'Marry Me’ Tuscan Chicken Gnocchi Soup
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'Marry Me’ Tuscan Chicken Gnocchi Soup
Relish in the flavors of major Tuscan flavors with my 'Marry Me’ Tuscan Chicken Gnocchi Soup recipe! This soup is sure to keep you warm and comforted throughout the cooler months of the year and you're guaranteed to be satisfied. A great weeknight option or comforting weekend addition for the entire family, this soup boasts of it’s major flavor factor and comes loaded with tender, soft potato gnocchi, major tuscan flavor, herbs + seasonings, well seasoned shredded chicken, chopped kale, and bold parmesan flavor! Vegan, Slow Cooker, + Gluten-Free options.
There's just something about homemade creamy soups for me. I especially enjoy when they are simple to whip together, but so bold and complex in flavor. Many of you truly enjoyed my infamous Creamy Tuscan 'Marry Me' Chicken and so I made this soup that comes highly inspired by this dish, because who wouldn't want this in soup form, right? And so, this 'Marry Me’ Tuscan Chicken Gnocchi Soup was born. YES---it's that delish! And if you're a lover of gnocchi then you'll love this oven-baked Garlic Chicken Broccoli Gnocchi Recipe and Skillet Baked Cheesy Pumpkin Gnocchi. Try this Cheesy Kale Garlic Bread as a delicious side! Plus, this Creamy Roasted Red Pepper + Tomato Soup is a delicious soup to try next!
This is a one-pot meal, so cooking and clean-up are as easy as can be. Simply cook your chicken breasts in advance (You can follow my Easy Shredded Chicken), then make the soup using the rest of the ingredients. Finish everything with an easy simmer and allow the ingredients to absorb all of the wonderful Tuscan flavors. My creamy chicken gnocchi soup is best served with some sort of crusty or garlic bread, salad, or your favorite side dish. Also, Indulge in the fiery goodness of our Spicy Vegan Chili--A bold and hearty dish that's a flavor explosion in every spoonful.
Be sure to see this beauty (and other recipes) come to life via IG Reels for a nice visual!
Overall, this creamy chicken soup is definitely family-friendly, comfort food in a bowl, includes simple steps, and can totally be personalized based on preference----i.e. sub with your favorite side dish or eat without meat by just enjoying it with the gnocchi or substitute with something more "meaty" like tortellini. Can also be made using vegan or gluten-free ingredients for those who are sensitive to specific ingredients.
Why is it Called Marry Me Chicken?
OK, so you're probably wondering why this dish is called Marry Me Chicken, right? I know. Honestly, based on my research, this was a TikTok recipe that went viral and apparently once you eat it, it'll make someone want to marry you. Haha. However, I can totally understand why this concept came to life because it literally is THAT GOOD! Of course, I had to put my own spin on it and add a bit of additional flavors which was the perfect fit.
Jump to:
- Why is it Called Marry Me Chicken?
- What is Marry Me Chicken Made of?
- How to Make 'Marry Me’ Tuscan Chicken Gnocchi Soup
- The Ingredients
- What is Gnocchi and How Do You Make It?
- Top Reasons Why You’ll Love This Creamy Marry Me Chicken Soup
- How to Best Shred Chicken
- Homemade Tuscan Seasoning Blend
- Tips For Making Good Soup Every Time:
- How to Thicken Soup in General
- What Can I Add to This Creamy Soup?
- What White Wine is Best in Marry Me Chicken?
- Herb Roasted Tomatoes
- What Can I use Instead of Sundried Tomatoes?
- Common Q + A's for this 'Marry Me’ Tuscan Chicken Gnocchi Soup
- More Amazing Cozy Fall Recipes to Try Next
- MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?
- 'Marry Me’ Tuscan Chicken Gnocchi Soup
What is Marry Me Chicken Made of?
You're guaranteed to fall in complete love with this Marry Me Chicken soup recipe---trust me! Traditionally, Marry Me Chicken consists of chicken breasts, parmesan cheese, sundried tomatoes, and basil. However, for this chicken recipe, I chose to add a nice Tuscan-style twist to things by adding my homemade tuscan blend, garlic, freshly-squeezed lemon juice, tomato paste, cooking wine, and tomatoes, for a rich, flavorful main course---in addition to gnocchi.
