The first time I tasted Olive Garden’s Chicken Gnocchi Soup, it was during a winter lunch with friends. As the steaming bowl arrived at our table, I was instantly captivated by the aroma of herbs and cream. That first spoonful of pillowy gnocchi and tender chicken swimming in rich, velvety broth was pure comfort in a bowl. I knew immediately I had to recreate this magic at home. You can enjoy the same taste that you can get from the Olive Garden with this easy copycat recipe.
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Table of Contents
Why This Homemade Version Beats the Original
This copycat Olive Garden soup elevates the restaurant experience in several key ways:
- Gnocchi Perfection – Cook gnocchi to your ideal tenderness rather than the sometimes overcooked restaurant version
- Superior Chicken Quality – Use freshly roasted chicken instead of pre-processed meat for juicier, more flavorful results
- Customizable Consistency – Control the thickness of your soup for your perfect creamy texture
- Vegetable Freshness – Enjoy vibrant, just-cut vegetables with perfect al dente texture
- Herb Intensity – Adjust seasonings to amp up flavors beyond the sometimes subtle restaurant version
Everyone Loves Chicken and Gnocchi soup
Why does everyone love this recipe? 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. Make salad and breadsticks to so with this soup.
The Secret to Perfect Chicken Gnocchi Soup
The magic of this recipe lies in creating a silky, flavorful base and ensuring each ingredient maintains its distinct texture while melding harmoniously with the others.
Ingredients
- Butter – Creates a rich foundation and helps form the roux that thickens the soup
- Olive oil – Adds authentic Italian flavor while preventing the butter from burning during sautéing
- White onion – Provides a sweet, aromatic base that’s milder than yellow onions
- Celery – Contributes essential savory notes and subtle texture to the soup
- Fresh garlic – Delivers aromatic depth that’s essential for authentic Italian flavor
- All-purpose flour – Works with butter to create the roux that gives the soup its signature thickness
- Half and half – Creates the creamy, luxurious texture that makes this soup so comforting
- Low-sodium chicken broth – Forms the flavorful foundation while allowing you to control salt levels
- Dried thyme – Adds classic herbal notes that complement chicken perfectly
- Dried parsley flakes – Provide color and fresh flavor balance to the rich base
- Ground nutmeg – Enhances the creamy elements with subtle warmth and complexity
- Shredded carrots – Adds natural sweetness, color, and nutritional value
- Cooked chicken breast – Delivers tender protein chunks throughout the soup
- Potato gnocchi – Creates the signature pillowy texture that makes this soup unique
- Spinach – Contributes fresh color, nutrition, and a slight texture contrast
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 places in your supermarket, and you 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 fresh gnocchi sold in the fresh sections of higher-end grocery stores, where you would pick up a prepared meal. Fresh gnocchi has a better texture and is more desirable, but not every grocery store offers it.
- 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.
Preparation tips
- 🥄 PREP TIP: Fresh garlic makes a massive difference in flavor
- 🔥 COOKING TIP: Don’t boil after adding cream to prevent curdling
- ⏰ TIME TIP: “Prep vegetables while heating broth
How to make Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi
Making this Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi soup recipe is straightforward. You will find that all of the ingredients are very common in your average grocery store. We think it is easiest if you gather all of your ingredients before you start preparing the soup. This way, you will have everything on hand to get started.
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. Please 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.
Customizing this soup for you
Some people want a larger punch of flavor from their soup, so you can add some additional chicken soup base to dial up the flavor. I would add an extra teaspoon or two of chicken base to this to bring up the flavor. While I don’t find adding a soup base too close to the restaurant version, it can add something additional.
Want to add in a few more vegetables? We recommend adding some chopped zucchini; you could also add carrots or spinach.
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.
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 in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- ❄️Freezer – freeze for up to 3 months in an air-tight 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. The consistency of the soup will change a bit; if you can, I recommend freezing the soup without the gnocchi and adding gnocchi when you reheat it. The texture of the gnocchi will change after it is frozen. Thaw the soup in the refrigerator overnight.
What to serve with chicken gnocchi soup
There are so many things you can serve with this soup. You may want to serve the classic Olive Garden Salad; we have found a good old-fashioned Caesar salad that also hits the spot. But when it comes to bread options, you could serve some garlic bread, crusty bread like sourdough bread, or even our copycat Olive Garden bread sticks.
You may want to garnish this soup with cheese. To top the soup, you could use fresh grated Romano or grated Parmesan.
More Olive Garden Copycat 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.
Homemade 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
Made this twice before now making it for pot luck at work. It’s delicious!
Stupid question. Recipe doesn’t state how to prepare chicken or if the gnocchi should be cooked before adding. I don’t make soups often and I want to make sure I don’t mess it up!
