Copycat Olive Garden Chicken & Gnocchi Soup

This soup has all the elements of a perfect comfort meal. I have made some changes to the original recipe but will include what the “original recipe” calls for as well. Here’s how I made it!

Ingredients:

• The meat from a whole chicken (can be a rotisserie chicken or a whole chicken you cook)

• 4-5 celery ribs, chopped into small pieces

• 2-3 large carrots, chopped into small pieces

• 1 onion, diced

• 5-6 cloves of garlic, minced

• 6 cups chicken or beef broth

• Either 2 packages of store bought gnocchi or homemade gnocchi (Making it for this soup was a first for me, so I will not be sharing my own recipe to make gnocchi just yet, maybe next time though)

• 1 1/2 - 2 cups heavy cream

• 2-3 cups chopped kale or spinach (The original recipe calls for spinach, but spinach in soup gives me the ick so I subbed it out for kale)

• Season with: salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, extra fresh rosemary, and bay leaves

• 2-3 tbsp butter or olive oil

Method:

1. In a large pot over medium heat, add in your olive oil or butter and allow it to melt. Add in your onion, celery, and carrots and sauté until they begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Add in your garlic and cook until fragrant.

2. Add in your broth, cooked chicken, and seasonings (if unsure how to season, start with 1 tsp salt and pepper and 2 tsp everything else, if its not seasoned enough for your liking then add more). Simmer on medium low for 8-10 minutes

3. While your soup is simmering, if using homemade gnocchi, go ahead and boil them now, pulling them out as soon as they rise because they will finish in your soup when you transfer them. Put them on a plate when you are done cooking them. If using store bought gnocchi, add in the next step.

4. Add in your cream, kale or spinach, and gnocchi to your soup, allow to come together and continue to cook for around 3-4 minutes (or as long as your gnocchi package tells you to cook them) and then serve.

Let me know if you guys try this one and what you think!