Bacon Gnocchi Soup is a wonderful soup to make for those days when you are looking for a substantial meal. Creamy soup made of soft potato gnocchi, crispy bacon, vegetables, herbs and a rich soup.
It’s easy enough for a weeknight meal and comforting enough for a frigid night. The soft gnocchi makes the soup filling, while bacon adds a smoky and salty flavor.
Bacon gnocchi soup recipe is a one pot recipe and you don’t have to clean so much after cooking.
What Is Bacon Gnocchi Soup?
Bacon Gnocchi Soup is a creamy soup with gnocchi and bacon.
Gnocchi are little, soft dumplings. The classic gnocchi recipe typically includes potatoes, flour, and other basic ingredients.
When cooked in soup, gnocchi become soft and tender.
Common ingredients for a bacon gnocchi soup are:
- Bacon
- Potato gnocchi
- Onion
- Garlic
- Carrots
- Celery
- Chicken broth
- Cream or milk
- Spinach
- Italian seasoning
- Parmesan cheese
The ingredients may be modified according to your preference.
Ingredients You Need
Here’s the ingredients you’ll need for this easy bacon gnocchi soup:
- 6 slices bacon, chopped
- 1 small, yellow onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 medium carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 pack of potato gnocchi (roughly 16 ounces)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt to taste
- To taste: black pepper
In the meantime, you can find some great tips for buying the best grated Parmesan cheese.
If you don’t want to make your own, you can buy gnocchi at the store.
To make the soup lighter, substitute whole milk for heavy cream. The soup will taste good, but not as rich.
How to Make Bacon Gnocchi Soup
Place the bacon in a pan and cook until crispy.
Combine chopped bacon with the pot or Dutch oven.
Cook over medium heat until the bacon becomes crispy.
Take some bacon off and lay on paper towels.
Keep some of the bacon fat in the pot to cook the vegetables in.
Be careful when handling hot bacon grease.
Step 2: Cook the Vegetables
Combine chopped onion, carrots, and celery in pot.
Cook until vegetables start to soften, about 5 minutes.
Add the chopped garlic.
Bake for about 30 seconds.
Avoid burning the garlic as it can turn bitter.
Step 3: Add the Broth
Add the chicken broth to the pot.
Add Italian seasoning and dried thyme.
Stir well.
Heat to a simmer.
Step 4: Add the Gnocchi
Stir in the gnocchi (potato balls).
Cook following package instructions.
Gnocchi typically cook very fast, so supervise them.
They should be soft and tender.
Don’t cook them too long as they can get mushy.
Step 5: Add Cream and Spinach
Reduce the heat.
Stir in heavy cream and fresh spinach.
Stir gently.
Cook until spinach is wilted and soup is hot.
Avoid forcing the cream to boil.
Step 6: Add Parmesan and Bacon
Put cooked bacon back in pot.
Add grated Parmesan cheese.
Mix lightly until the cheese is melted into the soup.
Taste the soup.
Season to taste with salt and black pepper, if desired.
Keep in mind that bacon and parmesan cheese are salty enough, so don’t add too much salt.
How to Make Creamy Bacon Gnocchi Soup
The creamy texture is a blend of broth, cream and Parmesan.
If a thick soup is desired, can simmer gently for a few additional minutes.
It’s also good to add a little flour to the veggies before adding the broth. This is optional, but can help to thicken the soup.
Use milk in place of heavy cream for lighter soup.
Easy One-Pot Bacon Gnocchi Soup
The beauty of this recipe is that it’s easy to do in one pot.
The bacon and vegetables can all be cooked in one pot, which will ensure that the flavors are infused into the broth.
It also cuts down on the amount of dishes you have to wash.
Make sure the pot is large enough to accommodate the broth, gnocchi, vegetables and cream.
Tips for the Best Bacon Gnocchi Soup
Use Fresh Vegetables
Onion, carrots, celery, garlic and spinach provide texture and flavor to the soup together.
To prevent any cross-contamination of food, do not overcook the gnocchi.
Gnocchi only need a short cooking time.
Follow package directions and keep an eye on the pot.
Use cream towards the end.
Cream should be added towards towards the end to ensure smoothness of the soup.
Add salt to taste before adding it.
Bacon is salty and so is parmesan.
Try the soup out before you serve it.
Serve Immediately
As long as they sit, Gnocchi can continue absorbing liquid.
For the best texture, serve the soup soon after cooking.
For additional protein, cook some chicken and add it to the mixture.
Shred or dice chicken, it works well.
Add fully cooked chicken at the end of the cooking time so that it won’t turn dry.
Ensure that the chicken has been cooked, cooked safely and stored properly before using in the soup.
Bacon Gnocchi Soup With Sausage
Another option is to substitute some of the bacon for Italian sausage.
Cook the sausage until brown and drain if necessary.
Then proceed with the veggies and broth.
Sausage can add more seasoning, taste the soup before adding more salt.
Vegetarian Gnocchi Soup
For a vegetarian version, substitute vegetable broth for the chicken broth and replace bacon with either tofu or a veggie burger.
Mushrooms, extra spinach or other vegetables can be added for additional flavor.
If necessary, use Parmesan cheese (vegetarian) or another suitable cheese.
The final soup will be a little different to the bacon version, but can still be filling and creamy.
Vegan Bacon Gnocchi Soup
If dairy free, use a dairy-free cream alternative and a dairy free cheese.
Always read the gnocchi package as the ingredients may differ from brand to brand.
Dairy and other allergens may be present in some packaged gnocchi.
When you have food allergies, always read food labels.
How to Store Bacon Gnocchi Soup
The bacon gnocchi soup is best stored in the refrigerator.
Let the leftovers cool down on a sturdy, flat, dry surface before putting them in the fridge.
Keep in an airtight container.
The soup may thicken in the fridge since the gnocchi will absorb some of the broth.
If reheating, add a little broth or milk, if necessary.
Before serving, be sure to warm the soup up thoroughly.
Refrigerate for food safety; discard foods that have been in the refrigerator too long than recommended.
What to Serve With Bacon Gnocchi Soup
You can enjoy this soup on its own, or with:
- Garlic bread
- Crusty bread
- Green salad
- Roasted vegetables
- Dinner rolls
- Fresh fruit
The creamy soup can be contrasted with a simple green salad.
This creamy gnocchi soup is great to serve with:
- Weeknight dinners
- Cold-weather meals
- Family dinners
- Sunday lunch
- Cozy evenings
- Holiday meals
- Casual gatherings
This is particularly handy if you need a nice hot meal but don’t have that much time to spend in the kitchen.
Why Make Bacon Gnocchi Soup?
This recipe combines a few soothing ingredients all in one bowl!
Smoky bacon adds to the flavor.
Add soft filling for gnocchi.
The vegetables add texture and flavor.
The creaminess of the broth holds things together.
Most ingredients are cooked in one pot so there’s also a simplicity factor in the recipe.
Final Thoughts
Bacon Gnocchi Soup is a creamy, warm and filling soup made at home.
Every bowl is a delightful combination of rich flavors and comforting textures, thanks to the crispy bacon, soft potato gnocchi, vegetables, spinach, herbs, broth, cream and Parmesan.
If you can, do not overcook the gnocchi and add the cream early in the cooking process and taste the soup before salting.
This easy bacon gnocchi soup can also be made with chicken, sausage, extra vegetables or lighter dairy options.
Serve with crusty bread or fresh salad for a simple but special dinner without complicated cooking steps.
