Description
Olive Garden’s slow cooker chicken gnocchi soup delivers creamy comfort straight from home kitchens. Hearty ingredients and simple preparation make this soup a comforting meal you’ll crave on chilly evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound (454 grams) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 16 ounces (454 grams) potato gnocchi
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 3 cups baby spinach
- 2 cups diced carrots and celery
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
Liquid and Seasonings:
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water (optional for thickening)
Instructions
- Arrange raw chicken, aromatic vegetables, herbs, and seasonings inside the slow cooker, creating a flavorful base for the soup.
- Allow the ingredients to simmer and meld together on LOW temperature for 6-7 hours or HIGH temperature for 3-4 hours, ensuring chicken becomes thoroughly tender.
- Carefully pull apart the cooked chicken into delicate, bite-sized pieces using two forks directly within the cooking vessel.
- Introduce pillowy gnocchi and rich cream to the slow cooker, continuing to heat on HIGH for 20-30 minutes until pasta becomes soft and plump.
- Gently fold fresh spinach into the soup, letting the leaves wilt and incorporate their vibrant green color and nutrients.
- For a more robust consistency, create a quick cornstarch slurry by mixing with cool water, then stirring into the soup and cooking an additional 5 minutes to thicken.
- Ladle the creamy, herb-infused soup into warm bowls, capturing the perfect blend of tender chicken, soft gnocchi, and aromatic vegetables.
Notes
- Control salt by using low-sodium chicken broth to manage sodium intake for health-conscious individuals.
- Swap heavy cream with coconut milk or unsweetened almond milk for a dairy-free alternative that maintains creamy texture.
- Enhance protein content by adding extra shredded chicken or white beans for a more filling meal.
- Quickly elevate leftovers by garnishing with fresh parsley, grated Parmesan, or crispy bacon bits for added flavor complexity.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 370 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 1500 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg