Description
A creamy, comforting Olive Garden-style Chicken Gnocchi Soup featuring tender shredded chicken, soft potato gnocchi, fresh vegetables, and a rich, flavorful broth, perfect for a cozy meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 1 cup celery, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup matchstick or grated carrots
- 1 cup fresh spinach, roughly chopped
Proteins and Dairy
- 1 cup shredded cooked chicken (rotisserie works great)
- 1 cup heavy cream
Pantry and Seasonings
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 16-ounce package potato gnocchi
Instructions
- Sauté Aromatics: In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the butter and olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion, celery, and garlic, and sauté for 3–4 minutes until softened and fragrant.
- Make Roux: Stir in the all-purpose flour and cook for 1–2 minutes, stirring constantly to remove the raw flour taste and form a roux that will thicken the soup.
- Add Broth and Simmer: Slowly whisk in the chicken broth, ensuring no lumps form. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer to start thickening the base.
- Incorporate Cream and Chicken: Stir in the heavy cream, shredded cooked chicken, grated carrots, and dried thyme. Let the soup simmer gently to marry the flavors.
- Cook Gnocchi: Add the potato gnocchi and cook according to the package instructions, usually 3–4 minutes, until they float to the surface and are tender.
- Wilt Spinach: Stir in the chopped fresh spinach and cook for 1–2 minutes until it just wilts, adding freshness and color to the soup.
- Season and Serve: Season the soup with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Serve the soup warm with crusty bread or a side salad for a complete meal.
Notes
- This soup thickens as it sits; add a splash of broth or cream when reheating to loosen the texture.
- You can substitute half-and-half for heavy cream to make a lighter version while maintaining creaminess.
- Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (approx. 1 1/2 cups)
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 16g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
