chicken to a cutting board and chop it finely, then return to the slow cooker.
- Thicken Soup and Add Gnocchi: In a small bowl, whisk together the heavy cream and corn starch until smooth. Stir this mixture into the slow cooker along with the small gnocchi. Cover and cook on high for an additional 1 hour until the gnocchi are tender and the broth has thickened slightly.
- Add Spinach and Cheese: Stir in the roughly chopped fresh spinach and grated Parmesan cheese. Adjust seasoning to taste with additional salt and pepper if needed. Serve hot and enjoy the comforting flavors immediately.
- Cleanup Tip: Remove the slow cooker liner for effortless cleanup, preserving your slow cooker and saving time.
Notes
- Use a slow cooker liner to reduce cleanup time.
- For a thicker soup, you can increase the amount of corn starch slightly.
- Feel free to substitute fresh herbs if preferred, adjusting quantities to taste.
- If you do not have gnocchi, small pasta like tortellini can be used as an alternative.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 1 month.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 75mg