Description
A creamy, comforting copycat recipe of Olive Garden's Chicken & Gnocchi Soup featuring tender chicken, fluffy gnocchi, and a savory blend of vegetables in a rich broth.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter, divided
- 1 small (1/2 ounce) rib celery, sliced 1/4-in.-thick (about 1/3 cup)
- 1/2 cup chopped yellow onion (from 1 small onion)
- 1/2 cup matchstick carrots (from 1 [10-ounce] package)
- 2 tsp finely chopped garlic (about 3 small cloves)
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups half-and-half
- 1 cup finely chopped cooked chicken
- 2 tsp granulated sugar
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 (12 ounces) package refrigerated gnocchi (such as Rana)
- 1 1/2 cups (about 2 ounces) roughly chopped baby spinach
- 1/2 tsp dried Italian seasoning
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- Pinch ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Cook the Vegetables: Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the celery, onion, and carrots, and cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are tender and the onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Make the Roux and Add Liquids: Add the remaining 3 tablespoons butter, and stir constantly until melted, about 1 minute. Stir in the flour, and cook, stirring constantly, until pale golden brown and bubbly, about 1 minute. Stir in chicken broth, half-and-half, cooked chicken, sugar, and salt. Bring the soup to a simmer, stirring occasionally.
- Cook the Gnocchi: Add the gnocchi and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 3 minutes.
- Add Spinach and Seasonings: Stir in the baby spinach, Italian seasoning, black pepper, and nutmeg. Cook for about 2 minutes, stirring often, until the spinach is wilted and flavors are combined.
- Serve: Serve the soup warm and enjoy.
Notes
- This homemade version can be prepared in under 30 minutes, making it a quick and budget-friendly alternative to restaurant versions.
- For a lighter option, substitute half-and-half with milk or a lower-fat dairy alternative.
- Use fresh spinach for best texture and flavor when stirring into the hot soup.
- Refrigerated gnocchi cooks quickly; be careful not to overcook to avoid mushiness.
- Adjust seasoning to taste before serving, especially salt and pepper.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 565 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 1351 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 54 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 132 mg
