1wholerotisserie chicken, shredded into bite-sized pieces
1tablespoonextra virgin olive oil
1mediumonion, diced finely
3clovesgarlic, minced
3mediumcarrots, peeled and diced
2stalkscelery, diced
6cupslow-sodium chicken broth
1teaspoondried thyme
1teaspoondried basil
1leafbay leaf
1poundpotato gnocchi
1cupheavy cream
2cupsfresh spinach, roughly chopped
to tastesalt and freshly ground black pepper
for garnishfresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the extra virgin olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion, carrots, and celery, sautéing for about 5-7 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender and the onion is translucent.
Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute, or until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
Pour in the low-sodium chicken broth and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Add the shredded rotisserie chicken, dried thyme, dried basil, and the bay leaf. Allow the soup to simmer for about 10 minutes, which will help the flavors to meld beautifully.
Carefully add the potato gnocchi to the pot. Cook them according to the package instructions, typically around 2-3 minutes, or until they rise to the surface, indicating they are cooked.
Once the gnocchi are tender, stir in the heavy cream and freshly chopped spinach. Let the soup heat through for an extra 2-3 minutes, allowing the spinach to wilt and the soup to become rich and creamy.
Remove the bay leaf from the soup, then season generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper to your taste. Stir well to incorporate the seasoning.
Serve the soup hot in bowls, garnished with a sprinkle of freshly chopped parsley for a pop of color.
Notes
Serve with crusty bread or a garden salad on the side.