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.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
More Olive Garden Recipes
- Asiago Tortelloni Alfredo with Grilled Chicken
- Chicken and Shrimp Carbonara
- Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce
- Olive Garden Chicken Alfredo
- Olive Garden Chicken Scampi
- Olive Garden Dressing
- Olive Garden Minestrone Soup
- Olive Garden Pasta Fagioli Soup
- Olive Garden Salad Recipe
- Zuppa Toscana
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.
Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup
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
Dinah
I loved it but used fresh kale in lieu of spinich
Nneve
Love the soup, my family loves it
SA
Absolutely delicious soup! WE love this.
E. Vaughan
Love the receipe but will leave the thyme out next time, it was too over powering for my wife and I.
leanne
Basil not thyme????
Joan Haffiz
We thought it was a little too thick when made with half & half…. how difficult would it be to make with whole milk or even 2% milk. Sometimes, my daughter’s stomach gets upset with cream….
Also, we just had this at Olive Garden last week and it was way way WAY runnier than when I made it following this recipe. I love it this way – but wondering if I can make it soupier with whole or 2% milk instead of half & half.
Erisa
If you mean thick as in flavour, yes using milk would make it lighter. If you meant texture, add less flour or skip it altogether to make it more “soup like”.
Stephanie
Or you could just use chicken stock, and it would be thin.
Michelle
I use more chicken stock and less half and half to cut the richness.
Lucille
Yes, chicken stock definitely work or add milk. Maybe, evaporated milk.
Stephanie
I would add chicken stock if you are trying to reduce the creaminess. I like to use a fattier milk because it reheats more dependably.
Mary Thompson
My husband loved it but I added the gnocchi so I didn’t freeze any but next time will definately hold the gnocchi out until I freeze some. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. Thanks 🙂
Freedom
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. It’s my kids favorite dinner! It’s like a special occasion whenever I make it. The soup is delicious. We prefer it over Olive Gardens because there is more gnocchi and vegetables to enjoy!
Stephanie
It’s awesome when you find a dinner your family will enjoy.
Jill Bolster
I love this soup at The Olive Garden and I can’t wait to try this at home! It’s one of my favorites!! Thanks Stephanie!
Penny Mccracken
Will the gnocchi get mushy if left in the soup?
Joan Haffiz
No, i left the gnocchi in ours and it kept just fine.
Stephanie
No, it will not get mushy.
Lee
Had this soup when we were in Orlando last at the Olive Garden but alas there is no Olive Garden in the UK so tried this recipe and it is just as I remember, very nice soup and a favourite in our house
Vonna
I have a difficult time finding gnocchi in my rural area so I use cheese tortellini. It works well and my hubby loves it. This is one of his favorites.
cndmamato4
Gnocchi is really easy to make Vonna! I bet you have the ingredients 🙂 I hope it’s okay to share this link: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/18465/gnocchi-i/ (not my recipe)
Yexenia
If you have a World Market nearby you can find it there
Sheila
U can get gnocchi at Dollar Tree for a buck. Just as good!
Brittany
You can find it in the dried pasta aisle at Smart & Final!
Tonia
I buy my gnocchi at the local DOLLAR TREE if you happen to have one in your area or if you are in an Urban area stop in and pick up a few, they are in airtight packages and have a decent shelf life. They are easy to make from scratch but sometimes you need that convenience.
Mickey
I have made this many times with people telling me it was the best soup they have ever had. Love it. I like to grill some chicken breast with Italian seasoning. It takes only a few minutes and I think makes it even better. I also put some of the carrots in with the garlic onions and celery mixture.
Stephanie
Your swap of grilled chicken breast sounds like a good idea.
Evelyn
This was fabulous! Wow!!! Better than Olive Gardens’. Thank you very much!
Stephanie
I am glad you liked it.
Tammy J
Made a double batch for today’s dinner, and it turned out awesome. I used kale, and I also found the gnocchi at Dollar Tree. A great recipe! It tastes just like the restaurant version
Naziha
I tried it , Ot came out GREAT!!!
Every body LOVES IT !!
Larissa Petty
This turned out delicious!! Followed the recipe exactly including adding the nutmeg. I used the gnocchi from the the dollar tree and it was yummy. Input my carrots and spinach in about 10-15 min before serving. I did add the extra salt at the end as it said you may need to as well.
Leah
Can this be made a head of time and frozen?
christine
yes, you can, and also the recipe for Olive gardens other great soup, potato & sausage….As suggested, better to use “half & half”…Coming “from the “frozen state” to reheat, it “may look weird”, but as soon as you start to “reheat it slowly”, it all “blends together again, just as you “made it fresh the oringinal time”. I’ve frozen BOTH soups “many times…Also, “packaged chedder Biscuits(Red Lobster brand) go WONDERFUL with these soups. Brush a “melted herb enhanced butter as soon as Biscuits come out of the oven! YUM…Oh, I find “kale” much better than “spinash”, as spinach tends to get mushy when over cooked. Chop fresh kale “into small pieces, add wait till the last 15 minutes to put in. Holds up better when reheating later.
Grace
I am beyond impressed with your recipes! Thank you for posting them so we all have an opportunity to make meals that are nutritious and delicious. I am known now for making this soup (for quite some time)and tell everyone about your site!!
Looking forward to more recipes and going to see if you have anything about making moist turkeys….I am not a fan of turkey but I am the one who makes the holiday meals for my family – now that it is growing (grandchildren) I want the next generation to enjoy my cooking more than my own kids:)
Teppie
My walmart had it with the Kosher items and with the Hamburger Helper not on the pasta aisle 🙂
Teppie
Sam’s Choice is the brand I found with the Hamburger Helper I go the four cheese kind and left the sauce that came with it off for the soup but we like the sauce to make the gnocchi as a side dish
Marissa
Very delicious! I used frozen chopped spinach since I had it on hand. Ithereise I didnt alter the recipe at all and it was perfect!
KYRA RANDOLPH
FROZEN SPINACH SOUNDS LIKE AN GREAT IDEAL… !