Chicken Gnocchi Soup Recipe (Olive Garden Copycat) (2024)

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ByAnn Drake

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This chicken gnocchi soup recipe is thick and hearty. Serve it with crusty bread for a filling and delicious meal. Your family will love it!

Chicken Gnocchi Soup Recipe (Olive Garden Copycat) (1)

As winter comes to a close, I’m sharing one more soup recipe that’s easy, but even better than that, it’s full of flavor and texture. If you love Olive Garden’s chicken gnocchi soup, then this post is for you!

Why This Recipe Works

There are lots of variations of this soup available online, many claiming to be the original Olive Garden chicken gnocchi soup. Other recipes are categorized as “copycats,” which is what I’m featuring today. To set my recipe apart from all the others, I tried very hard to streamline the steps for you, and keep the ingredients in order.

The steps at the beginning are very much like what I featured in my chicken and rice soup recipe, however, this chicken gnocchi soup recipe is even easier. I was able to eliminate the roux step, which saves time, plus there is one less pan to wash!

Update: the chicken and rice recipe has been updated to eliminate that roux step so it’s much easier now!

Chicken Gnocchi Soup Recipe (Olive Garden Copycat) (2)

Main Ingredients

  • butter + olive oil
  • veggies + garlic
  • flour
  • chicken broth (regular or low-sodium)
  • half and half (milk or heavy cream can be used)
  • chicken breast
  • gnocchi (store-bought or homemade)
  • spinach
  • herbs + seasoning
Chicken Gnocchi Soup Recipe (Olive Garden Copycat) (3)

Prep Tips

  • Any kind of gnocchi can be used, but shelf stable potato gnocchi works the best, and it is what Olive Garden uses in their soup. Gnocchi can be found in the pasta aisle of your grocery store.
  • Any kind of chicken can be used, but rotisserie chicken works great for this soup, and it’s a big time-saver. Pull off the breast meat and chop it into pieces. If there is any juice in the bottom of the chicken bag, make sure to add it to the soup. Boneless chicken thighs or boneless breasts can be used as well.
  • Make sure to use fresh spinach. Frozen spinach will get mushy.
  • You can use heavy cream instead of half & half.
  • The easiest way to make this creamy chicken gnocchi soup is to assemble all of your ingredients before you start cooking. It goes very quickly and smoothly if everything is ready and at your fingertips.
Chicken Gnocchi Soup Recipe (Olive Garden Copycat) (4)

How to Make

  • Add butter and olive oil to a large dutch oven.
  • On medium high heat, add onion, celery, carrots, and garlic.
  • Saute on the stove top for 5 minutes until tender.
  • Sprinkle 1/4 cup flour over the vegetables and stir for 2 minutes.
  • Add chicken broth, half and half, thyme, salt, and black pepper.
  • Add chopped chicken and bring to a boil.
  • Lower heat and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring often.
  • Add gnocchi and spinach.
  • Simmer for 15 – 20 minutes.
  • Remove the sprigs of thyme. Serve immediately.

Cooking & Storage Tips

  • Have some extra chicken broth on hand. When it’s finished cooking, if the chicken gnocchi soup is too thick for your taste, just add chicken broth to thin it out a bit.
  • To store, transfer any leftover soup to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
  • To reheat, portion the soup into individual serving bowls and heat each one in the microwave. The soup will get very thick after it sits in the refrigerator, but it thins out after it’s reheated. If it’s still too thick for your taste, just add chicken broth.
  • For added flavor, deglaze the pot after you’ve added the flour with white wine, then add the chicken broth and half & half.
  • Adaptation: try adding other proteins such as cooked turkey or italian sausage instead of chicken.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you make this in a slow cooker or crockpot?

Yes! It doesn’t save much time because this recipe is so easy and quick to make. But check out this recipe if you are interested!

Instead of flour, can you make a cornstarch slurry?

Yes! To make a cornstarch slurry, whisk together 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and 4 tablespoons of water. Pour the slurry in, a little at a time, to the soup right before the chicken is added.

What other vegetables can you add to chicken gnocchi soup?

Good additions are frozen or fresh corn, green peas, chopped zucchini, or green beans.

What do you serve with chicken gnocchi soup?

It’s delicious topped with grated parmesan cheese and served with thick slices of crusty bread. A romaine salad would be delicious as well.

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DON’T FORGET TO PIN THIS!

