Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup Recipe

Olive Garden’s Chicken Gnocchi soup is one of the most popular soup recipes. This Olive Garden copycat recipe is a rich soup with roasted tender chicken, soft pillowy gnocchi, shredded carrots, celery, and fresh spinach in a warm bowl of goodness. Hands down, this is one of my favorite Olive Garden copycat recipes. You can prepare this comforting soup for the whole family.  If you love gnocchi, you will love this soup.

Copycat Olive Garden chicken gnocchi soup in two bowls.


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Easy copycat Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi soup recipe

This is an Olive Garden favorite, but this soup is so good you will want to make a double batch every time you make it.

The Chicken and Gnocchi soup will taste like you spent hours at the stove, making your family a delightful chicken and potato gnocchi soup. You can make this soup in about 30 minutes.

Everyone Loves Chicken and Gnocchi soup

Why does everyone love this recipe? I  think this is one of those chicken soup recipes everyone loves because it is made with tender gnocchi, juicy chicken, fresh carrots and celery, and a perfectly seasoned chicken broth. To accompany this soup, make salad and breadsticks with this classic Olive Garden dish.

Olive Garden Chicken and Gnocchi Soup Ingredients

I love this easy gnocchi soup, which uses simple ingredients. In no time at all, your entire family will fall in love with this soup that you made in the comfort of your own home. Go to the recipe card for the exact quantities and steps to make this recipe. 

  • Butter – you can use either salted butter or unsalted butter 
  • Olive oil – is used to saute the onions and celery 
  • White onion – I like the white onion for this recipe. It tends to be a bit sweeter and has less heat than yellow onion. 
  • Celery – fresh celery adds a beautiful earthy flavor 
  • Fresh garlic – to make the best soup, use fresh garlic so the flavor sings through 
  • All-purpose flour – this is used to make a roux, the base of your creamy soup. 
  • Half and half—I recommend using half and half instead of whole milk; it reheats better. If you want something completely decadent, swap the half-and-half for heavy cream.
  • Low-sodium chicken broth – I would use it if you have homemade broth. 
  • Dried thyme – adds a beautiful earthy flavor 
  • Dried parsley flakes – add a lovely pop of color to your recipe
  • Ground Nutmeg – enhances the flavor of your soup 
  • Shredded carrots – you can purchase carrot matchsticks to make this easy  
  • Cooked chicken breast – If you have leftover rotisserie chicken, I suggest this. The Olive Garden does not use this, but it is an opportunity to drive up the flavor. Also, this recipe can be made with cooked chicken thighs.
  • Potato Gnocchi – My keto friends will swap out the gnocchi for cauliflower gnocchi. Trader Joe’s cauliflower gnocchi is a favorite. If you can find it, some people love this with mini gnocchi.
  • Spinach – regular spinach is fine, but I prefer fresh baby spinach.
Ingredients for copycat Olive Garden chicken gnocchi soup.

Should you use store-bought or homemade gnocchi?

Store-bought gnocchi is perfect for this recipe. You can take the extra step in preparing homemade gnocchi, but premade potato gnocchi works well. Gnocchi can be found in a couple of different places in your supermarket, and you do have options to purchase them. 

  • Many local stores sell shelf-stable potato gnocchi in the pasta aisles. I have purchased this at Walmart and Kroger, and I have been told that some dollar stores carry gnocchi. 
  • I have seen fluffy gnocchi sold in the fresh sections of higher-end grocery stores, where you would pick up a prepared meal.
  • I have even found it available in the grocery store’s frozen section.

Either type of gnocchi will work well. Your family will love this. Have a hard time finding gnocchi? Make your homemade potato gnocchi.

How to make Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi

It is straightforward to make this Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi soup recipe. You will find that all of the ingredients are very common in your average grocery store.

First, you will sauté the vegetables in butter over medium-high heat. Then, add some flour and cook that through. You will then add the half-and-half and chicken broth. Bring it to a low boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer.

Cooked chicken and gnocchi are added to your seasoned broth and vegetables. Adjust your seasoning, and you will be ready to serve this soup in less than an hour.

Collage of making copycat Olive Garden chicken gnocchi soup.

Can you use a Crockpot for this recipe?

Yes, you can. I like to saute the vegetables first before I prepare the soup. You don’t need to do that if you like.

