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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.
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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
Do I cook the gnocchi before putting it into the soup ?
No, you will add it to the soup and let it cook in there. Hope that helps! This is a keeper. Enjoy! XOXO
Do you use the regular size gnocchi or the mini? Can’t wait to try this!
I prefer the regular size of gnocchi. Hope that helps! Enjoy! XOXO
Eating this soup right now. Delicious! I did thin it out with second can of broth. Only use half the thyme. I added extra celery and carrots, just because. My family loved it!
I was able to get mini gnocchi in the Public store. Worked out well.
This is delicious! Now I can save myself the trip and make Chicken Gnocchi soup right from home. One thing I may do different next time is to maybe add half the potato gnocchi and not the full 16 oz package. I love gnocchi but my husband doesn’t plus it felt like there was more gnocchi than anything else on my bowl. Regardless it was delicious! Thank you for the recipe.
This was a really good recipe. I did tweak to my own preferences and it tasted great! I sauteed the carrots with the onion, celery, and garlic instead of adding them in at the end. I also just did a dash of dried thyme. Maybe 1/4 of a tsp if that and the taste was not over powering. It turned out great! Definitely will make again!
It is rainy out and my daughter loves Olive Gardens Chicken Gnocchi soup. We made tonight and both agree way better!!!! I did not use thyme…and I used extra broth and two cans of chicken from Costco.
Will make many times more!
YAY! That is great to hear! Thank you for sharing! XOXO
Hi! How many does this recipe serve?
This will serve about 8 guests. Depending on the size of bowls and amount each one takes. Hope that helps! XOXO
Absolutely wonderful! I will definitely be making this again! I grated some romano cheese into the soup as well as on top. The only con was that the gnocchi was a little chewy so next time I might try to make my own. Either way I loved it!
Allison!
I am glad that you liked the recipe. Thanks for the comment and for following along with me!! xoxo
Made it and is very good
Can you use heavy cream?
Yes, that will work great too! Thanks for choosing one of my recipes! XOXO
Lol I read 116 ounces of gnocchi so I told my husband this and he bought 11 bags
haha! Oh no! I am so sorry but what a great story! Enjoy lots of Gnocchi! XOXO
How many points would this be on weight watchers?
I am not sure but you can use their guide for all the points. XOXO
Tried this tonight and it was delicious!! I read some of the reviews and decided to microwave the shredded carrots sticks for 45 seconds before putting in pan and they were perfect.The family fought for who was getting seconds!! Thanks for a great recipe!
That is great to hear! I am so glad that you enjoyed it! Thanks for following along with me! XOXO
This turned out even better than Olive Garden! My husband and I loved it.
Made the soup using ur recipes and it was beyond amazing.. thank u so much.