Are you ready to create a soup so incredibly delicious, so rich and creamy, and so completely irresistible, it might just inspire a marriage proposal? Say “I do” to this amazing, one-pot Creamy “Marry Me Chicken” Gnocchi Soup! We’re taking all the beloved, decadent flavors of the viral internet sensation—sweet sun-dried tomatoes, a luscious Parmesan cream sauce, and tender chicken—and transforming them into the most comforting and satisfying soup you’ve ever had.
This isn’t just another soup recipe; it’s your new go-to for a special date night in or any time you’re craving a truly spectacular, restaurant-quality meal that is secretly easy to make. This is the kind of soul-warming, one-pot wonder that will have everyone falling in love.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Recipe Overview: The Ultimate Proposal-Worthy Soup
What makes this “Marry Me Chicken” Gnocchi Soup so spectacularly delicious is its incredible, rich flavor and its wonderfully creamy and velvety texture. This soup is a brilliant and easy mash-up of two comfort food classics. The heart and soul of the dish is the iconic “Marry Me” sauce: a luscious, from-scratch cream sauce made with savory chicken broth, heavy cream, and freshly grated Parmesan cheese, and studded with the sweet, tangy, and chewy bites of sun-dried tomatoes. This incredible sauce is then made into a complete and hearty meal with the addition of tender, juicy chicken thighs and soft, pillowy potato gnocchi.
| Metric | Time / Level |
| Total Time | 30 minutes |
| Active Prep Time | 10 minutes |
| Difficulty Level | Easy |
| Servings | 6-8 |
The Irresistible Ingredients: What You’ll Need
This iconic dish uses a handful of high-quality ingredients to create its signature rich and savory flavor.
- The “Marry Me” Sauce:
- Sun-Dried Tomatoes: For the most intense, sweet, and tangy flavor, it is highly recommended to use oil-packed, sun-dried tomatoes. The oil they are packed in is incredibly flavorful, and you can use a little of it to sauté your chicken and aromatics for an extra layer of deliciousness.
- The Creamy Base: The secret to a truly rich and luxurious sauce is a classic combination of savory chicken broth and full-fat heavy cream.
- Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese: This is a non-negotiable for an authentic flavor! You must use a high-quality, freshly grated Parmesan cheese from a block. Its nutty, salty flavor is essential, and it will melt beautifully into a smooth sauce, unlike the pre-shredded kind.
- The Chicken & Gnocchi:
- Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs: For the most tender, juicy, and flavorful result, chicken thighs are the absolute best choice. They have a slightly higher fat content than chicken breasts, which keeps them incredibly moist and tender.
- Potato Gnocchi: This is the brilliant and easy shortcut that makes this soup so special! Using a 16-ounce package of your favorite brand of store-bought, shelf-stable potato gnocchi provides the perfect, tender, and pillowy bite that makes this soup incredibly hearty.
Step-by-Step to the Best “Marry Me Chicken” Soup
This delicious, one-pot soup is incredibly simple to prepare.
Step 1: Build the Flavor Base
In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat a tablespoon of olive oil (or the oil from your jar of sun-dried tomatoes) over a medium-high heat. Add your 1 pound of diced chicken thighs and cook until they are nicely browned on all sides.
Add the 1/4 cup of chopped sun-dried tomatoes to the pot with the chicken and continue to cook for 1 more minute, until they are fragrant.
Part 2: The One-Pot Simmer
Step 1: Pour in your 4 cups of chicken broth and bring the mixture to a simmer. Use your spoon to scrape up any delicious, flavorful browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
Step 2: Stir in your 16-ounce package of gnocchi and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. You will know the gnocchi are perfectly cooked when they are plump and have floated to the surface of the broth.
Part 3: Make it Creamy and Serve
Step 1 (The Secret to a Creamy Soup!): Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the 1 cup of heavy cream and the 1/2 cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Pro Tip: It is crucial to add your dairy ingredients at the very end, over a low heat. Adding cream or cheese to a rapidly boiling liquid can cause them to “break” or curdle. Step 2: Let the soup continue to simmer gently on a low heat for about 5 more minutes, until the cheese has completely melted and the soup is hot all the way through.
Serve the hot, creamy soup immediately in warm bowls, with some crusty bread for dipping and an extra sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan cheese and some fresh basil, if desired.
Creamy ‘Marry Me Chicken’ Gnocchi Soup (Easy Recipe!)
A quick and easy one-pot soup that combines the popular flavors of ‘Marry Me Chicken’ with soft potato gnocchi. This rich and creamy soup features diced chicken thighs sautéed with chopped sun-dried tomatoes to build a savory base. Chicken broth is added to the pot, and the gnocchi are cooked directly in the liquid. The soup is finished with heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese, creating a decadent and satisfying meal in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs, diced
- 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced (optional)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 package (16 oz) gnocchi
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Season the diced chicken with salt and pepper.