How to Make 'Marry Me’ Tuscan Chicken Gnocchi Soup
To make this creamy chicken gnocchi soup, you'll start by baking and shredding your chicken, if you haven't already. Then to finish the soup, you'll need a pot on the stove to sauté the garlic and sundried tomatoes as well as the flour and seasonings. The shredded chicken, chopped kale, gnocchi, along with the remaining ingredients go into the pot for the soup. Let it simmer a bit more, add the cheese, and wallah! Nice, creamy results.
The Ingredients
The ingredients for this creamy chicken gnocchi soup are important for developing the right flavor notes. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Chicken Breasts. One of the stars of this dish. I decided to shred them after it being cooked for a nice bite; Can also be diced in chunks.
- Gnocchi. You can make them yourself or purchase a quality store-bought version from Delallo Foods. For a gluten-free version, simply use gluten-free gnocchi.
- Butter. Use unsalted butter to control the flavor of the dish. For a dairy-free option, use vegan butter.
- Olive oil. Extra fat to this dish that adds additional flavor.
- Garlic. I recommend fresh, but you could use ½ teaspoon granulated garlic.
- Tuscan seasonings. You can purchase my Marry Me Blend for the best authentic feel or make your own homemade blend.
- Flour. Used for the thickening of soup. You can sub with GF flour for that option.
- Tomatoes. You can add as many tomatoes as you'd like to fill this dish (totally optional). I used grape tomatoes, however, heirlooms, roma, etc. works too! Just chop them up into nice bite-sized pieces or make your own roasted tomatoes.
- Tomato paste. This adds additional flavor + color to the dish.
- Chicken stock. Use low-sodium store-bought or make your own. For a vegan option, use veggie stock.
- Heavy cream. I recommend organic–always! You can sub with full-fat coconut milk/cream for a DF option!
- White wine. Choose a dry wine that you like the taste of. You can omit and sub with more stock.
- Lemon juice. You can use store-bought or freshly-squeeze juice from an actual lemon.
- Kale. Any kind of kale will work! You can also sub with spinach, collard greens, broccoli, or bok choy.
- Parmesan. I love to freshly-grate my cheese, however, you can use your favorite shredded brand---quality does matter! For a vegan option, So Delicious Dairy-Free or Violife cheese shreds tastes great.
What is Gnocchi and How Do You Make It?
Gnocchi are basically Italian dumplings made with flour, eggs, and potatoes---unless they are egg-free like this one that I purchased from Delallo foods. When it comes to making your own gnocchi, the process is done is fairly a few steps. It starts with boiling and mashing the potatoes, combining the ingredients together and kneading them into a ball, shaping the dough, cutting them into pieces, and boiling and draining the gnocchi. For a great recipe, check out AllRecipes.com.
Top Reasons Why You’ll Love This Creamy Marry Me Chicken Soup
Once you make and eat this 'Marry Me’ Tuscan Chicken Gnocchi Soup—– you’ll fall in absolute love. Haha. More importantly, here are also the reasons why you’ll love it the most:
- It’s super easy to make.
- Simple set + forget it—-Simmer, Simmer, Simmer over the stovetop!
- Only requires ONE pot.
- Makes for a great weeknight meal or laidback weekend with a full vegan + gluten-free option.
- So creamy and full of texture.
- Great for meal prepping and make aheads for the week!
- Super flavorful. Bold tuscan and warm flavors!
- Perfect Fall + Winter vibes!
- Did I mention, it’s just delicious?
How to Best Shred Chicken
When it comes to creating pulled or shredded chicken, there are two most effective ways to do so. Firstly, you would need to ensure that your chicken is fully cooked and cooled and then you shred the chicken in one of the following ways:
Forks: For this method you would need two forks. If using this method, place your cooked chicken breast onto a plate or cutting board and use both forks to separate the chicken meat and 'shred' as you separate. Continue doing this until all of your chicken is shredded.
Stand Mixer: If you're looking to avoid using arm strength, then the method of a stand mixer might be just for you. This is by far the fastest and easiest way to shred chicken and you simply place all of your cooked chicken breasts in the bowl of stand mixer. Add the paddle attachment and mix on low. In just 15-20 seconds you’ll have shredded chicken. That easy.
Homemade Tuscan Seasoning Blend
Sure, you can find pre-made seasoning blends at the grocery store. But there's nothing like the fresh, customized flavor you get by making your own blend. The herbs and spices in the Tuscan spice mix for this recipe are inspired by the fresh herbs that grow in Italy, mixed with a bit of heat from smoked paprika.
You can Store the seasoning blend in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a month. Use it on anything from simple roasted vegetables to salad dressing to herb oil for dipping bread.
