Description
Olive Garden’s chicken gnocchi soup delights home cooks with its creamy Italian-inspired comfort. Rich flavors and hearty ingredients combine for a restaurant-quality meal you can easily prepare in your kitchen.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (shredded chicken) cooked
- 1 pound (454 g) refrigerated potato gnocchi (not frozen)
- 4 cups (32 oz / 946 ml) low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 1/2 cups (360 ml) half-and-half
- 3 tbsps olive oil
- 1 large yellow onion (chopped)
- 2 stalks celery (diced)
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 5-oz bag baby spinach
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
- 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the aromatic base by heating olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Introduce chopped onions, shredded carrots, diced celery, and minced garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Sauté for 5 minutes until vegetables become translucent and fragrant.
- Pour chicken broth into the vegetable mixture. Add shredded chicken and fresh thyme. Elevate the heat to bring the liquid to a gentle boil, then reduce to a simmer. Allow the flavors to harmonize for 10 minutes.
- Gently fold in potato gnocchi and baby spinach. Stream half-and-half into the pot, creating a creamy consistency. Simmer for 2-3 minutes, ensuring gnocchi are tender but not mushy and spinach leaves wilt gracefully.
- Carefully ladle the soup into warm serving bowls. Garnish with an optional sprinkle of fresh herbs or cracked black pepper. Serve immediately alongside crusty bread or a crisp side salad for a complete dining experience.
Notes
- Swap veggies easily by using seasonal or preferred alternatives like zucchini or bell peppers for added nutrition and variety.
- Reduce dairy content by substituting half-and-half with unsweetened almond milk or light coconut milk for a lighter, lactose-free version.
- Prep chicken ahead of time by using rotisserie chicken or quickly shredding leftover grilled chicken to save preparation time.
- Boost protein content by adding white beans or extra chicken, making the soup more filling and satisfying for hearty eaters.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 275 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 21 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg