Ingredients

1 1/2 to 2 pounds chicken breasts (3 to 4 pieces, depending on size)
1 1/2 cups shredded carrots
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon celery salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 bay leaf
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
5 cups chicken stock or broth
1 cup half-and-half
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 (16-ounce) package potato gnocchi
1 cup chopped fresh spinach

Instructions

1. Arrange chicken breasts in the bottom of a large (6-quart) slow cooker. Add carrots and garlic on top, then sprinkle with parsley, basil, celery salt, nutmeg, and bay leaf. Season with 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt (depending on the saltiness of your chicken broth) and freshly ground black pepper. Pour chicken stock/broth over ingredients in slow cooker, cover with lid, and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours or until the chicken is tender.
2. At the end of the cooking time, remove the chicken to a cutting board and discard the bay leaf. Using a fork, whisk the cornstarch into the half-and-half until dissolved and then stir the slurry into the soup, along with the gnocchi. Cover the slow cooker and increase the heat to HIGH.
3. Chop or pull the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Stir it back into the slow cooker, cover, and continue to cook for 15 to 30 more minutes, until the gnocchi is cooked through and the soup is thickened. Just before serving, stir in the chopped spinach and cover for a few more minutes until wilted. Adjust the seasonings, to taste, with additional salt and pepper (if needed) and serve immediately.