Name: Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive oil ((I use extra-virgin olive oil)); 1 small yellow onion (finely diced); 1/2 cup finely diced celery; 1/2 cup finely diced carrots; 3 garlic cloves ((minced or pressed)); 1 carton (32 oz) chicken broth; 2 cups half and half; 2 cups cooked chicken ((shredded or chunked)); 1 teaspoon dried thyme; ½ teaspoon dried parsley; ½ teaspoon kosher salt ((or more to taste)); ¼ teaspoon black pepper; 1 package (16 oz) potato gnocchi; 1 cup chopped fresh spinach; freshly grated parmesan cheese

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Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup is just as creamy and delicious as the restaurant version – but made in under an hour right in your own kitchen! This copycat recipe is full of fluffy gnocchi, chicken, fresh veggies like carrots and spinach, dried seasonings, and it cooks in a creamy chicken broth base on the stove top.

Love creamy soups? Then you’ll go crazy for my Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup and Cream Cheese Chicken Soup. And don’t forget to serve up those cozy creamy soups with some One Hour Rolls.

A white bowl of soup with chicken, gnocchi, and veggies.

Olive Garden’s Chicken Gnocchi Soup Recipe (Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup)

Chicken gnocchi soup is a comforting soup recipe with chunks of tender chicken, pillowy gnocchi, fresh spinach, vegetables, in a creamy chicken broth base that is perfectly seasoned with dried herbs. Enjoy this famous soup and make it at home with this copycat recipe of the restaurant version. The creamy soup cooks on the stove top and it’s something the whole family will LOVE.

There’s a reason why so many people love Olive Garden – it’s cheesy carbs, pasta, exciting dishes, and the food is good. A quick Pinterest search reveals hundreds of Olive Garden Copycat Recipes that you can make right in your own kitchen – like Olive Garden Soft Breadsticks, Olive Garden Copycat 5 Cheese Ziti, or copycat recipes for Olive Garden’s popular soups like Pasta e Fagioli Soup, or Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Soup.

With this copycat recipe there is no need to even go out, cause if your family is like mine – I will do just about anything to not have to take my kids to a sit-down restaurant. Like literally anything. It’s the ultimate gamble taking kids out to a restaurant, right? I’d much rather be cozy at home, in my comfy sweats, making this copycat recipe for chicken gnocchi soup in the comfort of my own kitchen.

Close up of the soup inside a soup ladle

Simple Ingredients Needed

Olive Oil : I use extra-virgin olive oil for it’s lighter, less heavy taste to it.
Onion : A yellow onion or white onion is recommended. Make sure it’s finely chopped so you don’t have large pieces of onion throughout the soup.
Garlic Cloves : Use fresh garlic cloves that you mince or press, use chopped garlic from a jar, or use garlic paste.
Celery
Carrots : This recipe uses finely chopped carrots, instead of matchstick carrots, because the smaller chunks cook softer and quicker than the longer sized matchstick carrots do. Plus, the fresh carrots just taste better in soups.
Cooked Chicken : This is the perfect recipe to use up that leftover chicken in, grab a rotisserie chicken from the store, or cook 2 large chicken breasts + a can of chicken broth in the slow cooker for 6-7 hours (shred it up and use it in the soup).
Chicken Broth : I recommend using full-salted chicken broth for the best flavor for the creamy broth. Chicken stock can be substituted if that’s what you prefer.
Half and Half : For an even creamier soup try using 1 cup half and half + 1 cup heavy cream. I don’t recommend using anything lower in fat, like whole milk or 2% milk, as it won’t make the soup creamy enough.
Dried Thyme
Dried Parsley
Kosher Salt & Black Pepper
Fresh Spinach : I use baby spinach and I cut off the longer stems on them.
Potato Gnocchi : For the easiest prep use store-bought gnocchi. They are little potato dumplings that you will find in the pasta aisle along with the other dried pastas at your nearest grocery store.
Parmesan Cheese : This is for serving and technically it’s optional but I highly recommend using it. Freshly grated parmesan is best from a wedge but you can also use grated or shredded parmesan cheese.

How To Make Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup Recipe (Printable Recipe Card)

In a large pot, over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil. Add the onion, celery, carrot, and garlic. Cook until the vegetables are softened, about 5-8 minutes.

Stir in the chicken broth, half and half, cooked chicken, thyme, parsley, salt, and pepper. Bring the soup to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to medium-low heat and let simmer for 10 minutes.

While the soup simmers, cook the gnocchi in a separate smaller pot according to the package directions. Don’t forget to add some salt to the boiling water when cooking the gnocchi. Once cooked, drain the gnocchi and set aside.

Add the chopped spinach to the soup and let it cook for about 2 minutes until it wilts.

Stir in the cooked gnocchi and let the soup heat through for a few minutes.

Serve hot and garnish each bowl of soup with parmesan cheese.

How To Store Leftover Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup

Any leftovers should be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Before refrigerating, it’s important to let the soup cool to room temperature before transferring it into an airtight container.

Reheat Leftovers : Warm up the leftover soup on the stove top inside a saucepan, over medium heat, until heated through. You can also warm up leftovers inside the microwave.
To Freeze : Although you can freeze this soup, please be aware that dairy-based soups in general don’t freeze great. Once frozen and thawed, the soup will change consistency once it’s reheated. Try adding some additional milk or broth to help bring it back to life. Thaw the frozen soup completely before reheating.

Recipe FAQ’s For This Copycat Olive Garden Recipe

What Type of Chicken Works Best For This Soup?

Cooked, shredded chicken breast is ideal for it’s texture and flavor, but you can also use thigh meat, pre-cooked rotisserie chicken, or store-bought cooked and diced chicken as a time-saving alternative. I recommend putting 2-3 chicken breast + a can of chicken broth into the slow cooker, and cooking it on LOW heat for 6-7 hours. It’s perfectly shreddable and super tender.

Can I Make This Soup Ahead of Time?

Yes, you can prepare this soup ahead of time. Reheat it gently on the stove top before serving or you can keep the cooked soup inside the slow cooker on the WARM setting to keep it warmed and ready to serve.

Can I Make This Soup In The Slow Cooker?

Yes you can! There are a few changes needed if making it in the slow cooker. Cook the vegetables in the olive oil and add it into the crockpot along with the other ingredients (except for the gnocchi and spinach). Cook on LOW heat for 6-7 hours. Add the gnocchi and spinach into the slow cooker 30 minutes before the cook time is done.

How Can I Make This Soup Creamier?

For a creamier texture you can use 1 cup heavy cream + 1 cup half and half.

Can I Add Cheese To It?

Yes, grated parmesan cheese (especially when grated from a fresh wedge of parmesan cheese) is a great addition for either inside the soup or as a garnish on top of the soup for serving.

Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup