Description

This creamy Bacon Cheddar Gnocchi Soup is a rich, comforting, and flavorful dish featuring tender gnocchi, crispy bacon, sharp cheddar cheese, and a luscious creamy broth with sautéed vegetables. Perfect for a cozy meal any day of the week, this soup combines hearty ingredients and warm spices to create a classic American comfort food experience.

Ingredients

Scale

Bacon and Vegetables

8–10 slices Bacon
1 Tablespoon Butter or Olive Oil
1 large Onion, diced
2 large Carrots, peeled and sliced

Soup Base

4 cups Chicken Broth
1–2 teaspoons Salt
1 teaspoon Pepper
1 teaspoon Garlic Powder or 4 cloves minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon Dried Thyme
1/2–1 teaspoon Red Chili Flakes

Cream and Cheddar

16 ounces Gnocchi
2 cups Heavy Cream or Half-and-Half
2 cups Cheddar Cheese, grated

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Instructions

Cook the Bacon: In a skillet, cook the bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove and set aside on paper towels to cool, then chop into small pieces.
Sauté Vegetables: Heat a large pot over medium heat and add butter or olive oil. Add diced onions and sliced carrots and cook until tender, about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add Broth and Simmer: Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Allow the vegetables to soften completely.
Add Cream and Spices: Reduce heat to medium-low. Stir in heavy cream or half-and-half along with salt, pepper, garlic powder (or minced garlic), dried thyme, and red chili flakes. Let the mixture simmer gently until it thickens slightly, making sure it does not boil.
Melt the Cheese: Gradually add the grated cheddar cheese in increments, stirring continuously to melt the cheese fully and avoid clumping.
Cook the Gnocchi: Stir in the gnocchi and cook for 2 minutes until tender and heated through.
Season and Serve: Taste the soup and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if necessary. Stir in the chopped bacon pieces, then serve the soup hot, garnished with extra green onions, grated cheese, and bacon if desired.

Notes

Use half-and-half instead of heavy cream for a lighter soup.
Adjust chili flakes to control the level of spiciness.
For a vegetarian version, substitute vegetable broth and omit bacon.
Ensure the soup simmers gently after adding cream to prevent curdling.
Gnocchi cooks quickly; do not overcook to avoid mushiness.