Simply place all of the vegetables, except the kale, chicken, seasonings, and stock, into the crockpot. Cook on low for 4 hours. Shred the chicken, add the remaining ingredients, and cook for another hour.

If the soup is too thin, make a cornstarch slurry of 1 tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with two tablespoons of water. Stir the cornstarch slurry into the soup, turn the crockpot on high, and stir until the soup has thickened.

Overhead view of copycat Olive Garden chicken gnocchi soup in two bowls.

How to Store and Reheat Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup

  • Refrigerate any leftover soup for up to 5 days in an airtight container.
  • Reheat – this creamy soup is best reheated in a large pot on the stove over low heat. This way the creamy broth won’t break down.

Can you freeze copycat Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup?

Yes, you can freeze this soup. The soup stays well in the freezer for several months when stored in an airtight container. Thaw the soup in the refrigerator overnight.

Copycat Olive Garden chicken gnocchi soup on a spoon over a bowl of it.

More Olive Garden Recipes

Popular Soup Recipes

Love soup? Check out these soup recipes and try one of my great dessert recipes to complete your meal.

Look at more of my copycat Olive Garden recipes to make your favorites at home.

Copycat Olive Garden chicken gnocchi soup in two bowls.

Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup

Grab a large pot and make some of this delicious soup, it has pillowy soft potato gnocchi, tender chicken, carrots, and more.
4.97 from 498 votes
Print Pin Rate Add to Collection
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup, Olive Garden Recipe
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 369kcal

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons Butter
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 cup finely diced onion
  • 1/2 cup finely diced celery
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 quart half-and-half
  • 28 ounces chicken broth
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
  • 1 cup carrots finely shredded
  • 1 cup spinach leaves coarsely chopped
  • 1 cup chicken breast cooked, and diced
  • 16 ounces package ready-to-use gnocchi

Instructions

  • Melt the butter and olive oil in a large pot or a Dutch oven over medium heat.
  • Add the chopped onion, celery, and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally until the onion becomes translucent. 
  • Whisk in the flour and cook for about 1 minute. Whisk in the half-and-half. Simmer until thickened.
  • Whisk in the chicken broth. Simmer until thickened again. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon salt, thyme, parsley, nutmeg (if using), shredded carrots, spinach, chicken, and gnocchi.
  • Simmer until the soup is heated through. Before serving, season with additional salt, if necessary.

Video

Notes

  • You can use leftover roitisserie chicken for extra flavor
  • You may want to use less thyme than suggested
  • Some gnocchi is very large, you can cut these pieces in half
  • You may want to add additional salt to the final soup, this soup does not have a lot of salt in it, especially if you use low-sodium chicken broth

Nutrition

Calories: 369kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 695mg | Potassium: 420mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 3645IU | Vitamin C: 11.9mg | Calcium: 159mg | Iron: 2.8mg

About Stephanie Manley

I recreate your favorite restaurant recipes, so you can prepare these dishes at home. I help you cook dinner, and serve up dishes you know your family will love. You can find most of the ingredients for all of the recipes in your local grocery store.

Stephanie is the author of CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home, and CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home 2.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Khris C.

    Second time I made this soup and it was delicious both times! Recipe was easy to follow! My whole family loves it! I love the flavor and it was definitely NOT bland. It was rich and creamy! Thanks for sharing!

  2. Mary

    This is to die for delicious! Sorry to disagree with all the haters out there who say it is bland but they are wrong. I followed the recipe exactly using Purdue simply smart sliced chicken breast from the freezer section as our store was out of rotisserie chickens. I also used College Inn bold flavor no salt chicken broth. The only thing I can say is that when I make soup, more is better. I probably use more garlic, more onion, more celery, pretty much more everything. Tasting it at the end I adjusted by adding a little salt and pepper and some additional thyme. It is simply phenomenal!

  3. Tonya

    This soup was very delicious, I was a little worried as it did not seem to be thickening but it did after I added the last of the ingredients and let it simmer a little longer. As far as people saying it is bland mine tasted fine I added a little bit more salt and it was fine, I also seasoned my chicken when I saute it so that might of helped. Other than that it turned out great. Thank you.

  4. Christy

    I have made this soup four times and it has been excellent every time. I thank you for putting it together for people to try. A note: if your soup has curdled, its not the half and half, its probably your flour, which has to be added carefully And if your soup is flat or bland, you should season it to taste. Thank you, delicious!

