After 10 days in warm and sunny Texas, I got to come back to what we call “Sprinter” in these parts. The calendar says spring but the weather says winter! This soup was perfect for a dreary spitting-snow kind of day. Pre-cooked chicken and gnocchi from the deli section at the store makes it a breeze to make, all in one pot to boot. I whizzed the carrots, onion, and celery in my mini-food processor for an instant mire-poix for the base of the soup, but if you don’t have a processor you can finely chop the veggies by hand. I would have preferred to add fresh spinach to this, but the frozen I had worked just great. This creamy soup is very filling and and satisfies even the heartiest of eaters!
One-Pot Chicken and Gnocchi Soup
1/2 cup each finely chopped carrots, onion and celery
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon dried tarragon (can sub dried basil)
4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons flour
4 cups homemade or low sodium chicken broth
2 cups milk
2 cups shredded cooked chicken
1 16-ounce package refrigerated gnocchi
Salt and ground black pepper, to taste
1/4 cup thawed frozen spinach (packed)
Shredded Parmesan cheese, for serving
Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven or large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the carrots, onion and celery and cook for 5 to 7 minutes until softened, adding the garlic in the last minute. Stir in the herbs, then add the butter. When melted and frothy, whisk in the flour and combine to make a paste. Pour in about half the chicken broth all at once, whisking constantly until combined and smooth, then pour in the rest of the chicken broth, then the milk. Continue whisking until combined and simmering, cooking until thickened. Add the chicken, gnocchi, and spinach. Bring up to a simmer again until the gnocchi are cooked through, typically under five minutes according to the package. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Serve with shredded Parmesan cheese.
p.s. I just had to share the sign on the front of a taco cart on the infamous Sixth Street, which we visited during the raucous SXSW festival. Many sights and sounds to behold!
p.s.s. I reopen my taco cart on March 31 at an Easter Egg Hunt at a local ranch, then move my cart to its new location in a new food truck lot. The lot has a “soft opening” starting April 1, but my schedule is TBD depending on how my healing broken shoulder is working out. The grand opening for the lot will be scheduled sometime in May.
Love such hearty soups. Great idea, to add the gnocchi to it! 🙂
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Very filling indeed! Thanks Ronit!
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This looks amazing! Thank you for the delicious recipe.
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Aww, thanks so much Michelle!
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I’ve made an Italian sausage version with gnocchi and kale but never thought to use chicken. I bet shredded turkey would be great too. PS: I like to grate a carrot and throw it in for colour and as a healthy veggie add-in too. 🙂
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Yes, I have carrot in this too! Love the Italian sausage version, will have to try that next time.
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This soup sounds right up my alley and I want some now. Lol. Happy opening of taco Cart season!!!
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Yes, I see you got some “Sprinter” up in Mars, too! 😀 Thanks so much Jodi!
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Adding gnocchi to soup is just genius! I’m loving the term “Sprinter” too- I’m going to start using that one right away. 😉
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Ha ha, yes it’s a good term, thanks!
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Damn, girl! Making me hungry!!
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Ha, so sorry! But thanks! 😀
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Another delicious recipe! I love gnocchi. Yum!
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Thanks so much Tonya!
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This is such a novel combination of ingredients. Can’t wait to try it.
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Thank you Bernadette! It’s actually based on a popular soup at the Olive Garden restaurant. 😉
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Yumm!
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Many thanks Darryl!
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Don’t you just love what you can do with soups – lots of good ingredients:)
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I consider myself the Queen of Soups, lol. I can make soup out of just about anything. 😀
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The soup looks amazing. I love creamy soups full of goodies. Nice to see the taco cart ready to go!
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Thanks Diana! That’s actually a photo from the Pumpkin Patch at the same ranch last fall. Currently it’s tarped over, but plan on airing it out and giving it a good cleaning this week once the sun shines!
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This looks totally yummy.
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Thanks so much!
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Perfect sprinter food!
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Thanks Mad Dog, sure is!
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It’s “Sprinter” here too. 😦 I have always wanted to try my hand at homemade gnocchi, but haven’t mustered up the courage to take on the challenge. This looks amazing!
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You and me both, so hence the packaged version, ha! Thanks Debbie!
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Yum, Irresistible, Delish, Wonderful, Divine, ….!!!! I ca go on and on!! Definitely Sprinter dish!! 😉
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Oh you are too kind!! Thank you!
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Yum Yum Yum!! Seriously this looks like pure comfort food!!
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Thanks Mollie, it sure is! Just had some leftover for lunch today. 🙂
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I forgot to mention Sprinter! That is such a great word! 🙂 We’re having a bit of it right now. Sleet on top of all our snow from last night, lashing against the house. And the wind howling.Power flickering on and off.
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Yikes!!
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Sounds perfect and looks so delish ! 🙂
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Thank you so much Lynne!
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While we don’t have “Sprinter” here in Florida, a bowl of your soup would still be appreciated.
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Thanks Karen! I remember when I lived in Florida for a spell it didn’t stop me from eating soup!
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This sounds so yummy! Hope you are well and that your food cart starts off well this season!
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Thank you so much Lynn!
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Xxx
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I would never have thought of adding gnocchi to soups…love this Kathryn!
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It certainly makes a soup a hearty main meal! Thanks so much Marisa.
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Another great recipe idea!
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Thank you Karina!
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Loved the little note “the calendar says spring but the weather says winter!” Thanks for this beautiful share of recipe. And nice to hear you cart is going well. Thank you Kathryn.
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Thank you so much Sumith!
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Yum! You will have me dreaming of this soup now!
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Thanks so much Antonia! Super delicious!
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Yum! This looks so comforting and delicious. Gnocchis are my fav.
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I will definitely be giving this recipe a try! I’ve been looking everywhere for a chicken and gnocchi soup recipe that isn’t complicated or where i don’t have to use about 3 or 4 different pots and pans to cook it lol. I’m going to try and make this next time we get paid. Thank you!! I just posted a chicken and rice recipe on my blog and I came to look for more soup recipes to try as well! This looks amazing!
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