Hearty Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup

Craving a rich, soul-satisfying soup that tastes like it simmered for hours, yet comes together in a fraction of the time? Look no further than this incredible Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup! Bursting with layers of flavor, hearty enough to be a meal, and surprisingly elegant, this pressure cooker marvel is designed to impress. It’s a delightful dish that quickly climbs to the top of everyone’s favorite soup list, making it an ideal choice for a cozy family dinner or a memorable gathering with friends.

Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup: Your New Favorite Comfort Food

While some days call for the delightful simplicity of a minimalist soup, like our Instant Pot Smoky Creamy Cauliflower Soup, there are other times when you desire a bowl brimming with texture, depth, and an explosion of flavor. This Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup perfectly fits that description. It’s an absolutely amazing creation, loosely inspired by the beloved Olive Garden Chicken & Gnocchi Soup, offering a homemade version that rivals the restaurant experience.

Imagine succulent pieces of chicken, tender potato gnocchi, and a medley of aromatic vegetables swimming in a luxuriously creamy broth, all infused with fragrant herbs and spices. This isn’t just a meal; it’s a culinary embrace, a warm hug in a bowl that promises to comfort and delight. The magic of the Instant Pot allows you to achieve that slow-simmered taste and tender chicken in mere minutes, transforming a seemingly complex dish into an effortless weeknight wonder or an impressive dinner party showstopper.

The Irresistible Allure of Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup

When the craving for truly comforting food strikes, this Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup is consistently among our top five go-to recipes. Many people assume making gnocchi soup from scratch is an arduous task, but thanks to readily available pre-made gnocchi in most grocery stores (you can find it in the refrigerated section or next to the dry pasta), preparing this dish has become incredibly convenient. Paired with the efficiency of the Instant Pot®, you can enjoy restaurant-quality soup without spending hours over the stove.

The beauty of this recipe lies in its balanced complexity. It brings together robust flavors from crispy bacon, fragrant garlic, and a blend of herbs, all harmonizing with the natural sweetness of carrots and celery. The boneless, skinless chicken breasts cook to perfection under pressure, becoming wonderfully tender and easy to shred. And then, of course, there’s the gnocchi – soft, pillowy potato dumplings that absorb all the delicious flavors of the creamy broth, adding a delightful chewiness that makes every spoonful a pure delight.

Perfect for Sharing: Gatherings and Cozy Nights In

Beyond its incredible taste, this Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup is an excellent dish for sharing. As the seasons shift and we spend more time indoors, there’s nothing quite like gathering loved ones around a warm, comforting meal to catch up and reconnect. This soup provides the perfect backdrop for such occasions. Its hearty nature makes it filling, while its rich, creamy texture feels special and indulgent.

Consider hosting a small, intimate dinner party and making this Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup the star of your menu. Your guests will be impressed by the depth of flavor and the seemingly elaborate preparation, all without knowing how quickly and easily you prepared it. Don’t forget to serve it alongside some warm, crusty bread – perfect for soaking up every last drop of that delectable broth!

It’s not just for entertaining, though. On a chilly evening, after a long day, a bowl of this creamy chicken gnocchi soup is the ultimate self-care. It’s simple enough to make on a weeknight but feels luxurious enough for a weekend treat. The combination of wholesome ingredients and comforting flavors makes it a go-to choice for satisfying both hunger and soul.

Why the Instant Pot is Your Best Friend for This Recipe

The Instant Pot is truly a game-changer for this Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup. Traditionally, achieving such rich flavors and tender meat would require hours of simmering on the stovetop. However, the pressure cooking method significantly reduces cooking time while intensifying the flavors. The pressure helps to tenderize the chicken quickly and efficiently, ensuring it’s perfectly cooked and easy to shred, ready to meld beautifully with the creamy broth.

Furthermore, the Instant Pot’s sauté function allows you to build a flavorful base right in the same pot, reducing cleanup. Sautéing the bacon and vegetables before pressure cooking caramelizes them, creating fond on the bottom of the pot, which then deglazes with the chicken broth, infusing the entire soup with even more richness. This one-pot convenience is not just about saving time; it’s about maximizing flavor and minimizing effort, making gourmet-tasting soup accessible to everyone, even on busy weeknights.