  5. SUSIE WEAVE

    HEY. !! I MADE IT FOR A SPEACIAL DINNER. AND EVERYONE LOVED IT.. NOW i”M HAVING TO FIX IT AGAIN. MY CO- WORKERS LOVE IT. IT DOES TASTE BETTER IF YOU LET IT SIMMER IN THE CROCK POT ALL DAY. BUT THEN I ADD THE NOODLES NEAR THE END, MY HUSBAND IS A VERY PICKY EATER… HE LOVES IT

    • Stephanie

      The soup can simmer, the gnocchi not so much. They may fall apart. This soup comes together quickly, so I don’t know that you need to simmer this soup for a long time.

      • Zachariah

        This recipe could use some work, per the instructions it doesn’t tell you when to add the darn chicken. Also, the half and half should be the last part added to the soup or you’ll end up with a white curdled mess that can’t be fixed!

  6. Michelle

    I really like this recipe. I have made it a number of times with one variation. I grill the chicken and use Weber roasted garlic and herbs seasoning on the chicken. The grilled flavor really carries into the cream of the soup . My family thanks you????

  7. Desiree

    I’m extremely disappointed. I followed this recipe to a T and it was incredibly flat and nothing at all like OG. We’re eating out tonight. Very bummed.

    • Stephanie

      I am very sorry you didn’t like this recipe. I am sure it had to be very frustrating for you to cook dinner, and still go out. What could I have done differently? A lot of people like the recipe, but I understand it fell flat for you.

    • Bri

      Yes, you can make it ahead of time! I make a double batch when I make this soup, and portion the left overs out for lunches for the week. I love this soup the night I make it but, the next day.. flavors are merged together a little bit more, so I suggest to salt lightly if you are making a head of time.

  8. Zori

    Want to make this for dinner tonight, have everything but the half & half. Can I use milk or heavy whipped cream?
    I have followed this exact recipe and it was great, thank you!!!

  9. Jennifer

    Sorry! Won’t make again! SUPER rich and BLAND at the same time. I even added a mixture of parm, asiago and Romano hoping it would add some flavor. The Darling Family ate it out of respect. But this will not be a part of our rotation, unfortunately. Based on the ingredients, I really had high hopes!

    • Stephanie

      I am deeply sorry you did not like the recipe, and you found it both rich and bland at the same time. Again, I am deeply sorry my recipe did not live up to your standards.

      • TC Spence

        Stephanie you are so sweet. You’ve gone out of your way and posted a fabulous recipe. Honey you can’t please everyone. Stop apologizing to them. For so many people to love it They had to do something wrong.

      • Mari

        No need to put the people that don’t like it down. Doesn’t mean they did the recipe wrong either. Everyone has different taste buds.

        I followed the recipe exactly and have to agree that it lacked flavor. I added more garlic at the end to help but still not enough.

        I think triple the garlic, extra 1/2 cup of celery and onions each, omitting thyme, adding pepper could help. I sprinkled fresh parm on top too!

  10. Naoj Marie

    My boyfriend loves OG chicken gnocchi soup. So, I’m going to give this a try and see if he likes it as much as OGs.

  11. Sam

    OMG. Came across this online. So happy I did. We are stationed in Japan and miss the OG. My husband is from Australia and his favorite American restaurant is OG. Made this this afternoon and he loved it as did my 3 year old daughter. He asked when we could make it again. I didn’t have any of the seasoning mentioned so just used garlic and Italian seasoning. It was great.

  12. Sheri L

    I have made this several times now- almost always doubling it. Instead of cutting the chicken broth, I double the butter/oil/flour accordingly ( so for me, about 4x’s the amount of roux). I do not leave out any seasoning, and usually end up adding additional salt- but that depends on if I am using unsalted or low sodium products. It keeps well- other than the gnocchi can get a little mushy but nothing that my pickiest eater even notices. I usually boil my chicken in seasoned water- salt and pepper, rosemary and thyme. It is delicious that way.

  13. Dawn Bourque

    I have made a double batch of this which pairs excellently with the homemade potato gnocchi recipe above and froze the additional soup and gnocchi separately. First, it is well worth making the gnocchi from scratch.. great recipe! Second, once thawed, the frozen soup heated up and the gnocchi cooked for 2-3 minutes then added was even better than when I made it originally.

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