Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup

A ridiculously luscious chicken soup with chopped baby spinach and pillowy potato gnocchi dumplings. Overall this soup is pretty effortless and I love to use leftover chicken, which makes whipping up this soup a cinch. A hearty soul-warming soup on your table in no time.This recipe yields (1 cup) servings.

📝 Ingredients

• 16 ounces potato gnocchi
• 4 cups half & half (see notes)
• 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 4 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3/4 cup diced yellow onion
• 1 medium carrot (or 1/2 cup, sliced into half-moons)
• 2 ribs celery (or 1/2 cup, sliced)
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
• 6 tablespoons unbleached all purpose flour
• 2 generous handfuls baby spinach (coarsely chopped)
• 2 cups chopped leftover cooked chicken
• 1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons kosher salt (or to taste)
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (or to taste)
• grated Parmesan cheese (for serving)
• 1 tablespoon minced parsley

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook gnocchi 3 to 4 minutes or until they float to the top of the water. Drain and arrange on a parchment lined sheet pan so they don't stick together.
2. 2NOTE: I've since skipped the above step completely and add the (uncooked) gnocchi to the pot after adding the warm broth and half & half.
3. 3Pour half & half and broth in a separate saucepan and heat over low heat.
4. 4In a heavy bottom pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter in with the oil over medium to medium-low heat. Add in the onions, carrots and celery with a pinch of salt. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender.
5. 5Add in the garlic and thyme, cook for 1 to 2 minutes.
6. 6Stir in the flour and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Continue to stir, while pouring in the warm broth and half & half. Then grate in 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon of freshly grated nutmeg.
7. 7Increase the heat and bring to a simmer, then reduce to low and continue to simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally until thick.
8. 8Lastly, stir in the spinach, chicken, (cooked) gnocchi, salt and pepper. Cover and heat until the spinach has wilted.
9. 9Ladle piping hot soup into bowls and top with chopped fresh parsley and Parmesan cheese.