Description
Olive Garden-inspired chicken gnocchi soup delights home cooks with its creamy Italian-style comfort. Hearty ingredients and simple techniques help diners craft this restaurant-quality meal quickly and easily.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound (454 grams) cooked chicken, shredded or diced
Produce:
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 medium carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 2 cups fresh spinach, chopped
Pantry and Liquid Ingredients:
- 1 pound (454 grams) potato gnocchi
- 4 cups (960 milliliters) chicken broth
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- In a spacious Dutch oven, warm olive oil over medium temperature. Sauté diced onions, minced garlic, julienned carrots, and chopped celery until vegetables turn translucent and tender, approximately 4-5 minutes.
- Stream chicken broth into the pot, elevating heat to achieve a rolling boil. Sprinkle dried thyme, kosher salt, and cracked black pepper, stirring to integrate seasonings thoroughly.
- Introduce shredded roasted chicken and pillowy potato gnocchi into the simmering liquid. Allow contents to dance and cook for 3-4 minutes, watching gnocchi rise and become buoyant.
- Decrease stovetop temperature to low. Gently fold rich heavy cream into the soup, creating a luxurious texture. Immediately add fresh spinach leaves, allowing them to wilt and soften for 2 minutes.
- Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Ladle the velvety soup into ceramic bowls, ensuring each serving captures chicken, vegetables, and delicate gnocchi.
- Garnish with optional fresh parsley or additional cracked pepper. Serve piping hot, perfect for a comforting meal during chilly evenings.
Notes
- Customize the gnocchi by using whole wheat or gluten-free varieties for dietary preferences.
- Control the soup’s thickness by adjusting the amount of cream or using half-and-half for a lighter version.
- Enhance flavor by roasting vegetables before adding them to the pot for deeper, caramelized notes.
- Prep ingredients in advance to make this quick soup even faster on busy weeknights.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 335 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg