Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup – Copycat

The Olive Garden’s Chicken Gnocchi soup is one of the most popular Olive Garden soup recipes. This rich soup has This warm bowl of goodness features roasted tender chicken, soft pillowy gnocchi, shredded carrots, celery, and fresh spinach. Hands down, this is one of my favorite Olive Garden copycat recipes of all time.

Copycat Olive Garden chicken gnocchi soup in two bowls.


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Easy Homemade Soup

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

The Chicken and Gnocchi soup is going to 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

Hands down this has been one of my most popular recipes at CopyKat.com. You can read through the comments and you can see how many people just love this soup. It is easy to make and it tastes great.

Actually, all of my Olive Garden Recipes are pretty popular. Most people seem to just love the Olive Garden menu items.

A lot of people ask me if you can freeze this soup. Yes, you can. So go ahead and make up a batch of this soup and store the extra in your freezer.

You will soon fall in love with this delicious soup. Don’t forget to make some salad and breadsticks to go with this classic dish from the Olive Garden.

Olive Garden Chicken and Gnocchi Soup Ingredients

I love this delicious recipe is made with simple ingredients. In no time at all your entire family is going to fall in love with this soup that you made in the comfort of your own home.

  • Butter – you can use either salted butter or unsalted butter
  • Olive oil
  • 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 garlic
  • All-purpose flour
  • Half and half – I recommend using half and half instead of milk, it reheats better, if you want something completely decadent swap the half and half for heavy cream.
  • Low sodium Chicken broth – if you have homemade broth, I would recommend this
  • Dried thyme
  • Dried parsley flakes
  • Ground Nutmeg
  • Shredded carrots
  • Cooked chicken breast – if you have leftover rotisserie chicken I would 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 as well.
  • 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 really love this with mini gnocchi.
  • Spinach – regular spinach is fine but my personal preference is for fresh baby spinach
Ingredients for copycat Olive Garden chicken gnocchi soup.

Should you use storebought or homemade gnocchi?

Storebought gnocchi is perfect for this recipe. You can take the extra step in preparing homemade gnocchi, but premade potato gnocchi works well. You can find gnocchi in a couple of different places in your supermarket.

  • My local stores sell shelf-stable potato gnocchi in the pasta isles.
  • In higher-end grocery stores, I have seen this sold in the fresh sections where you would pick up a prepared meal.
  • I have even found it available in the frozen section of the grocery store as well.

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

How to Make Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi

It is very simple 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, and then add some flour and cook that through. You will then add in the half-and-half and chicken broth. Bring it to a low boil then reduce the heat to a simmer.

Cooked chicken and gnocchi get added to your seasoned broth and vegetables. You can then 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 personally 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 with the exception of the kale, chicken, seasonings, and stock into the crockpot. Cook on low for 4 hours. Shred the chicken, add in the remaining ingredients, and cook for another hour.

If the soup is too thin for you, make a cornstarch slurry of 1 tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons of water. Stir the cornstarch slurry into the soup and 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 a couple of 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? Be sure to check out these soup recipes and try one of my great dessert recipes to complete your meal.

Take a 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

    • Katherine Eberly

      It means gnocchi that is ready whether you made it from scratch. It is a challenge to make from scratch, if you ever watch Top Chef – a contestant making gnocchi from scratch gets them top points. For me it is too much time, so I buy gnocchi already made. It is a speciality pasta and to May amazement I have found it in the dry pasta aisle at Walmart in their small speciality section of the aisle. It is in an air tight plastic package as opposed to all the boxes of dry pasta. Gnocchi are soft little pillows of loveliness, the best thing I have ever put in a soup! Good luck. Katherine

  1. Lynn Williams

    This is amazing! I found the potato gnocchi at the Dollar Tree. I also make warm skillet bread & spinach and artichoke dip when i mak the soup. Always turns out better than Olive Garden!!! This is a keeper! And so easy!!

    • christine

      YEs! Amazingly, the dry packaged “gnocchi” they sell at the Doller Tree is THE BEST and closest to REAL handmade Gnocchi…Very tender, unlike frozen gnocchi that costs so much more! Better than the “other dry brands too”, which, if “not careful, can become “mucky”.
      The brand at the Dollar tree is “actually imported from ITALY! DELICIOUS! Enjoy it many other ways too…With a homemade tomatoe sauce that uses “both “pork boneless county ribs and beef…My parents are from Italy, and a “pork sauce” goes the best with either Polenta or Gnocchis…The flavor after hours of simmering(till pork is tender) is AMAZING!

  2. Tammy

    I’ve made this in the past! So Good! Tonight I’m trying it with almond milk, due to a new allergy to dairy 🙁 I’ll let you know how it goes!

    • Stephanie

      No, the gnocchi does not have to be cooked before adding, but you will need to lengthen the time to serve the soup after you add the gnocchi to make sure it is fully cooked.

      • Alejandra Hernandez

        I had a hard time finding it but finally found it in the freezer where the frozen premade meatballs and other italian food is kept

      • Alejandra

        I had a hard time finding it but finally found it in the freezer where the frozen premade meatballs and other italian food is kept

    • Gabe

      Half-and-Half is found in cartons in the milk section of the grocery store. It has more fat than milk, but less than heavy cream. It is, needless to say, a dairy product, and is most often (in America) used in one’s coffee.

      When I tried the recipe, I used plain Gold Medal unbleached flour and it came out great.

  3. Courtney H

    I have been coming back to this recipe for years now and anytime I make it people rave about it! My husband begs me to make this! Thank for sharing such a great recipe that has become a staple in our house!

  4. Kawn

    Made this yesterday for dinner. Does thyme make it taste dirty???? It seemed to smell like of dirt. I thought maybe I should of washed the gnocchi but after reading the comments now I wondering Thyme instead…. My husband liked it but I was turned off. It looks great until I smelled it. If it’s Thyme or Parsley well I eat it….

    Thanks for letting me ask my question.

  5. Jacqueline Mcgrath

    I wish I had the spinach but the stores are closed because of hurricane Irma. ????…so I actually made it a totally different way. I feel like the chicken broth would taste better fresh so I cooked the onion, celery, garlic and carrot in the pan with olive oil and a chicken thigh and browned it. Then poured in the water and let that simmer for about 20 mins. Seasoned that with thyme, salt, pepper and basil. In a separate pot, I made a rou with chic pea flour and butter and pored in milk Slowly because I had no half and half. Seasoned with salt and pepper and added parmigian cheese and made a creamy like sauce. I removed the chicken and let it sit then added the cream sauce to the pot of chicken broth. I then added the gnocchi and let that simmer a few minutes and then added the chicken. Was pretty good for my first time making it. CANt wait tonhave the spinach next time and half and half.

  6. Gary in Arizona

    Hi! Well, I made this and while it was good, I know what I did wrong. So I’ll have to make it again.

    I will definitely get a rotisserie chicken next time. I used fresh, and browned it first, but it needed more flavor. I will also not put the gnocchi on to boil to soon. It had to sit until I was ready, and that’s a no no. And, I’ll let the soup liquid reduce more for a better concentrated flavor.

    Other than that, it was yummy with lots of garlic bread to sop up the soup. 🙂 Until next time! 😀

  7. Linda

    I made this and it’s excellent. Used dried onion and onion powder. Plus extra thyme. Also added pepper and a half cup more of chicken. Served with grated Parmesan on top and it was great.

  8. Charlie

    Great recipe! I used one can of chicken broth and added mushrooms as well as using homemade gnocchi. Definitely keeping this one!

  9. Lyn

    Just got done making this. I knew I should have left the thyme out but I didn’t and it all but ruined it. If you don’t like thyme, do not add it. It overtook the flavor of anything else. I feel as though the recipe would have been spot on if it wasn’t for the thyme.

  10. LittlePinkpony

    This is always my go to recipe, I’ve left tout spinach before and it didn’t taste well (I don’t eat the spinach anyhow) I don’t like thyme or nutmeg but I sprinkle lightly.. all is amazing, Thank you so much

  11. Caitlin Stevens

    I didn’t use nutmeg I forgot it at the store. It didn’t taste bad just tasted off,still very good also I used the potato gnocchi from the store did I use the right kind thank you

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