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Easy Olive Garden Copycat Chicken Gnocchi Soup

Close-up of a bowl of creamy, yellow gnocchi soup featuring soft gnocchi and wilted spinach, seasoned with pepper.
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Make this rich and creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup at home. This easy, one-pot recipe tastes just like the Olive Garden favorite and is perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

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  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound Italian sausage, casings removed (or use shredded cooked chicken for a lighter version)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
  • 2 celery stalks, sliced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 6 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 (16 ounce) package potato gnocchi
  • 5 ounces fresh spinach
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
  • Salt to taste

Instructions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the Italian sausage (or chicken) and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain off excess fat.
  2. Add the chopped onion, carrots, and celery to the pot. Cook until the vegetables soften, about 5 to 7 minutes.
  3. Stir in the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, thyme, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. Sprinkle the flour over the mixture and stir constantly for 1 minute to cook out the raw flour taste. This step thickens the soup base.
  5. Slowly pour in the chicken broth while stirring continuously to prevent lumps. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
  6. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it simmer for 10 minutes to allow the vegetables to become tender.
  7. Stir in the heavy cream and the package of gnocchi. Increase the heat slightly and cook until the gnocchi float to the surface, usually about 3 to 5 minutes. Do not boil rapidly once the cream is added.
  8. Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the fresh spinach until it wilts completely.
  9. Stir in the 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese until the soup is smooth and velvety. Taste and add salt as needed.
  10. Serve immediately in bowls, topping each serving with extra grated Parmesan cheese.

Notes

  • For a faster weeknight meal, substitute the raw sausage or chicken with 2 cups of shredded rotisserie chicken, adding it in step 6 with the heavy cream.
  • If you prefer a thicker soup, let the gnocchi cook a few minutes longer, or stir in 1 tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons of cold water during the last 5 minutes of simmering.
  • This soup freezes well if you omit the spinach and heavy cream until reheating. Add those components after thawing and reheating the broth base.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://tastethisplate.com/easy-olive-garden-copycat-gnocchi-soup/