This website may contain affiliate links and advertising so that we can provide recipes to you. Read my disclosure policy.
My creamy chicken gnocchi soup has everything I love about the Olive Garden favorite. It has tender chicken, pillowy gnocchi, fresh vegetables, and a rich, creamy broth. Even better, it comes together in just 30 minutes!
Three Reasons You’ll Be Licking the Bowl
- Better Than Takeout: You get all the creamy, cozy flavor of Olive Garden’s chicken gnocchi soup right from your own kitchen.
- Ready in 30 Minutes: Rotisserie or leftover chicken makes this an easy dinner when you need something warm and filling fast.
- Loaded in Every Bite: Tender gnocchi, chicken, carrots, celery, and spinach make every bite hearty and satisfying.
Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup Ingredients
- Chicken: Using leftover cooked chicken or rotisserie chicken makes it easy!
- Potato Gnocchi: Find this in the pasta aisle of the grocery store. Cut larger gnocchi in half so they’re easier to eat.
- Chicken Broth: My recipe calls for 2 cups. Like a thinner soup? Add a little extra chicken broth.
- Pasta Variation: Swap the gnocchi for small pasta like shells, ditalini, or orzo. Cook it separately, then stir it in at the end.
- Dairy-Free: Use an unsweetened, plain non-dairy milk in place of the half and half. The soup may be a little less rich and creamy.
Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup Recipe
I seriously can’t get enough of this creamy chicken gnocchi soup! And I love creating a little Olive Garden night in at home! If you want a complete meal, make some breadsticks and salad. Oh, and don’t forget the Tiramisu for dessert!
- Sauté the Veggies: In a large pot, melt the butter with the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion, celery, and garlic, then cook until tender.
- Make the Roux: Sprinkle in the flour and stir to coat the vegetables. Cook for about 1 minute to remove the raw flour taste.
- Make It Creamy: Slowly stir in the half-and-half and chicken broth. Cook until the soup starts to thicken.
- Add Everything Else: Stir in the thyme, carrots, spinach, cooked chicken, and potato gnocchi. Simmer for about 5 minutes, or until the gnocchi is tender and the soup has thickened. Season with salt and black pepper, then serve creamy chicken gnocchi soup warm.
Alyssa’s Pro Tips
- Don’t Overcook the Gnocchi: Add the gnocchi near the end and simmer just until tender. Cooking it too long can make it soft and gummy and thicken the soup more than you want.
- Keep It Creamy: Don’t let the soup get too hot, or the creamy broth can separate. Keep it at a gentle simmer and stir often so it stays smooth.
Must Have Kitchen Tools
- Large Pot: Plenty of room to sauté the veggies and simmer the soup.
- Sharp Knife: Makes cutting the onion, celery, and spinach quick and easy.
- Ladle: Makes serving the creamy soup simple.
Chicken Gnocchi Soup Slow Cooker Instructions
- Add the Base: Add the onion, celery, garlic, carrots, chicken broth, thyme, and cooked chicken to the slow cooker.
- Cook: Cover and cook on low for 4–5 hours or on high for 2–3 hours.
- Make It Creamy: About 30 minutes before serving, stir in the half-and-half and spinach.
- Add the Gnocchi: Stir in the gnocchi and cook for another 20–30 minutes, or until tender.
- Finish and Serve: Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add a splash of extra broth if you want a thinner soup.
Pin this now to find it later
Pin It
Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup
Creamy chicken gnocchi soup is an easy Olive Garden copycat ready in 30 minutes!
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup diced yellow onion
- ½ cup diced celery
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups half-and-half
- 2 cups chicken broth more if needed
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1 cup chopped spinach leaves
- 1 cup chopped cooked chicken breast I used rotisserie
- 1 (16-ounce) package potato gnocchi
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large pot, add 3 tablespoons unsalted butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat. Add 1 cup diced yellow onion, ½ cup diced celery, and 2 cloves minced garlic, and cook until tender. Add ¼ cup all-purpose flour to create a roux and cook for 1 minute.
- Stir in 2 cups half-and-half and 2 cups chicken broth and heat until it starts to thicken.
- Add 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, 1 cup shredded carrots, 1 cup chopped spinach leaves, 1 cup chopped cooked chicken breast, 1 (16-ounce) package potato gnocchi, and 1 tablespoon fresh thyme.
- Simmer for about 5 minutes or until the gnocchi is cooked and the soup thickens. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve immediately.
Video
Notes
Leftover Instructions
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheat: Warm gently on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring often. Add a splash of chicken broth or half-and-half if it has thickened.
- Planning for Leftovers: If you know the soup will sit for a while, cook the gnocchi separately and add it to each bowl so it doesn’t get too soft.
- Freezer: I don’t recommend freezing it. The creamy broth can separate, and the gnocchi may get mushy after thawing.
Nutrition
Calories: 197kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 9gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 49mgSodium: 580mgPotassium: 267mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 3445IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 93mgIron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!
More Olive Garden Inspired Recipes
Where can I find gluten free gnocchi ?
I’m in Australia, what is Half & Half, never heard of this before
Half and half is a mixture of half cream and half milk. You usually find in the dairy isle. Hope that helps!! XOXO
Perfect! My family loved it. Be careful if you use dried thyme. 1/2 was too much. I’m thinking homemade gnocchi next time.
That is great to hear!! Thank you so much!! Sometimes the dried thyme can be over powering! Glad you modified it to your liking!! Thanks for sharing! Xo
I posted below and whined about the soup and it’s very thymey flavor. MAYBE if I had read the replys I would have known NOT to use dried leaf thyme. So it was MY mistake NOT that of the recipe author! Alyssa, I am SO sorry that I said bad stuff about your soup when it was MY bad cooking NOT yours. I am sorry.
This recipe is amazing! I wouldn’t compare it to Olive Garden, it is even BETTER! I followed the recipe to a “T” and it was nearly perfect. I also added some nutmeg (I find that it enhances the flavor of any cream sauce), added a bit more chicken, also added a smidge of parmesan, and used homemade gnocchi and frozen spinach. This is my sons’ favorite soup–one all three can agree on!!! 🙂
Thanks for a great recipe. My entire family loved it.
Just tried this soup for the first time,not from Olive Garden,but an independently owned Italian restaurant,and it was awesome! I’m definitely going to use your recipe, but from the soup I just tasted they tweaked the thyme (I think they used a lesser amount than this recipe),and they added a hint of nutmeg…thanks for the recipe!
This will thicken like stew. Use two cans of chicken broth and it’s perfect.
Can this be frozen and reheated?
Hey made this dish for my family and boyfriend last night and it was absolutely beautiful tasted amazing and was my first time trying gnocchi and I’ve fallen in love with it ??
Just made this, an omg it’s delish, definitely saving this recipe, I did substitute the spinach with fresh basil leaves and it gave it a more exotic taste than Olive Garden, which I have frequently. I do suggest if using basil add little by little an taste I used half a cup, thanks for sharing the recipe.
Making this tonight I use oregano instead of thyme I am going to try the basil though thanks for posting
Do you have any recommendations for making this soup in a crock pot instead of stove top? If I were to make it in the crock pot, how long do you think I should cook it for?
I made this tonight and it was great! I used lactose free milk instead of half and half since my boyfriend is lactose intolerant, still pretty tasty! I used a sprinkle of dried thyme because it was so overpowering, I might not use it next time. I’ll also use 2 cans of chicken broth next time, the soup came out a bit too thick than I would have liked. Other than that, it’s a great recipe.
Is it OK to use ground thyme? I have no way to get fresh.
Prep time is off; takes longer than 5 min to shred carrots, chop chicken, celery,onion, minced garlic, measure milk/half/half, broth, chop spinach, measure/grate nutmeg, etc……
We added a tablespoon of thyme as the recipe called for and it overpowered the entire soup. With a smaller amount, it would’ve been great!
i was in the mood for this soup but didn’t want to have to go to olive garden to ear it. so happy i found this recipe it tastes terrific and it is quite simple to make. i had a little trouble finding the gnocchi but i googled them and found them at different stores (i used the archer farms brand ) the soup came out wonderfully , even my picky toddler raved about it.