Chicken Gnocchi Soup (Olive Garden Copycat)

I have made this twice and we LOVE it! The second time I made it I took it to a Relief Society activity and it was GONE before the night was over.

Chicken and Gnocchi Soup – Olive Garden Copycat Recipe

1 C chicken breasts, cooked and diced (you can use a rotisserie chicken)
4 T butter
4 T flour
1 quart half and half
1 (14 ounce) can chicken broth
1 C celery, finely diced

2 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 C carrots, finely shredded
1 1/2 C onion, finely diced
1 C fresh spinach, coarsely chopped
1 T extra virgin oil
1/2 t thyme
1/2 t parsley
Freshly grated parmesan cheese – optional
1 pound potato gnocchi – can buy this in the gourmet section of many

   supermarkets or the boxed pasta section

Directions:

Sauté the onion, celery, and garlic in the butter and olive oil, over medium heat when 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.

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

 

*I used 1/2 & 1/2 one time and another time I used 2 cups milk and 2 cups heavy cream. Both were yummy.