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Pesto Chicken Gnocchi Soup

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This Pesto Chicken Gnocchi Soup is made with rotisserie chicken, pesto, gnocchi, fresh spinach, and chicken broth. It relies on prepared ingredients and requires minimal cooking skills. Add this soup to your collection of rotisserie chicken recipes for easy weeknight dinners!

white bowl of pesto chicken gnocchi soup with spoon on black and white napkin with parmesan shreds on gray surface

Pesto Chicken Gnocchi Soup in 15 Minutes

I’m sure you’ve heard of Olive Garden’s Chicken Gnocchi Soup.

This is a similar concept, only without the half and half or heavy cream.

In fact, this gnocchi soup only has 5 ingredients…gnocchi, rotisserie chicken, pesto, spinach, and chicken broth.

Here at TKG HQ, we almost always have those ingredients on hand.

When it comes to packaged gnocchi, I love to keep it on hand for these last-minute meals.

I really want to check out DeLallo Whole Wheat Potato Gnocchi but for today’s recipe, I used regular potato gnocchi because it’s so widely available.

opened package of gnocchi on stainless counter surface

white bowl of pesto chicken gnocchi soup with spoon on black and white napkin with parmesan shreds on gray surface

A healthy twist on Olive Garden’s Gnocchi Soup

Olive Garden’s Chicken Gnocchi Soup calls for half and half, or heavy cream, as the soup base.

Nothing wrong with that, but instead of using heavy cream, I make it with a chicken broth base (or vegetable broth) and add a little pesto for flavor and color.

Here’s how I get this gnocchi soup on the table in 15 minutes:

Step 1. Add dry gnocchi and chicken stock to a soup pot.

Step 2. Bring to a boil.

Step 3. Add shredded chicken, pesto, and spinach; continue boiling.

Step 4. Continue boiling until ingredients are warmed through, and serve!

white bowl of pesto chicken gnocchi soup with spoon on black and white napkin on gray surface

How to use rotisserie chicken:

When we buy fresh-cooked, rotisserie chicken from the store, we don’t just bring it home and devour it in one meal.

Instead, we remove all the meat (it’s easier while it’s still warm), eat a couple bites, and turn it into meals, preferably with other healthy ingredients surrounding it.

This way, we maximize our dollars and find ourselves with a delicious protein we can spread across a few meals.

More rotisserie chicken recipes!

Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup

Rotisserie Chicken Teriyaki Lettuce Cups are an easy, light way to eat chicken and quinoa.

One Pot Chicken and Broccoli Rice can be made with little planning and prep.

Chicken Teriyaki Fried Brown Rice combines rice, chicken, and store-bought Teriyaki sauce.

Chicken Gnocchi Soup Ingredients

  • packaged gnocchi
  • reduced-sodium chicken broth
  • cooked chicken breast
  • pesto (packaged or homemade)
  • fresh spinach (could use frozen too!)

Kitchen tools I use for this recipe

white bowl of pesto chicken gnocchi soup with spoon on black and white napkin on gray surface

Want more quick weeknight dinners?

My In-A-Hurry Kale Chickpea Soup can be on the table in 15 minutes.

One Pot Ham and Peas Alfredo is an easy skillet meal the whole family will love!

Sauteed Sesame Kale Noodles are a quick pasta dish with an Asian twist.

If you love pesto, check these out!

Tortellini Pesto Pasta Salad

How to Make Arugula Pesto

(top) white bowl of pesto chicken gnocchi soup with spoon on black and white napkin on gray surface (center) title text (bottom) white bowl of pesto chicken gnocchi soup with spoon on black and white napkin with parmesan shreds on gray surface

5 ingredient Pesto Chicken Gnocchi Soup in 10 minutes! #gnocchisoup #pesto #rotisseriechicken #weeknightmeal #easydinner #soup
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5 from 13 votes

Pesto Chicken Gnocchi Soup

This Pesto Chicken Gnocchi Soup is made with rotisserie chicken, pesto, gnocchi, fresh spinach, and chicken broth. It relies on prepared ingredients and requires minimal cooking skills, so it's ready in 15 minutes! Add this soup to your collection of rotisserie chicken recipes for easy weeknight dinners.
Course Soup
Cuisine Italian
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 6 1-cup servings
Calories 214kcal
Author Traci Antonovich

Ingredients

  • 17.5 oz packaged Gnocchi
  • 1 quart Reduced Sodium Chicken Broth
  • 1 cup Rotisserie Chicken Breast shredded
  • 2 Tbsp Pesto
  • 1 cup Fresh Spinach or 1 cup frozen spinach
  • Black Pepper to taste

Instructions

  • In a 3.5 quart soup pot; combine GNOCCHI and CHICKEN BROTH; bring to boil long enough to soften gnocchi (a few minutes).
  • Reduce heat to med-low; add CHICKEN, PESTO, and SPINACH LEAVES; simmer until ingredients are warmed through (3-4 min); serve warm.
  • Garnish with Parmesan cheese if desired

RECIPE NOTES

Yield: 6 cups
Serving size: 1 cup
Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy, and are estimates based on unbranded ingredients acquired from a nutrition database. For accurate calculations, please refer to brand packaging information and consult your nutritionist.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Pesto Chicken Gnocchi Soup
Amount Per Serving (1 cup)
Calories 214 Calories from Fat 36
% Daily Value*
Fat 4g6%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Cholesterol 18mg6%
Sodium 443mg19%
Potassium 217mg6%
Carbohydrates 31g10%
Fiber 2g8%
Protein 11g22%
Vitamin A 570IU11%
Vitamin C 1.4mg2%
Calcium 39mg4%
Iron 3.5mg19%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Did you make this recipe? Tag me!Mention @thekitchengirl or tag #thekitchengirl

(top) white bowl of pesto chicken gnocchi soup with spoon on black and white napkin on gray surface (bottom) title text

Traci Antonovich
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Traci Antonovich

Recipe author and food photographer at The Kitchen Girl
I'm on a mission to help you eat healthy AND save money through simple, everyday recipes, product reviews, and budget-friendly kitchen tips.
Traci Antonovich
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Comments

  2. Andrea says

    09/08/2019 at 4:52 pm


    I’m so excited about this soup. I love regular chicken gnocchi but can’t have it any more. This is definitely a perfect alternative.

    Reply

  3. Annissa says

    09/08/2019 at 4:50 pm


    What an easy soup to make. I love the flavors pesto adds. The spinach adds a pop of color and a burst of nutrition. Wonderful!

    Reply

  4. Jessica Formicola says

    09/08/2019 at 4:15 pm


    I love pesto, and this soup looks incredible! I can’t wait for a chilly fall day so that I can try it!

    Reply

  6. Danielle Wolter says

    09/20/2018 at 5:26 am


    10 minutes? sold! this sounds amazing. gnocchi is one of my favorite things, and i love the pesto. I’m a sucker for creamy soups, but my waistline does not agree, so i love this healthier twist.

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      02/19/2018 at 4:31 pm

      Thanks, Shadi…I’ve been loving this combo for some time now! Not sure what made me think of it…other than my sheer obsession for pesto 🙂

  16. Carle says

    02/19/2018 at 9:13 am

    With all of this cold weather, a warm bowl of comfort like this is just the thing. I love how quick and easy it is too!

    Reply

  17. Carolyn says

    11/07/2016 at 3:26 am

    Was beautiful and really handy to have such a quick and satisfying soup. Especially as at tail end of a cold virus and just what I needed! thanks Traci

    Reply

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