Better Than Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup

Ingredients

• 4 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 cup celery (chopped; about 2–3 stalks)
• 1 tbsp garlic (minced)
• 1 cup carrots (shredded)
• 0.5 tsp salt
• 0.5 tsp black pepper
• 2 tsp onion powder
• 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
• 0.25 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 cups chicken broth (Homemade, store-bought, bouillon, or chicken base may be used.)
• 3 cups milk
• 2 cups cooked shredded chicken meat (The source specifies meat from 2 cooked legs and 2 cooked thighs; dark meat or cooked chicken breast may be used.)
• 8 oz frozen spinach (chopped)
• 16 oz gnocchi
• 1 can White beans (blended)
• 1 tbsp Light Cream Cheese

Steps

1. 1

   Place a large pot over medium heat. Melt the butter and heat the olive oil in the pot.

2. 2

   Once the butter has melted, add the chopped celery. Cook for about 5–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the celery is soft.

3. 3

   Add the minced garlic and stir. Cook for 2 minutes.

4. 4

   Add the shredded carrots, salt, black pepper, onion powder, and Italian seasoning.

5. 5

   Add the flour and stir until all of the ingredients are combined.

6. 6

   Stir and cook the flour mixture for 2 minutes.

7. 7

   Pour in the chicken broth and stir well, breaking up any flour clumps.

8. 8

   Blend the can of beans with a little hunk of cream cheese

9. 9

   Add the milk and blended beans, then stir to combine.

10. 10

    Add the frozen spinach and cooked shredded chicken. Stir to distribute them through the soup.

11. 11

    Increase the heat and bring the soup to a boil.

12. 12

    Gently add the gnocchi to the boiling soup. Boil for 4–5 minutes.

13. 13

    Serve hot or warm.

Notes

The soup thickens as it cools and loosens again when reheated. Fresh spinach can be substituted for frozen spinach; add a couple of handfuls. Homemade gnocchi may also be used. Serve with breadsticks or crusty bread. The author notes that rotisserie chicken is convenient and that dark meat stays especially tender.

Nutrition per serving

• soup
• main
• comfort food
• copycat
• creamy
• stovetop
• chicken
• make-ahead