Easy Chicken Gnocchi Soup

If you’ve ever had Olive Garden’s Chicken Gnocchi Soup, then you are in for a treat with this recipe. My Easy Chicken Gnocchi Soup is the creamiest take on that famous and delicious restaurant classic. My family absolutely devours it and I know yours will too!

 

Easy Chicken Gnocchi Soup Recipe

Are you ready for this warm, creamy, veggie-packed soup? Once you try it and see how easy it is to make, there’s no going back! Light enough for summer and hearty enough for winter, it really is perfect year-round for family lunch or dinner. Celery, onion, carrots, and spinach help me feel like this decadent recipe is also full of nutrition. Pre-cooked chicken speeds up the process and gets this meal on the table in 30 minutes or less.

Variations to Chicken Gnocchi Soup:

While carrots, onion, and celery are traditional in many soup bases, you could replace the spinach in this recipe with kale if you preferred. Kale does require a bit more cooking time than spinach to achieve softness and proper texture, so keep that in mind if you decide to swap. I would also make sure to remove any of the woody stems and just use the leaf portion of the plant. You can also skip the greens altogether, but in my opinion, they do make for a tastier and prettier plate.

Gnocchi also comes in several varieties these days – from cheese to spinach, pumpkin and semolina. I personally think cheese and spinach are no-brainers to try, but semolina would also be delicious!

Ingredients:

• butter
• sweet onion
• celery
• carrots
• garlic
• baby spinach
• all purpose flour
• chicken broth
• half and half
• Italian seasoning
• paprika
• mustard powder
• red pepper flakes
• salt
• black pepper
• cooked chicken breast
• potato gnocchi
• optional: Parmesan cheese and French Bread

How to Make Easy Chicken Gnocchi Soup:

Start by preparing all your vegetables – dicing your onion, celery, and carrots, mincing the garlic, and rough chopping the spinach.

In a large dutch oven, melt butter in a large stock pot over medium heat.

Add the diced onions, celery, and carrots and cook until softened about 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon.

Add the garlic and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until fragrant, stirring with a wooden spoon.

Cover the vegetables and garlic with the flour and stir to combine.  Cook for 1-2 minutes until the flour begins to turn a golden color and makes a roux.

Next, add the chicken broth and half and half in batches, stirring to incorporate as you go and be careful not to add in the liquid too fast.

Season with the Italian seasoning, paprika, mustard powder, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.

Add the gnocchi and simmer for about 3-5 minutes. Refer to the package instructions for the exact amount of time to simmer. Most gnocchi float to the top when they are ready.

Reduce heat to low and add the cooked chicken and spinach. Simmer on low for 2-3 minutes until spinach is wilted and serve!

If desired, top my Easy Chicken Gnocchi Soup with shredded Parmesan and serve with French bread.

For more delicious soups the whole family will enjoy, check out these recipes:

• Healthy Low Country Gumbo and Rice
• Healthy Cheeseburger Soup
• The Best Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup