Chicken Gnocchi Soup

If you are the true lover of a budget meal, then you must be familiar with the chain restaurant Olive Garden and their famous all-you-can-eat soup, salad, and breadstick combination for the mere price of $6.95. I have to admit that this meal was one of my guilty pleasures when we lived in the state of California, and I especially loved the Chicken Gnocchi soup they debuted as one of their several soup offerings. 

Daydreaming about this soup, I found myself looking online for a similar recipe, and tried my hand at one that turned out to be so good!! Best of all, it is somewhat healthy, lasts for days, and is budget-friendly comfort food at it's best. Stuart and I will definitely be making this once a month or so as winter sets in!

Ingredients:

4 Tbsp butter

4 Tbsp olive oil

1/4 cup flour

1 medium onion, diced

1/2 cup celery, sliced

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 cup carrots, shredded

1 cup fresh spinach, coarsely chopped

16 ounce package gnocchi (available in the grocery store pasta section)

1 cup cooked chicken breast, diced (I used Trader Joe’s cooked grilled chicken)

1 quart half and half

2 14-ounce cans chicken broth (for creamier soup, use just one can)

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

Salt and pepper to taste

 

Directions:

In a large stockpot, sauté the onion, celery and garlic in the butter and olive oil. When the onion is clear, add the flour and form a roux. Stir and cook a minute. Add the half and half.

Meanwhile in another pan, cook the gnocchi. Add the carrots and chicken to the stockpot. Stir often and when it gets thicker, add the chicken broth, gnocchi, spinach and seasonings. Cover and heat through.

(makes approximately 6 servings)

 Yum yum - pass the bread and butter!!