Name: Marry Me Chicken Soup with Gnocchi
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs; 1 teaspoon salt (plus more to taste); 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 4 cloves garlic (minced); 1/2 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes (chopped); 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning; 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional); 5 cups low-sodium chicken broth; 1 cup heavy cream; 3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese; 1 pound potato gnocchi; 2 cups fresh baby spinach; 1 tablespoon fresh parsley (chopped, for garnish)

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Marry Me Chicken Soup with Gnocchi is a creamy, sun-dried tomato chicken soup loaded with pillowy gnocchi instead of rice or noodles. It takes the flavors of the famous skillet dish and turns them into a spoonable dinner that feeds the whole table.

Shredded chicken thighs, sun-dried tomatoes, and a splash of heavy cream do the heavy lifting here, and the whole pot is done in about 40 minutes, perfect for a weeknight when you want something that tastes like more effort than it took.

Prep	Cook	Total	Servings	Difficulty
10 min	30 min	40 min	6 servings	Medium

Quick Facts

Marry Me Chicken Soup with Gnocchi | Cozy Weeknight Dinner

Getting the Texture Right

The gnocchi makes or breaks this soup. Add it too early and it turns soft and gluey by the time you serve it; add it in the last few minutes and it stays plump with a slight chew. Watch for the gnocchi to float to the top of the broth, that's your cue it's close to ready, usually 2 to 3 minutes after it hits the pot. Keep the broth at a gentle simmer, not a rolling boil, so the dumplings don't break apart at the edges. If you're making this ahead, cook the gnocchi separately and stir it into each bowl, since the dry potato starch keeps soaking up liquid in the fridge and thickens the whole pot overnight.

Marry Me Chicken Soup Ingredients

Ingredients for Marry Me Chicken Soup with Gnocchi | Cozy Weeknight Dinner

Chicken thighs stay juicy and shred easily after simmering; boneless chicken breast works too but cooks faster and can dry out if left too long.
Sun-dried tomatoes give the broth its tangy, concentrated sweetness; oil-packed ones add the most flavor, but you can use dry-packed if you soak them first.
Heavy cream builds the rich, thick body of the broth; half-and-half works for a lighter version.
Chicken broth is the base liquid; low-sodium lets you control the salt once the parmesan and sun-dried tomatoes go in.
Potato gnocchi is the hearty, pillowy addition that replaces rice or pasta; cauliflower gnocchi is a lighter swap.
Parmesan cheese melts into the broth for a salty, nutty finish; pecorino romano is a sharper substitute.
Garlic and Italian seasoning build the savory base of flavor alongside the tomatoes.
Fresh spinach or baby kale adds color and a mild, earthy bite at the end.

Find exact amounts in the recipe card below.

Marry Me Chicken Soup Step by Step

Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper, then sear them in a hot pot until golden on both sides, about 4 minutes per side.
Remove the chicken and sauté garlic and chopped sun-dried tomatoes in the same pot until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Pour in the chicken broth, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
Return the chicken to the pot, bring to a simmer, and cook until it shreds easily with a fork, about 15 minutes.
Shred the chicken, stir in the heavy cream and parmesan, and let the broth turn a soft, rosy color as it thickens slightly.
Drop in the gnocchi and spinach, simmering just until the gnocchi floats and the spinach wilts, about 3 minutes.

Hella Recipe Team Tips

Don't skip the sear: browning the chicken first builds a deeper, roasted flavor the broth needs.
Add gnocchi last: stirring it in during the final 3 minutes keeps it plump instead of mushy.
Check for doneness by texture: the chicken should shred with almost no resistance, and the gnocchi should float.
Taste before salting: both the parmesan and sun-dried tomatoes bring salt, so season the broth only at the end.

What to Serve With It

Serve Marry Me Chicken Soup with Gnocchi alongside crusty bread for dipping, a simple green salad, or garlic bread. For a heartier spread, pair it with our Creamy Lemon Garlic Chicken Gnocchi Skillet or set out a batch of Easy Buffalo Chicken Dip for watch-party style snacking before the soup course.

Leftovers

Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days; the gnocchi will soften slightly but still hold its shape. Freeze the broth and chicken without the gnocchi for up to 2 months, then thaw overnight in the fridge and add fresh gnocchi when reheating. Warm gently on the stovetop over medium-low heat for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring often, and add a splash of broth or cream if it's thickened too much.

Questions About Marry Me Chicken Soup

Why is it called Marry Me Chicken Soup?

The name comes from the original skillet dish, famous for its creamy sun-dried tomato sauce that's supposedly convincing enough to inspire a proposal. This soup version keeps that same sauce but turns it into a full meal with broth and gnocchi.

What can I use instead of heavy cream?

Half-and-half makes a lighter broth with less richness, while full-fat coconut milk gives a dairy-free option with a subtle sweetness. Either swap will thin the broth slightly, so simmer an extra minute or two to thicken it back up.