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
Brandon
this is so good
Brooke
This sounds lovely! I have a pack of basil gnocchi – do you think it would work or really alter the flavor?
Stephanie Manley
It will change the flavor, I don’t know how strong it tastes, I would cook it, taste it, and make a choice if you think the basil flavoring is overpowering or not.
Connie Huffman
I had this soup today at Olive Garden & I have to say that it is the very BEST soup I have ever
Eaten. I just copied this recipe & very anxious to make it soon!!!
Christine
This is my 15-year-old’s favorite meal. He tried the soup at Olive Garden and loved it and asked me to make it at home. So glad I found this recipe—he says it’s perfect! I make it with cauliflower gnocchi (we can’t tell the difference!) but otherwise follow the recipe exactly.
Alicia
Made this for my family and I thought that I was being sneaky with the spinach for the kids, only to find that the kids love spinach, however their father has never had spinach and he loved it in the soup, he even asked for a second bowl.
Stephanie Manley
Sounds like you have a winner for your family!
Amber
I just made this, and it tastes EXACTLY like Olive Garden’s!! I worked at OG about a year ago, and ate at least 1 bowl of this soup every shift. This recipe is SPOT ON!! I doubled the recipe, so it look a little longer to cook, but SO worth it!! I’ll be eating this for the rest of the week! Haha
Linda K
Amazing recipe & perfect the way it is. I wouldn’t change a single thing making it again. It was even better day 2 😉
Alfa
OMG!!!!! I made this recipe and the flavor is the same as Olive Garden. A real Copycat 💕💕💕💕
Milissa
I have tried a several different recipes for this soup. Finally! This one is the winning copycat recipe. Thank you! So good and I am happy 😁
Alex
Just like the restaurant. Love it.
Coleen
Sooo good! Made exactly as printed with leftover grilled chicken I had on hand. Do NOT leave out the nutmeg!! That is a key ingredient! I added extra salt at the end and some shredded parm on top! Amazing!
Marquisha
Did you boil the shelf stable gnocchi before adding it to soup – is its original package says -or just let it cook in the soup?
Stephanie Manley
You can do either. I add it to the soup, it will make the soup a little thicker since the gnocchi is absorbing the water.
joemc72
I make this pretty regularly. If I use store bought gnocchi I up the chicken broth to 32oz and add some whole milk at the end to thin it out if it gets too thick.
Bobbie
I’ve made this soup several times and I can attest that you will want to make this soup again, it will be a favorite, will be a constant in your recipe rotation, and you’ll definitely double the recipe. It leaves Olive Garden’s version in the dust! Thank you for this recipe!
Gabriela
I have a question with the chicken do you boil it or cook it in a pan ??
Stephanie Manley
You could cook chicken either way.
Allison
I made this using rotisserie chicken (you can get fully cooked ones at Walmart) and I made this without the celery since my boyfriend hates celery, lol. I used a little more flour to thicken the soup and it came out amazing. So creamy and filling! Definitely going to make this again!
Desi
Absolutely delicious. I followed the recipe and left it in a crockpot on warm with lid off to thicken up before dinner.
Pamela
How long did you leave it in the crockpot? I think the crockpot is a good idea for me. Thank you.
Maddi
I have been trying to find the recipe to reflect the Olive Garden soup and this is it! This is always my go to on cold winter days in Iowa. Thanks!!
Erica
Anyone ever substitute heavy whipping cream instead of half and half? Did you use less or just as much?
Stephanie Manley
I personally would swap it 1 for 1.
Jacqui
I used HALF of half and half and then used heavy whipping cream for the other half and for some reason it came out watery ? So I’m not sure what I could’ve done better
Anna
Former OG waitress here. The scent and taste is engrained in my memory, and this is absolutely spot on. Woh! Made my own gnocchi using leftover mashed potatoes. Forgot to add the spinach at the end and noticed only after polishing off the leftovers. Don’t skip the nutmeg, it’s what gives it the signature flavor. Who knew?!
Meghan
Delicious!!!! I used 2 cans of cooked chicken (drained and rinsed off the ‘broth’ to keep the sodium lower), 1 can of chopped spinach (only because I had the can!!! Normally I would have used chopped fresh baby spinach) and I cut the carrots instead of shredding them.
The flavor is amazing and spot on to the OG version!!! I will definitely recommend this recipe (& website) to everyone!!
Carol B.
I made this soup without the nutmeg, I added 2 more cups of the spinach leaves…I used extra salt, pepper, fresh parsley and thyme. Next time I will leave out the Gnocchi noodles and just put small cubes of cooked potatoes……..it sure was good and I shared with friends.