Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup

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

Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup

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.

Course Dinner, Soup

Cuisine Italian

Keyword olive garden chicken gnocchi soup

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 30

Total Time 45

Servings

Calories 370kcal

Author Jessica - Together as Family

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

Instructions

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.
2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 small yellow onion, 1/2 cup finely diced celery, 1/2 cup finely diced carrots, 3 garlic cloves
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.
1 carton (32 oz) chicken broth, 2 cups half and half, 2 cups cooked chicken, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, ½ teaspoon dried parsley, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
While the soup simmers, cook the gnocchi in a separate smaller pot according to the package directions. Once cooked, drain the gnocchi and set aside.
^{* Don't forget to add some salt to the boiling water when cooking the gnocchi.}
1 package (16 oz) potato gnocchi
Add the chopped spinach to the soup and let it cook for about 5 minutes until it wilts.
1 cup chopped fresh spinach
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.
freshly grated parmesan cheese

Notes

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.

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.

Nutrition