- Add the chicken and chopped sun-dried tomatoes to the pot. Sauté until the chicken is browned. If using, add minced garlic and Italian seasoning and cook for one more minute until fragrant.
- Pour in the chicken broth and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Stir in the gnocchi and cook for 3-4 minutes, or until they begin to float to the surface.
- Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese.
- Let the soup simmer gently for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it has thickened slightly and the chicken is cooked through. Do not let it boil.
- Season with additional salt and pepper to taste before serving.
Notes
- This is a very fast one-pan meal, perfect for a busy weeknight.
- The name ‘Marry Me Chicken’ refers to a dish so delicious that it could inspire a marriage proposal, typically featuring a sun-dried tomato cream sauce.
- Cooking the gnocchi directly in the broth is a key time-saving step and also helps to thicken the soup.
- The cream and Parmesan are added at the end over low heat to ensure a smooth, creamy texture without curdling.
What to Serve With Your “Marry Me Chicken” Soup
This beautiful and rich soup is a fantastic, all-in-one meal. To round it out, here are a few simple and classic pairings:
- Crusty Garlic Bread: A side of warm, crusty garlic bread is an absolute must-have for sopping up every last drop of that incredible, creamy and savory broth.
- A Simple Green Salad: A crisp green salad, especially one with a bright and zesty Italian vinaigrette, is the perfect, fresh counterpoint to the rich, hearty soup.
Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
- Make-Ahead: For a super-fast and impressive weeknight meal, you can get a head start by dicing your chicken and chopping your sun-dried tomatoes up to a day in advance.
- Storage: Store any leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The gnocchi may absorb more of the broth as it sits.
- Reheating: The best way to reheat a cream-based soup is to do so gently in a saucepan on the stovetop over a low heat. You may need to add a generous splash of broth or milk to loosen the soup and bring back its original, creamy consistency.
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Creative Recipe Variations
- Add a Handful of Greens: For a beautiful pop of color and some extra nutrients, you can stir about 3 to 4 cups of fresh baby spinach into the soup at the very end and let it wilt.
- Make it with Pasta: If you don’t have gnocchi on hand, this delicious and hearty sauce is also absolutely fantastic with about 12 ounces of a short, sturdy pasta shape, like penne, rigatoni, or rotini. Simply cook the pasta separately and add it to the finished sauce.
- Add a Spicy Kick: For a delicious, spicy kick, you can add about 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes to the pot when you are sautéing the chicken.
Enjoy Your Ultimate Proposal-Worthy Soup!
You’ve just created a truly special dish that is a perfect harmony of decadent, classic ingredients and delicious, satisfying flavors. This Creamy “Marry Me Chicken” Gnocchi Soup is a testament to the power of a simple, from-scratch-tasting meal to create a truly memorable dining experience. It’s a rewarding and deeply satisfying recipe that is sure to become a new, much-requested favorite for special occasions.
We hope you enjoy every last, warm, and delicious bite!
If you enjoyed making this recipe, please leave a comment below or share it with a friend who loves an easy and impressive meal!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is “Marry Me Chicken,” and why is it so popular?
“Marry Me Chicken” is the viral internet name for a delicious and decadent chicken dish that features a rich and luscious cream sauce made with sun-dried tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, and fresh herbs. It’s so unbelievably delicious, the legend is that if you make it for your partner, they will be inspired to propose marriage on the spot!
Q2: What is the absolute, number one secret to a creamy soup that doesn’t curdle or break?
The secret is to add your dairy ingredients at the very end, over a low heat. After your soup base has simmered, be sure to turn the heat on your stove down to the lowest setting before you stir in your heavy cream and your grated Parmesan. Adding dairy to a rapidly boiling or an overly hot liquid is the number one cause of a sauce “breaking” or curdling.
Q3: Can I make this soup ahead of time?
This soup is at its absolute best when it is served fresh, so the gnocchi is perfectly tender and pillowy. However, you can save a ton of time by preparing the soup base (the cooked chicken and the broth) ahead of time and storing it in the refrigerator. When you are ready to eat, you can simply bring the base to a simmer and proceed with cooking the fresh gnocchi and adding the cream.
Q4: Can I freeze this soup?
Because this soup contains both dairy (heavy cream) and gnocchi, it is not an ideal candidate for freezing. The texture of both the cream-based broth and the tender gnocchi can change significantly upon thawing and reheating, often becoming a bit grainy or mushy.
Q5: What is gnocchi?
Gnocchi are a type of classic, Italian “dumpling.” The most common variety, and the one that is perfect for this recipe, is a potato gnocchi, which is made from a simple dough of cooked, mashed potatoes and flour. They have a wonderfully soft, tender, and pillowy texture when they are cooked.