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4.97 from 65 votes

Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup

By
Sandy Clifton

A rich and creamy soup that will quickly become a favorite! Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup has lots of flavor and is hearty and satisfying, yet elegant, too.

Prep:

18 mins

Cook:

17 mins

Warming/NPR:

20 mins

Total:

55 mins

Servings:

7 – 8

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Ingredients

• 6 slices Thick Cut Bacon, chopped in bite sized pieces
• 2 Tbsps Butter
• 1 Onion, chopped
• 3 large Carrots, chopped
• 1 Bay Leaf
• 2 ribs Celery, chopped
• 6 cloves Garlic, pressed or finely minced
• 1 sprig Fresh Rosemary, about 5 inches long
• ½ tsp Basil, dried
• ½ tsp Thyme, dried
• ¼ tsp Poultry Seasoning
• 2 tsp Italian Seasoning
• ½ tsp Kosher Salt
• ½ tsp Pepper
• 4 cups Chicken Broth, low sodium
• 2 to 3 Chicken Breasts, uncooked, boneless, skinless
• 16 oz Gnocchi (refrigerated package or dry pasta aisle)
• ½ cup Parmesan Cheese, grated
• 5 oz Baby Spinach, fresh
• 1 cup Heavy Cream

Instructions

1. Turn on the Sauté function (Med/Normal heat) on your Instant Pot and add the chopped bacon. Cook until it’s mostly done and crispy, then remove excess fat if desired, leaving a small amount for flavor.
2. Add the butter, chopped onion, carrots, celery, and bay leaf to the pot. Sauté, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes, or until the onions begin to turn translucent and the vegetables soften slightly.
3. Stir in the fresh rosemary, dried basil, dried thyme, poultry seasoning, Italian seasoning, kosher salt, pepper, and pressed or minced garlic. Cook for about 1 minute, stirring frequently, until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
4. Pour in the low-sodium chicken broth. Use a wooden spoon to deglaze the bottom of the pot, scraping up any browned bits (fond) from the sautéing process. This step is crucial to prevent a “BURN” notice.
5. Carefully place the boneless, skinless chicken breasts into the broth. Ensure they are mostly submerged.
6. Secure the lid on your Instant Pot and set the steam release knob to the Sealing position.
7. Press the “Cancel” button to end the sauté function.
8. Select the “Pressure Cook” (or “Manual”) button or dial, and adjust the time to 9 minutes on High pressure. The Instant Pot will take several minutes to build pressure before the cooking cycle begins.
9. Once the cooking cycle has completed, allow the pot to naturally release pressure for 10 minutes (10-minute Natural Release). Do not touch the steam release valve during this time.
10. After the 10-minute natural release, carefully turn the steam release knob to the “Venting” position to quick release any remaining pressure. Use short bursts at first to ensure no soup spews out. Once the float valve (pin) in the lid drops down, it is safe to open the lid.
11. Remove the cooked chicken breasts to a separate bowl and discard the bay leaf from the soup.
12. Turn the Instant Pot’s Sauté function back on (Med/Normal heat).
13. Add the gnocchi to the soup and stir gently. If you have a glass lid for your Instant Pot, you can place it on top. If using the pressure cooker lid, ensure it is set to “Venting” and not sealed.
14. Cook the gnocchi for just a few minutes, stirring occasionally, until they float to the top and are tender.
15. While the gnocchi cooks, use two forks or a hand mixer to shred the cooked chicken breasts.
16. Once the gnocchi is cooked, turn off the Instant Pot. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted and well combined.
17. Return the shredded chicken to the pot along with the fresh baby spinach. Stir gently until the spinach wilts into the hot soup.
18. Finally, stir in the heavy cream. This adds the luxurious creamy texture that defines this soup. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
19. Serve hot, garnished with a sprinkle of fresh parsley or additional Parmesan cheese if desired. Enjoy your homemade Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup!

Notes

*If you are adventurous and have the time, you could certainly make your own homemade gnocchi for an extra special touch!

This recipe is lovingly adapted from the classic Olive Garden Chicken & Gnocchi Soup, bringing that restaurant experience right to your kitchen.

Nutrition

Calories:
492
kcal

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course:
Soup

Cuisine:
Italian

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