We had a very cold, very snowy, Saturday this weekend. This soup made for the perfect dinner at home. Over here we’ve officially moved on from fall and have entered the winter season. Is it early? Yes, but that’s what you get when you live in the mountains. There are some who would be a little upset, but since our leaves have long been gone, I’m welcoming the snow with open arms. Even the resorts have opened. It has me so excited for the holiday season and everything that comes along with it. It’s going to be a busy end of November and an even busier December. But I’m looking forward to all the days ahead! For me, time is always the issue. I’m once again leaning in on the simple but yet still delicious dinner recipes. Which brings me right to this very cozy bowl of creamy gnocchi soup. This is like the warmest bear hug, but so much better. Oh, how I love this soup! Not only is it all made in one pot (or in the slow cooker/instant pot), but it’s really just the most delicious soup. Think creamy…very, very creamy…a little herby, hearty, and swirled throughout with soft potato gnocchi. But what really seals the deal on this soup? That salty, crispy, rosemary bacon on top. When combined with the creamy soup, everything is so delicious.
The inspiration.
Well, this one was inspired by two things. First, the snow. Snowy days require a warming recipe like soup. The blowing snow and wind this past weekend were the main source of inspiration. But my second source was what really started it all. A few weeks ago I had the idea to do a gnocchi soup. I’ve heard Olive Garden serves up a delicious bowl of creamy gnocchi soup. At the time it sounded so good so I wrote the idea down for another day. I knew this recipe had a lot of potential, so I saved it for just the right time. With the weekend’s snowy weather, I knew it was time to test this one out. But something inspired me to switch up the recipe and give the classic bowl of creamy gnocchi soup my own little twist. I drew inspiration from three recipes, my Instant Pot Pesto Zuppa Toscana, my Slow Cooker Tortellini Soup, and my Butternut Squash Carbonara with Rosemary Bacon. I stole elements from all three recipes to create this soup. And the outcome was delicious! This has to be one of my favorite recipes of the month.
Here’s how you make this creamy gnocchi soup…
As mentioned, you can make this one of three ways, on the stove, low and slow in the slow cooker, and fast and speedy in the instant pot. I’m going to walk you through the stovetop directions, but either option works great. You’ll want to start with that bacon. Crisp it up, then toss in a handful of freshly chopped rosemary. Once the rosemary hits the bacon grease, it begins to fry up and become crisp. It’s delicious with the salty bacon and adds an unexpected special touch to each bowl. Of course, if you don’t eat meat, you can easily omit the bacon to make this a vegetarian soup. Just add the rosemary to a skillet with some oil.
Once you’ve cooked the bacon, pull it out of the Dutch oven, and put everything else in. Cook up an onion, add the vegetables, herbs, and spices. Then stir in a touch of butter and flour. I debated back and forth about whether or not we needed the flour to create a creamy soup, but in the end, I wanted this gnocchi soup to be incredibly creamy. A bowl fit for some of the coldest night of the year. So I added the flour! Stir in a little broth and simmer everything together to allow the vegetables to cook and the flavors to mend together. At this point, you’ll finish the soup with a splash of creamy milk and Asiago cheese. Add the gnocchi and simmer a few minutes until the gnocchi is soft. Easy. EASY. A touch indulgent….and so delicious.
I’d highly recommend serving this soup with a side of crusty bread for dipping into that creamy broth. Add a nice side salad for color and you’ll have the perfect easy dinner. If you’re planning to enjoy this soup leftover, be sure to first remove the gnocchi from the broth before refrigerating. That way the gnocchi won’t soak up all the broth. Then just add the gnocchi back in before serving. And guys, that’s really about it. A simple recipe for a busy November Monday. If your night needs some warming soup, this should be it. I’m looking forward to making this again tonight on Instagram stories. It’s going to be good!
Looking for other easy Monday night dinners?? Here are my favorites: Creamy French Onion and Mushroom Soup Slow Cooker Chipotle Chicken Tortilla Soup with Salty Lime Chips One Pot Chicken and Sage Dumplings Lastly, if you make this Creamy Gnocchi Soup with Rosemary Bacon, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
