Go Back
+ servings
Close-up of a bowl of creamy chicken gnocchi soup with kale, shredded chicken, and crispy bacon topping.

The Only Soup Recipe You’ll Need

This comprehensive soup recipe is perfect for a hearty and healthy dinner. It combines caramelized onions, tender chicken, gnocchi, and a creamy broth, topped with crispy bacon and Parmesan bread crumbs.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Caramelizing Onions 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner
Calories: 617

Ingredients
  

For the Caramelized Onions
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 2 medium sweet onions, thinly sliced
  • 1 pinch salt
For the Parmesan Bread Crumbs
  • 1 cup panko bread crumbs
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 3 tablespoons butter, melted
For the Soup
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 cup chopped celery
  • 1/2 cup sliced fennel bulb
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup white wine
  • 6 cups chicken stock
  • 3 cups chopped fresh kale
  • 1 cup crumbled cooked bacon, divided use 3/4 cup in soup, reserve 1/4 cup for topping
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 cups shredded cooked chicken breast
  • 1 package (8 ounces) potato gnocchi
  • 2-1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream, warmed
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 3 tablespoons cold water

Equipment

  • Dutch oven or soup pot
  • Baking sheet
  • Small bowls

Method
 

  1. To caramelize the onions, heat olive oil and butter in a large Dutch oven or soup pot over medium-high heat. Add onions; cook 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in salt. Reduce heat to low; cover. Cook until onions are soft, about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove the lid; cook another 20 minutes or until very soft and browned, stirring occasionally. Transfer to a small bowl; set aside.
  2. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 15x10x1-inch baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper. To make the bread crumbs, in a small bowl, combine panko, Parmesan, and melted butter. Spread in an even layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes, stirring once, until golden brown. Remove; let cool.
  3. To make the soup, add olive oil and butter to the same Dutch oven or soup pot over medium heat. Add celery and fennel; cook until softened and beginning to brown, 7-8 minutes. Add garlic; cook until fragrant, 30-60 seconds. Add white wine; bring to a simmer, scraping the browned bits up from the bottom until mostly dissolved, 1-2 minutes.
  4. Add caramelized onions, chicken stock, kale, 3/4 cup crumbled bacon, soy sauce, salt, thyme, and pepper to the pot; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat. Cover; simmer for 10-15 minutes.
  5. Remove lid; stir in shredded chicken and gnocchi. Simmer uncovered until gnocchi floats to the top, 2-3 minutes. Stir in shredded cheese. Place cream in a small bowl; add a small amount of hot soup broth to the bowl to temper it. Slowly pour the mixture into the soup, stirring constantly. Stir in cayenne pepper.
  6. In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and water. Stir into the soup; simmer until thickened, 2-3 minutes.
  7. Ladle soup into serving bowls. Top each with remaining crumbled bacon and Parmesan bread crumbs. Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 617kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 33gFat: 41gSaturated Fat: 21gCholesterol: 133mgSodium: 1657mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4g

Notes

This soup is hearty enough to be a meal on its own. You can adjust the cayenne pepper to your spice preference.

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!