Tips For Making Good Soup Every Time:
Now, if you're intimidated with making soup or are concerned that it won't turn out as delicious, no worries. In my experience with making many different types of soup and watching the adults around me make a TON of soup (it's a staple in the Jamaican culture), I've learned a few things along the way that can help you make really good soup, including this 'Marry Me’ Tuscan Chicken Gnocchi Soup:
- Chop your veggies and ingredients into bite-sized pieces for greater ease when eating.
- ALWAYS sauté your veggies, especially the garlic, onions, etc.
- Make your own stock if you can or use water as your base with seasonings + herbs for a great taste. If using store-bought stock/broth, always purchase high-quality ones.
- Let it simmer. While you might be tempted to cook your soup on high for a faster cook time, it's definitely BEST to let everything simmer and allow the flavors to "fuse" together slowly.
- If using meat, always sear your meat in the pot first prior to adding it to the soup to cook the rest of the way.
- If adding dairy or an alternative, always stir it in last or during the final few minutes.
- To thicken (if needed), always mix your thickener (flour, arrowroot, starch, etc.) in a small bowl with some of the hot broth from your soup before adding it to the entire pot of soup. This prevents lumps and gives you a nice creaminess.
How to Thicken Soup in General
While many soups are thickened for texture, what you use as a thickening agent is solely up to you. All in all, it depends on how you like it! Use 1 tablespoon at a time mixed with 1 tablespoon of water to dilute. Then pour the mixture into the soup, simmering for an additional few minutes to activate the thickener.
Some thickening agents you can use are:
- Cornstarch (GF)
- Arrowroot starch (GF)
- Potato starch (GF)
- All-purpose flour
What Can I Add to This Creamy Soup?
I like to add some extra texture to creamy soups like this 'Marry Me’ Tuscan Chicken Gnocchi Soup. While the ingredients in this creamy soup is perfect as is, I wanted to share a few more ideas of ingredients that you can add incase you make this soup more than once and want to switch things up!
Other ingredient ideas include:
- Roasted broccolini or broccoli instead of kale
- Crispy bacon (if you're not plant-based, of course)
- Grated cheese like Parmesan, mozzarella, pecorino romano, etc. (vegan or regular if you're not vegan!)
- Crispy sage leaves (for the topping)
- Roasted chickpeas
- Beans (White beans, etc.)
- Top with Homemade Croutons for a nice crunch
- Top with chopped Homemade Texas Toast Garlic Bread
- Seafood (like shrimp, lobster, etc.)
- Sausage
What White Wine is Best in Marry Me Chicken?
I tend to use a lot of white cooking wine, which is easiest for me. However, I do occasionally add quality white wine to my dishes and I recommend using a dry white wine.
A dry white wine will add the right amount of acidity rather than sweetness, which will better compliment your dish like this Creamy Tuscan 'Marry Me' Chicken Soup. In general, any of the following dry white wines work great in this dish:
Pinot Grigio, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc, and dry sparkling wines.
Herb Roasted Tomatoes
The herb-roasted tomatoes offer a delicious umami-packed flavor foundation for the creamy chicken dish.
You can make them ahead of time in the oven, then keep the tomatoes in the fridge unit you're ready to make the chicken. They'll stay fresh for up to three days in an airtight container.
What Can I use Instead of Sundried Tomatoes?
If you aren't the biggest fan of sundried tomatoes or just don't have them on hand, here are a few great alternatives for you to choose from so that you can still enjoy this delicious creamy chicken soup:
- Roasted herb tomatoes
- Tomato puree
- Roasted bell peppers
- Canned tomatoes
- Tomato sauce or paste
- Fresh tomatoes
Common Q + A's for this 'Marry Me’ Tuscan Chicken Gnocchi Soup
Leftovers can be stored in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days, for optimal freshness. Can also be frozen for 4-6 months. To defrost, simply place soup in the refrigerator overnight or at room temperature before re-heating on the stove top to serve.
To reheat, it's best to do so over the stovetop and add an additional 1 cup or so of stock, stirring and allowing everything to simmer until warmed through and creamy.
Absolutely! To make this soup vegan, be sure to omit the chicken and substitute the butter with vegan butter, heavy cream with full-fat coconut cream/milk, gnocchi with a vegan-friendly version, chicken stock with veggie stock, and cheese with nutritional yeast and/or dairy-free cheese shreds or parmesan.