I like to use a rotisserie chicken pre cooked at the store. As for the gnocchi put it in straight from the package and when it floats to the top it’s done. I usually let it simmer for another 5 min or so then eat. Hope this helps 🙂
I made this last night. It turned out great! It taste just like Olive Garden’s version, but I know what’s in it. I bought a bag of matchstick carrots because I didn’t feel like shredding. Thank you for the recipe.
I made the recipe as shown(Half the thyme) and it turned out wonderful! I was craving OG version but this was far better!
I am glad that worked out well for you!
Stephanie, I saw a recipe similar to this that a friend posted. I always check several before deciding which one to make. I chose yours to make this cold, fall night. My husband always has Olive Garden Gnocchi soup when we go. I asked if it was as good, He said, “no….It’s better!” He had one complaint…. His bowl wasn’t big enough. Thank you. I’ll be making this again.
Oh I am so happy you and your husband liked this recipe! Way to go.
Can you make this in the crock pot? If so do you need to add ingredients sperately?
If you make this in the crock pot, the main thing is to leave out the half and half, gnocchi, and spinach until the last 30 minutes to 1 hour. I use frozen spinach, adding it, the cream, and the gnocchi during the last hour of cooking. Comes out great, and gets lots of compliments.
Thanks Ken for the crock pot tips. Wondering how long you cooked it total and which temperature?
I just made this recipe last night, it was delicious! There was plenty for dinner for my husband and I, and enough left over for my lunch for the week. My 2 year old even loved it (and didn’t know she was eating spinach, onions, or celery 🙂 )
My only criticism was that the thyme might have been a bit powerful so I’ll maybe cut that down a bit next time I make it, but there WILL be a next time. Perhaps with a nice big salad and some garlic bread 🙂
I am happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe, and that you will be trying it again.
Just made it!!! DELICIOUS! Recipe was perfect! Thank you!
I am glad you enjoyed the soup!
Excellent. The second time I added asparagus. Yum
Came out great. I made my own broth by pressure cooking the chicken first and using the juices from that. The soup was very flavorful. I added some oregano and butter too. My boyfriend said it taste just like Olive Garden’s.
I forgot to mention I shredded parmesan cheese in it too. Umm, that was the special ingredient for me.
my family and i had never tried this soup. Everyone loved loved this recipe.
I have been making this soup for years. To cut some of the calories, you can use canned fat free evaporated milk in place of the cream or half and half. I usually use two cans breoth and two cans milk. It turns out just as good. My family loves this, its definitely a “keeper” recipe
That is a great suggestion. I know evaporated milk tastes fattier than it is.
I use cream as well and took out the Flour also substituted the chicken for shrimp it was a hit.
can you crock pot this?
I think you could most of it, you could cook the gnocchi separately and add it at the end.
Oh my goodness! And I do mean good-Ness! Amazingly yummy, my MIL is on a gluten free diet, but I was able to use gluten free flour and gluten free gnocchi, and it tastes amazing!!! Will definetly be a new family favorite! Thank you so much for the recipe!
So you don’t have to cook the gnoxchi prior? How long do you simmer the soup? So excited to make this today. Thanks!!!!
gnocchi. So sorry!
I left out the spinach and it didn’t turn out as good. Lesson learned! I will add the spinach next time. Otherwise is was delicious but I think I will add the cream last and let everything simmer together longer in the chicken broth. Great recipe! Thank you for sharing. I love your website! 🙂
Thank you for letting me know you enjoyed the recipe.
This is a wonderful recipe! I used Italian seasoning instead of the dried parsley just because I didn’t have parsley. The depth and richness of the flavor is remarkable. We paired it with salad and bread and it was a hit. Definitely a new favorite!
This is a wonderful recipe…. Absolutely delicious. The depth and richness of flavor is remarkable. Definitely a new family favorite.
Most the time when we go to Olive Garden we order the soup/salad, gnocchi is our favorite so I was thrilled when I saw this recipe on Facebook. I sent my husband to the store right away to get all of the ingredients..the only thing I didn’t add was the spinach. Does that add much flavor? I wasn’t thrilled with the strong taste of thyme. Is there another spice I could use in its place? All and al, I will definitely make this again…
The spinach adds a mild flavor. I personally omit it because I waste a large bag of spinach when I don’t eat all of it, there is a lot left over when I buy it in a bag.
As for the thyme if it is a flavor you don’t enjoy, you can leave it out. I don’t know of something that tastes like like, but is milder.
If I buy a big bag of spinach, I just freeze it and use it as needed for smoothies or other recipes. It freezes fine and comes apart easily. Hope this helps. I assume a box of frozen spinach would work too.