Italian Chicken Gnocchi Soup.

Similar to a spicy lasagna soup and a creamy gnocchi Alfredo. It’s the perfect combination of Italian flavors, chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, and crispy bacon—all simmered together in one pot for easy prep and cleanup. Best served with crusty bread and maybe a big winter salad, this is truly the yummiest kind of dinner for cold winter nights.

The countdown to Christmas is officially on. The decorations are up (kind of—I still have a few more things I want to do!), and my menu is roughly planned. The week leading up to Christmas Eve is always one of the busiest of the year.

The whole family is home for the holidays, and while it’s a little chaotic, it’s the very best kind of chaos. I’m so looking forward to the days ahead filled with family time, especially Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Until then, I’ve been on the hunt for easy dinners that can feed everyone—and let me tell you, it’s not simple. My brothers want meat, my mom prefers the most basic flavors, my dad wants everything spicy, and one brother has suddenly decided he’s not eating dairy. It’s a lot to juggle.

I’m basically playing short-order cook, but honestly, cooking for my family is my favorite thing.

Gnocchi soup is on the menu tonight. It’s always a hit with my mom and little sister, usually my dad too—and if my cousins were here, they’d absolutely be enjoying a bowl as well.

I have plenty of gnocchi soup recipes, but this one feels special. I made it lasagna-style, swapping the noodles for pillowy gnocchi and finishing everything with crispy rosemary bacon.

It turned out so delicious. I served it with my garlic bread—which I’ll be sharing with you all very soon!

These are the details

Ingredients 

• thick-cut bacon
• a yellow onion
• red bell peppers
• Italian seasoning
• chili flakes
• crushed tomatoes
• broth
• chicken breasts or thighs
• baby spinach
• sun-dried tomatoes
• potato gnocchi
• whole milk or heavy cream
• mozzarella or provolone cheese – I like a mix
• fresh parmesan
• chopped fresh rosemary – for topping

Kitchen Tools Needed

To make this recipe, you need a large Dutch oven. That’s pretty much it, nothing fancy or complicated today!

Steps

Step 1: Cook the Bacon

Start by cooking the bacon in a large Dutch oven until crisp. Once cooked, remove the bacon and set it aside to use as a topping.
That salty, crispy bacon is the perfect finishing touch for a cozy winter soup.

Step 2: Build the Soup Base

Using the bacon drippings in the pot, add the onions, bell peppers, Italian seasoning, and chili flakes. Cook until fragrant and softened.
Pour in the broth and canned tomatoes, then bring everything to a gentle simmer.

Step 3: Cook the Chicken

Add the chicken directly to the simmering soup. Let it cook until tender and cooked through, then shred the chicken right in the pot using two forks.

Step 4: Finish the Soup

Stir in the spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and gnocchi. Add about one cup of water to help the gnocchi cook, then simmer until the gnocchi floats to the top.

Mix in the milk and both cheeses, stirring until melted and creamy. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Serving

Ladle the soup into bowls and top with the crispy bacon and fresh rosemary. I usually serve this with a simple salad (it changes nightly!) or roasted broccoli on the side.

And of course—garlic bread is always a good idea!

Looking for soup recipes? Here are a few ideas: 

Creamy French Onion and Mushroom Soup

Pesto Tortellini Zuppa Toscana

Creamy White Lasagna Soup

Homestyle Chicken Noodle Soup

Lastly, if you make this Italian Chicken Gnocchi Soup, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!