To make this soup GF-friendly, simply substitute the gnocchi with a gluten-free version and ensure that other ingredients (i.e. chicken stock, heavy cream, and flour) are GF-friendly and you use GF bread on the side, if using.
Yes! To add a bit more flavor to this dish, you can always feel free to add in your favorite greens such as spinach, broccolini, bok choy, collards, or asparagus instead of kale.
While many people might argue that you need to cook the gnocchi prior to adding it to your soup, I don't agree when it comes to this soup. Of course, if it's a soup that takes longer to cook, then I recommend adding your gnocchi in at the final 10 minutes or so. However, since this soup cooks rather quickly, I add it in with the remaining ingredients and when its boiling, you'll know that the gnocchi is done as they come to the surface.
As I've mentioned before, once the gnocchi is fully cooked through, they will float to the top.
Basically, gnocchi are a type of pasta consisting of soft, fat and chewy dumplings. Traditionally, it's made of semolina or plain wheat flour, egg, and mashed potato.
One of my favorite tricks to this is to sauté my gnocchi prior to adding in the remaining ingredients. "Frying" the gnocchi will give it a nice crispy crust and prevent it from getting stuck together and soggy in the soup.
Yes, absolutely! You'll go through the normal steps as you would if it were in a pot or dutch oven, however, you'll want to add the gnocchi, kale, and cream last once you've cooked everything for 3-4 hours.
For soups like this creamy soup, I love using pre-cooked chicken breasts that can either be shredded or chopped into cubes. It definitely makes things easier and the cook time for this soup a lot quicker.
Basically, Tuscan style flavors include a nice array of seasonings + herbs that include rosemary, basil, parsley, thyme with aromatics of onion, garlic, spicy red pepper flakes, black pepper, and lemon/citrus which all plays a role.
Both are rather similar, however, tuscan seasonings have a few additional ingredients. In addition, tuscan flavors are a bit more spicy and peppery than Italian seasonings.
More Amazing Cozy Fall Recipes to Try Next
Now that you've fallen in love with the tuscan and 'Marry Me' flavors in this recipe, put to good use some Fall ingredients with these family-friendly recipes:
- Crispy Cajun Sweet Potato Fries
- Hot Honey Baked Chicken Breasts
- One Skillet Creamy Cajun Chicken Orzo
- Easy Weeknight Creamy Tuscan Ravioli
- Southern-Style Carrot Cake Cinnamon Rolls
- Spicy Chipotle Sweet Potato Chopped Salad
- Creamy Vegan Cajun Pumpkin Alfredo Pasta
- Hearty Vegan Taco Soup
- Cajun Veggie Pumpkin Pizza
- Dirty Chai Espresso Martini [Mocktail]
- Brown Sugar Peach Mint Julep Mocktail
- Vegan Coconut Chickpea Curry with Potatoes
- Creamy Pesto Chicken Breast with Broccoli
- Roasted Cauliflower Green Goddess Salad
MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?
If you tried this 'Marry Me’ Tuscan Chicken Gnocchi Soup recipe or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you.
'Marry Me’ Tuscan Chicken Gnocchi Soup
Ingredients
CHICKEN:
- 2 cups cooked + shredded organic chicken breasts
SOUP:
- 1 tablespoon Extra virgin olive oil
- 2 Tbsps unsalted butter
- 1 (16 oz.) package potato gnocchi, homemade or store-bought (I like to use Delallo foods)
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 4 cups organic chicken stock
- 3 Tbsps organic all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ Tbsps Tuscan Marry Me blend (You can purchase my Marry Me Blend for authentic flavor or make this homemade as well---See Notes)
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste, organic
- 1 ½ cups organic heavy cream
- 3 Tbsps cooking wine (You can sub with chicken stock, if desired)
- ½ lemon, freshly-squeezed
- 1 cup chopped organic kale, frozen or fresh
- 1 cup freshly-grated parmesan
- 1-2 cups tomatoes, optional (You can use my Roasted Herb Tomatoes recipe)
SIDE DISH:
- 1 Homemade Texas Toast Garlic Bread
Instructions
TO MAKE THE SHREDDED CHICKEN:
- First start by shredding your cooked chicken. You can totally follow my Easy Shredded Chicken recipe! Set aside.
