Description
Rich, creamy Olive Garden chicken gnocchi soup brings Italian comfort straight to your kitchen. Pillowy gnocchi, tender chicken, and velvety broth combine for a hearty meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 2 cups cooked shredded chicken
- 1 lb gnocchi
Main Vegetables:
- 1 cup carrots, shredded
- 1 cup fresh spinach, chopped
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
Liquid and Seasoning:
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) butter
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) olive oil
- 1/4 cup (30 g) all-purpose flour
- 4 cups (960 ml) chicken broth
- 2 cups (480 ml) heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Warm a substantial pot over medium heat, melting butter and olive oil together to create a flavorful base.
- Incorporate finely chopped onions and minced garlic, sautéing until aromatic and translucent, releasing their delicate essence.
- Sprinkle flour into the vegetable mixture, stirring continuously for 1-2 minutes to develop a golden, nutty roux that will thicken the soup.
- Gradually introduce chicken broth and heavy cream, whisking methodically to eliminate any potential lumps and create a silky, smooth liquid.
- Fold in tender shredded chicken, julienned carrots, fragrant thyme, and season with salt and pepper, allowing the ingredients to meld together during a 10-minute gentle simmer.
- Carefully add pillowy gnocchi to the simmering soup, cooking for 5-7 minutes until they become light and tender, absorbing the rich flavors.
- Introduce fresh spinach leaves, stirring until they delicately wilt and integrate into the soup’s landscape, bringing a vibrant green color and nutritional boost.
- Taste and refine seasonings, ensuring a perfect balance of flavors before ladling the steaming soup into warm bowls, ready to be savored.
Notes
- Swap out heavy cream for coconut milk or cashew cream to make the soup dairy-free and lighter in calories.
- Toast flour slightly before adding to create a deeper, nuttier flavor profile in the roux base.
- Use pre-cooked rotisserie chicken for faster preparation and added convenience during busy weeknights.
- Consider adding small diced celery alongside carrots for extra vegetable nutrition and traditional mirepoix flavor complexity.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 22 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 370 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg