Recipe: Chicken and Gnocchi Soup

I made the most delicious soup this weekend while my in-laws were here visiting. For the longest time I have been craving Olive Garden's Chicken and Gnocci soup. We haven't gotten around to going, so I took matters into my own hands and made my own (breadsticks too!). It was AMAZING. According to my husband, it was better than Olive Garden's, and he would know because he worked there for three years and ate it all the time. :)

Chicken and Gnocchi Soup

Ingredients:
1 tablespoons extra virgin oil
4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons flour
1 quart half and half
1/2 cup celery, finely diced
1 cup onion, finely diced
2 minced garlic cloves
1 14 ounces can of chicken broth
1 cup carrots, finely shredded
1 cup chicken breasts, cooked and diced
1 package gnocchi, cooked
1 cup of spinach coarsely chopped
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon parsley

Directions:

Saute the onion, celery, and garlic in the butter and olive oil over medium heat until the onion becomes translucent. Add the flour and make a roux. Let the butter and flour mixture cook for about a minute before adding 1 quart of half and half.

Cook gnocchi according to package directions.

Add the carrots and chicken in the roux. Once the mixture becomes thick, add the chicken broth. Once the mixture thickens again, add the cooked gnocchi, spinach, and seasoning; simmer until soup is heated through.

Since my in-laws were here, we had several things planned throughout the day. So I prepared this in the morning in a stockpot, then transferred it in the crockpot, and when we got home for dinner it was hot and waiting. The flavors were able to set in for a long time and there's just something so nice to come home to a dinner already made. Just had to heat the breadsticks (I used this recipe) and we were set.

I wanted to make a large pot so we could have leftovers, so I added a couple cans of evaporated milk since you can use it just like half and half, and more of the veggies, chicken, and gnocchi. You can get the gnocchi in the pasta aisle, just make sure you get potato gnocchi and not just regular gnocchi pasta.

If you are looking for a hearty soup full of rich flavor to impress your guests, this is it!

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