Description
Creamy, comforting soup with tender chicken, pillowy gnocchi, and fresh spinach in a rich, restaurant-style broth that tastes just like Olive Garden’s famous soup.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced (about 1 cup)
- 2 medium carrots, diced (about ¾ cup)
- 2 celery stalks, diced (about ¾ cup)
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 pound potato gnocchi (refrigerated or shelf-stable)
- 3 cups fresh baby spinach, roughly chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- 1. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Cook chicken 6-7 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Remove, cool, and chop into bite-sized pieces.
- 2. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in the same pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery. Cook 5-6 minutes until vegetables soften.
- 3. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
- 4. Sprinkle flour over vegetables and stir constantly for 1-2 minutes to create a roux.
- 5. Gradually add chicken broth while whisking constantly to prevent lumps.
- 6. Add heavy cream, thyme, salt, and pepper. Bring to a gentle boil, then simmer 10-12 minutes until thickened slightly.
- 7. Add gnocchi and cook according to package directions until they float and are tender.
- 8. Stir in cooked chicken and spinach. Cook until spinach wilts, about 30-60 seconds.
- 9. Remove from heat and stir in remaining 2 tablespoons butter.
- 10. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve immediately, garnished with parsley if desired.
Notes
Store leftovers in refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat gently on stovetop over low heat. Don’t freeze as cream and gnocchi don’t freeze well. Add splash of broth if soup thickens during storage.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 425
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 22g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g