Description

This Cheddar Gnocchi Soup is a creamy, comforting dish loaded with tender potato gnocchi, crispy bacon, and sharp cheddar cheese. Perfect for chilly days, the soup combines savory bacon, sautéed vegetables, and a rich broth infused with garlic, thyme, and a touch of heat from chili flakes. Ready in under 40 minutes, this hearty soup makes an easy weeknight dinner or a satisfying weekend meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat

8–10 slices bacon, cooked and chopped

Vegetables

1 large onion, diced
2 large carrots, peeled and sliced

Liquids & Dairy

1 tbsp butter or olive oil
4 cups chicken broth
2 cups heavy cream or half-and-half
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (medium or sharp)

Dry Ingredients & Seasonings

1–2 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder (or 4 cloves minced garlic)
¼ tsp dried thyme
½–1 tsp red chili flakes (optional)
16 oz potato gnocchi (store-bought works great)

Instructions

Cook Bacon: In a large pot over medium heat, cook the bacon slices until they are crispy. Once done, transfer them to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess fat, then chop into small pieces and set aside.
Sauté Vegetables: Add butter or olive oil to the same pot with the bacon fat. Add the diced onions and sliced carrots, cooking them until they become soft and fragrant, about 5–7 minutes.
Add Broth and Simmer: Pour in the chicken broth and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. This will help the flavors meld and further soften the vegetables.
Add Cream and Cheese: Stir in the heavy cream (or half-and-half) and shredded cheddar cheese. Continue stirring until the cheese has fully melted into the soup creating a rich and creamy texture.
Cook Gnocchi: Add the potato gnocchi to the pot and cook for 2–3 minutes or until the gnocchi float to the top and are tender.
Finish with Bacon and Seasoning: Stir in the chopped bacon pieces. Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning with salt, pepper, garlic powder (or minced garlic), dried thyme, and optional red chili flakes as desired.
Serve: Ladle the hot soup into bowls and enjoy the cheesy, comforting goodness straight away.

Notes

Store-bought gnocchi works perfectly, but fresh gnocchi can be used if preferred.
For a vegetarian version, omit bacon and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
Adjust the amount of chili flakes to control the spiciness of the soup.
The soup thickens as it cools; add a splash of broth or cream when reheating if needed.
This soup can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Soup
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Cheddar Gnocchi Soup, creamy gnocchi soup, bacon cheddar soup, easy cheesy soup, potato gnocchi recipe