TO MAKE THE SOUP:
- In a medium-sized dutch oven pot over medium high-heat, add the butter and olive oil. Once heated and the butter has melted and the oil has heated, add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes. Add in the tomato paste, stirring until combined. Add the flour, tuscan blend, and salt, whisking until combined. Now, add in the gnocchi, lightly sautéing them until a bit seared and crisp, about 1-2 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and slowly add in the heavy cream, chicken stock, lemon juice, and white wine, stirring frequently until combined and everything is smooth without lumps. Add in the shredded chicken and chopped kale and stir to combine. NOTE: If adding tomatoes, you can do so at this point.
- Let everything simmer for about 10-12 minutes or until the gnocchi is fully cooked through, floats to the top, and tender.
- Add in the grated parmesan, stirring until cheese has melted and the soup becomes creamy. Simmer for another 1-2 minutes.
- Remove from heat, discard the bay leaves, and serve immediately into prepared bowl(s), top with a side of bread, Homemade Texas Toast Garlic Bread, or salad, if desired.
- Bon Appetit!
Tips & Tricks
- STORAGE: Leftovers can be stored in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days, for optimal freshness. Can also be frozen for 4-6 months. To defrost, simply place soup in the refrigerator overnight or at room temperature before re-heating on the stove top to serve.
- SPICES/HERBS: If desired, you can reduce the amounts slightly. Please know that this recipe is bold in spice/herb flavor, so feel free to adjust based on your tastebuds.
- HOMEMADE GNOCCHI: To see how to make your own gnocchi, see my post for details!
- GLUTEN-FREE OPTION: To make this soup GF-friendly, simply substitute the gnocchi with a gluten-free version and ensure that other ingredients (i.e. chicken stock, heavy cream, and flour) are GF-friendly and you use GF bread on the side, if using.
- VEGAN OPTION: To make this soup vegan, be sure to omit the chicken and substitute the butter with vegan butter, heavy cream with full-fat coconut cream/milk, gnocchi with a vegan-friendly version, chicken stock with veggie stock, and cheese with nutritional yeast and/or dairy-free cheese shreds or parmesan.
- TUSCAN SEASONING (STORAGE): Any leftover tuscan blend seasoning can be stored in a ziplock bag or jar for later use or used as garnish.
- GREENS: To add a bit more flavor to this dish, you can always feel free to add in your favorite greens such as spinach, broccolini, bok choy, collards, or asparagus instead of kale.
- HOMEMADE TUSCAN BLEND: 1 tablespoon smoked paprika, 2 tsps dried parsley, 2 tsps dried basil, 2 tsps dried oregano, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon dried rosemary, + 2 bay leaves.
Nutrition
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What spice did you put on your chicken and how did you cook it? Thanks
Hi Sue! The recipe for the chicken is linked in the ingredients section! 🙂
I made this and it was so so delicious. But your recipe says freshly-squeezed parmesan in the ingredients list which i think is a typo.
Hi Nicole! I'm so glad that you enjoyed this recipe! Thanks so much for giving it a try! Also, I appreciate you catching that typo----definitely updated. 🙂
Delicious recipe - made vegetarian subbing chick peas for chicken, but still amazing. Will make again!
Hi Opal! I'm so happy to hear that you enjoyed this soup! It's definitely one of my faves! Thanks so much for giving it a try! 🙂
Hello,
If I’m making this a day ahead would I hold back the gnocchi and add the next day?
Thanks!
Hi Opal! Not at all! You can definitely make the soup a day before and just reheat everything the next day! I prefer reheating over the stovetop and adding a bit of additional stock if needed for more creaminess. 🙂
Made this tonight and it was fantastic. My guest loved it. I would love to try different variations of this and rotate out the veggies. I highly recommended this recipe. Can’t wait to try more from this creator. 🥰
Hi Shelby! Wow---I'm SO happy that you enjoyed this soup! It's definitely just as delish with the variations and I hope that you get to try them! Thanks so much! 🙂
Making this soup this weekend! Can you use the oil that the sundried tomatoes are packed in to sauté the garlic? Also can you cook the chicken in the pot first to start to build flavor or would you recommend putting it in the oven to cook?
Hi Sheena! I'm so excited and can't wait to hear what you think! Yes, you can definitely use the oil from the sundried tomatoes if preferred! Also, for the chicken, you can cook it in the pot first to build flavor, however, I just like baking it in the oven and shredding it for greater ease and to ensure that it cooks through. You'll definitely have enough flavor either way! 🙂
Looks delicious! Can you use frozen kale or does it have to be fresh?
Hi Bruno! Thanks so much! You can definitely use frozen kale also----it's what I often use! 🙂