Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup has a rich base of chicken broth, half & half, and a medley of vegetables, it’s both hearty and satisfying! This creamy gnocchi soup recipe captures the essence of this restaurant favorite, making it easy to recreate at home with accessible ingredients.
By incorporating simple ingredients like diced chicken, gnocchi, and fresh spinach, anyone can bring a taste of Olive Garden to their kitchen. The combination of herbs adds a subtle aromatic touch, enhancing the overall taste of this chicken gnocchi soup.
What is gnocchi soup?
Gnocchi soup is a hearty and comforting dish featuring gnocchi, a type of Italian dumpling made from potatoes or flour. This soup typically combines various vegetables, meats, and a creamy base, creating a wholesome meal.
The texture of gnocchi adds a delightful chewiness, making it a filling option. The creamy broth is often achieved through the use of ingredients like half-and-half and chicken broth. Seasonings such as thyme and nutmeg elevate the flavors.
Gnocchi soup can be enjoyed year-round, whether in colder months as a warming dish or as a lighter meal in warmer seasons. Its versatility allows for various adaptations based on personal preference as well.
Why you’ll love this Chicken Gnocchi Soup Recipe
- Healthy(ish) dish. The combination of vegetables like spinach, carrots, and celery contributes to a nutritious profile. The diced chicken provides protein, making it a complete dish. Some other ingredients add a richness that may not be the healthiest, but they are delicious!
- Simple steps & storage. Preparation is straightforward. With easy steps, this soup can be whipped up in under an hour, making it ideal for busy days. Storing leftovers is easy, allowing for convenient meals throughout the week.
- Versatile. This recipe also allows for customization. Individuals can adjust the seasonings to suit their preferences, enhancing the personal touch. It is also a great option for gatherings. Whether for family dinners or social events, it can please a crowd!
Ingredients for Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup
Onion: Use 1 cup of yellow onion, diced, in this soup recipe.
Celery: You will need ½ cup of chopped celery.
Garlic: This recipe calls for 2 cloves of garlic, minced. Save time by keeping minced garlic in stock in your refrigerator!
Carrots: Add in 1 cup of finely shredded carrots, but you can use diced ones if you prefer.
Spinach: You’ll need 1 cup of coarsely chopped spinach for the soup.
Chicken breast: For the protein in this soup, add 1 cup of diced, cooked chicken. Go ahead and use leftover chicken you have on hand or even use a rotisserie chicken.
Butter: Use 4 TBSP of butter to cook the onions in.
Olive oil: Add 1 TBSP of olive oil to the butter for added richness and flavor.
Flour: ¼ cup of flour is needed to help thicken up the soup.
Half and half: You will need 4 cups (1 quart) of half & half to provide the creaminess in the soup.
Chicken broth: Using two 14.5-oz cans of chicken broth creates the base of this soup.
Salt: Just ½ tsp of salt gives the right amount of flavor to the soup.
Seasonings: Season the soup perfectly with ½ tsp thyme and parsley, as well as ¼ tsp of nutmeg.
Gnocchi: You’ll need one 16-oz package of pre-made, ready to use gnocchi. This can usually be found in the refrigerated section of the grocery store, near the cheese.
How to make Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi soup
Prep
Prepare the veggies and meat before assembling the soup. Dice the onion and celery, mince the garlic, shred the carrots, chop the spinach, and cook & dice the chicken.
Cook
In a large saucepan over medium heat melt the butter, add in the oil and mix. Add the onion, celery, and garlic and cook for about 3-4 minutes or until the onions become translucent.
Whisk in the flour and cook for about one minute. Then add in the half & half and chicken broth, whisk to combine and bring to a simmer until thickened.
Add the salt, thyme, parsley, nutmeg, carrots, spinach, cooked chicken, and gnocchi. Simmer for about 10-15 minutes until everything is heated through.
Serve and enjoy!
Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi soup
Ingredients
- 1 cup onion finely diced
- ½ cup celery finely diced
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 cup carrots finely shredded
- 1 cup fresh spinach coarsely chopped
- 1 cup chicken breast cooked and diced
- 4 TBSP butter
- 1 TBSP olive oil
- ¼ cup flour
- 4 cups half and half
- 28 oz two 14.5-oz cans chicken broth
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- ½ tsp dried parsley
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- 16 oz gnocchi (ready to use)
Instructions
- Prep: Dice the onion and celery, mince the garlic, shred the carrots, chop the spinach, and cook & dice the chicken.
