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About This Recipe
Let’s make a healthier version of Olive Garden’s Chicken Gnocchi Soup at home, friends!
This soup may be one of the most delicious things I’ve ever tasted. I’m so serious. It’s SO flavorful and so so cozy—and I’m going to need you to make it right now! I am so happy with how it turned out!! It makes me feel so good that I can enjoy one of my favorite soups in a healthier way.
To lighten up this Chicken Gnocchi Soup, I used low-fat evaporated milk instead of half and half. This helps cut back on some of the fat. I also snuck in some extra vegetables to make each serving more voluminous while keeping calories down.
What I love most about this soup is that everything comes together quickly in just one pot! The prep will go even quicker if you use a tool like this vegetable chopper to dice your veggies. I found it on Amazon and it’s a REAL game changer.
This soup will quickly become a weeknight staple that the whole family will love—especially the kids!
Want more cozy chicken soup recipes? Try my Lemon Ginger Chicken Soup, Italian Chicken Cabbage Soup or Chicken Pot Pie Soup!
Why You’ll Love This Lightened-Up Chicken Gnocchi Soup
- So incredibly CREAMY and FLAVORFUL!
- Great weeknight meal!
- Easy to follow recipe that comes together quickly.
- Only ONE pot required. Easy recipe = easier clean up!
- Significantly lightened up from the traditional version.
- Truly a family favorite. Everyone will LOVE this soup!
- Chicken breast – Juicy and tender chicken adds a lot of protein and flavor.
- Butter
- Olive oil
- Vegetables – I used carrots, celery, onion, frozen cauliflower, and baby spinach!
- Cornstarch – This will help thicken the soup.
- Evaporated milk – This is what we’ll use to make the soup creamy instead of the half and half. I used low fat evaporated milk.
- Seasonings – Grab some Italian seasoning, celery salt, salt, and pepper.
- Garlic cloves – freshly minced garlic adds sooo much flavor!
- Chicken broth – You could also use vegetable broth.
- Potato Gnocchi – You can find this at your grocery store on the pasta aisle. It may also be in the refrigerated pasta section.
- Fresh parsley – For serving.
- Grated parmesan cheese – Also for serving!
How To Make
- In a Dutch oven or large stock pot, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Then, add chicken and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Sauté until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through, about 4-5 minutes. Remove and set aside.
- Reduce the heat to medium and add butter. As soon as it’s melted, add the carrots, celery, and onion. Sauté until the onion is softened and translucent, about 5 minutes, adjusting the heat as needed so it does not brown.
- Then, stir in the Italian seasoning, celery salt, pepper, and garlic until combined.
- Splash two tablespoons of evaporated milk into a small bowl or cup. Add the cornstarch and whisk to form a cornstarch slurry.
- Add the cornstarch slurry, remaining evaporated milk, and chicken broth to the soup. Bring to a boil for a brief second to help thicken. Then, reduce heat, partially cover the pot, and let simmer for 10 minutes.
- Stir in the gnocchi and cauliflower. Continue to simmer with the pot partially covered until the gnocchi is tender and cooked through, about 8 to 10 minutes.
- Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the chicken and spinach.
- Taste check and add additional salt, pepper, or seasonings as needed.
- Serve hot with a sprinkle of parmesan, parsley, and a few cracks of black pepper!
Do I need to use regular gnocchi in this soup recipe?
I haven’t tried another kind of gnocchi, but I don’t see why not! You could try the sweet potato or cauliflower gnocchi from Trader Joe’s and I’m sure it would taste delicious.
Can I replace the gnocchi with regular pasta?
You sure can! I think an elbow or egg noodle would taste great.
What if I want to use a different protein?
Go for it. You could try crumbled turkey or even Italian sausage.
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure leave a review, tag me on Instagram or TikTok at @LaurenFitFoodie or hashtag #LaurenFitFoodie so I can see your creations!
Creamy Lightened-up Chicken Gnocchi Soup (One Pot)
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp olive oil (15g)
- 1.5 lb. boneless skinless chicken breast cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 Tbsp unsalted butter (15g)
- 3 large carrots (250g) diced
- 3 large celery stalks (140g) diced
- 1 medium yellow onion (172g) diced
- 3 Tbsp cornstarch (24g)
- 2 (12-oz. cans) low fat evaporated milk (708g)
- 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1/4 tsp celery salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 32 oz. fat free chicken broth
- 16 oz. potato gnocchi
- 4 oz. baby spinach
- 3.5 cups frozen cauliflower florets (297g)
- Fresh parsley for serving
- Grated parmesan cheese for serving
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Instructions
- To a Dutch oven or large pot, heat the olive oil over medium-high. Add the chicken and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Sauté until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through, about 4-5 minutes. Remove to a plate and set aside.
- Reduce the heat to medium and add the butter. As soon as it is melted, add the carrots, celery, and onion. Sauté until the onion is softened, about 5 minutes, adjusting the heat as needed so that it turns translucent but does not brown.
- Stir in the Italian seasoning, celery salt, pepper, and garlic until combined.
- Splash two tablespoons of evaporated milk into a small bowl or cup. Add the cornstarch and whisk to form a cornstarch slurry.
- Add the cornstarch slurry, remaining evaporated milk, and chicken broth. Bring the liquid to a boil for a brief second (necessary for thickening), then reduce heat, partially cover the pot, and let simmer for 10 minutes to thicken.
- Stir in the gnocchi and cauliflower. Continue to simmer with the pot partially covered, until the gnocchi is tender and cooked through, about 8 to 10 minutes.
- Remove the pot from heat and stir in the chicken and spinach.
- Taste check and add additional salt, pepper, or seasonings as needed.
- Serve hot with a sprinkle of parmesan, parsley, and a few cracks of black pepper.
Equipment
- Vegetable chopper optional
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition is hand-calculated and accurate. No autocalulations! However, note that values can vary based on the brands you use and if you substitute ingredients.