- Cook: In a large saucepan over medium heat melt the butter, then add in the oil and mix to combine. Add in the onion, celery, and garlic. Proceed to cook for about 3-4 minutes or until the onions become translucent.
- Whisk in the flour and cook for about 1 minute. Add in the half & half and chicken broth, whisk to combine and bring the mixture to a simmer until it has thickened.
- Add the salt, thyme, parsley, nutmeg, carrots, spinach, cooked chicken, and gnocchi. Simmer for about 10-15minutes until everything is heated through. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
📫 Save this recipe! Send it to your email! 📩
I consent to receiving emails from this site.
HOW TO STORE LEFTOVER CHICKEN GNOCCHI SOUP?
If there are leftovers, keep this soup stored in an airtight container for no more than 3 days. To reheat simply place it in a pot on the stove and stir until warmed through or reheat it by the bowl’s worth in the microwave.
Can you freeze Chicken Gnocchi soup?
This soup doesn’t freeze very well because of the half and half cream in it as well as the gnocchi. The gnocchi will get soggy as the starches break down. Better just to eat this soup fresh or within a couple of days!
Time saving tips for making Chicken Gnocchi soup
Use a rotisserie chicken instead of cooking and dicing a chicken breast. I use rotisserie chicken in most of my chicken recipes because it is so easy and the chicken is delicious. To save even more time, purchase several rotisserie chickens the next time you are at Costco and then shred them all at once, portioning out the chicken into freezer bags. I put all the bags in the freezer and just pull one out in the morning on days that I know I need chicken for dinner.
Make your own mirepoix and keep it on hand in your freezer. Mirepoix is a fancy word describing a mixture of chopped celery, onion and carrots. Spending a little bit of time a few times a year chopping and prepping veggies will save you a ton of time later on!
Use minced garlic. I always keep minced garlic in my refrigerator to use in recipes. That way I know I always have some ready and it saves a couple minutes during dinner prep.
Is it possible to prepare the Chicken Gnocchi Soup in a crockpot?
Yes, the Chicken Gnocchi Soup can be made in a crockpot. Begin by sautéing the onions, garlic, and celery in butter. Then, add all ingredients except for the gnocchi and half and half into the crockpot. Cook on low for 6-8 hours, then stir in the cooked gnocchi and half and half during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
What can be used as a substitute for half and half in this recipe?
A mixture of whole milk and heavy cream can effectively replace half and half. Using 2 parts whole milk to 1 part heavy cream will mimic the creaminess of half and half. Alternatively, a combination of almond milk and heavy cream can also work for a dairy-free option.
LOOKING FOR MORE GREAT SOUPS? CHECK THESE OUT!
- Creamy Vegetable Soup
- Classic Chicken Noodle Soup
- Chicken Pot Pie Soup
- Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
- Hurst 15 Bean Soup
- Creamy Chicken Wild Rice Soup
- French Onion Tomato Soup
- 20-Minute Loaded Baked Potato Soup
- Wisconsin Cauliflower Soup
- Chicken Alfredo Soup
- Three Cheese Soup
- Cheesy Broccoli Potato Soup
- Copycat Panera 10 Vegetable Soup
- Crockpot Ham and Bean Soup
- Homemade Chicken Stroganoff
- Cheesy Tomato Soup
- Mulligatawny- Chicken Curry Soup
Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup is deliciously creamy and takes less than an hour to make. This creamy gnocchi soup recipe tastes just like the restaurant version!
Gb says
The olive garden I was at was skimpy on the gnocchi. I has one piece it cream chicken. Stop being cheapos olive garden.
Nicole says
Haha, well at least when you make it yourself you can control the portions and get all the gnocchi and chicken you want 🙂
Carlene says
I made this recipe. It had a great flavor. However, when I make it again, I will only use 1/2 a pkg of gnocchi as my family found that there was way too much in it and made the soup too “pasty” for their tastes.
Nellie says
Thanks for letting us know! You definitely can adjust the amount of gnocchi according to personal preference.
DD says
This is the BEST copycat version of Olive Gardens gnocchi soup!! I have tried several other recipes but this one is a keeper. Highly recommend making this soup!! I always serve the soup with homemade bread! Thanks for the amazing recipe !! Oh, I also wanted to say my 2 picky eaters love this soup as well!!
DD
Nicole says
Thats so awesome! Glad to hear it!
Jonathan says
The nutmeg is a nice touch.
Jessica says
We think so too Jonathan!