Making soup is like therapy for me. The time spent in the kitchen is relaxing. Chopping and organizing the ingredients makes me feel accomplished and productive. I love that a pot of soup makes enough to share with my dad…and that there are always leftovers for a second meal for us.

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If you aren’t a soup maker, I encourage you to give this recipe a try. If you already love making soup, I hope you have found some inspiration from this recipe and the tips. Enjoy!

Chicken Gnocchi Soup Recipe (Olive Garden Copycat) (8)

More Soup Recipes

  • Vegetable Beef Soup
  • Chicken and Rice Soup
  • Beef Barley Soup
  • Semi-Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
  • Weight Loss Vegetable Soup
  • One Pot Chicken and Noodles

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Chicken Gnocchi Soup (Olive Garden Copycat)

This chicken gnocchi soup is thick and hearty. Serve with crusty bread for a filling and delicious meal.

Rate this Recipe Print Recipe Pin Recipe

4.83 from 17 votes

Servings: 8 servings

Author: Ann Drake

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 50 minutes minutes

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Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 large onion chopped
  • 1 cup celery chopped
  • 1 cup carrots shredded
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic (or two finely chopped garlic cloves)
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 32 oz. chicken broth
  • 1 cup half and half or whipping cream
  • 5 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • pepper to taste
  • 2 cups chicken cubed
  • 1 cup packed fresh spinach
  • 16 oz. potato gnocchi

Instructions

  • Add butter and olive oil to a large dutch oven.

  • On medium heat, add onion, celery, carrots, and garlic.

  • Saute for 5 minutes.

  • Sprinkle 1/4 cup flour over the vegetables and stir for 2 minutes.

  • Add chicken broth, half and half, thyme, salt, and pepper.

  • Add chopped chicken and bring to a boil.

  • Lower heat and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring often.

  • Add gnocchi and spinach.

  • Simmer for 15 – 20 minutes.

  • Remove the sprigs of thyme. Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 252kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 834mg | Potassium: 215mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 3327IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 72mg | Iron: 3mg

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If you make this recipe, and love it, please come back to leave a comment and a 5-star review. I would really appreciate it, and it would help me so much. Thank you!

Chicken Gnocchi Soup Recipe (Olive Garden Copycat) (10)
Chicken Gnocchi Soup Recipe (Olive Garden Copycat) (2024)

FAQs

Does Olive Garden make their soups from scratch? ›

10% delivery fee up to $500, then 5% for every dollar thereafter. Our soup and sauce masters create dishes by hand and from scratch, every day. With fresh, whole ingredients like kale, peppers and squash.

Is Olive Garden gnocchi made of potatoes? ›

Prep Tips. Any kind of gnocchi can be used, but shelf stable potato gnocchi works the best, and it is what Olive Garden uses in their soup. Gnocchi can be found in the pasta aisle of your grocery store.

What is the serving size for Olive Garden chicken gnocchi soup? ›

The serving size for all soups is 8 fluid ounces. ToGo orders receive 16 fluid ounces.

What are the three soups at Olive Garden? ›

Chicken & Gnocchi - A creamy soup made with roasted chicken, traditional Italian dumplings and spinach. Pasta e fa*gioli - White and red beans, ground beef, fresh tomatoes and tubetti pasta in a savory broth. Minestrone (V) - Fresh vegetables, beans and pasta in a light tomato broth - a vegan classic.

Are Olive Garden soups pre-made? ›

But by most accounts, the majority of items on Olive Garden's menu are made in-house, from scratch, on a daily basis — including its signature soups.

Does Olive Garden send their chefs to Italy? ›

On his interactions with the "chef": "The only time we saw the "chef" was when she made a bolognese sauce while taking pictures with each of us to send to our local newspapers." On how much Olive Garden paid for, and what they got in return: "Basically, yes, they send people to Italy every year.

What is the lowest calorie soup at Olive Garden? ›

The Lightest Ladles: Soups with the Least Calories

Here's how Olive Garden's soups stack up, starting with those lightest on calories: Minestrone - Estimated at around 110 calories per serving, this vegetable-rich soup is a medley of healthful ingredients simmered in a savory broth.

How many gnocchi pieces per person? ›

Typically, Italian guidelines recommend the following quantities of uncooked pasta per person: 60-100g of dried pasta. 70-120g of fresh pasta. 100-130g of gnocchi.

How many calories are in one breadstick from Olive Garden? ›

Olive Garden Breadstick (1 serving) contains 25g total carbs, 24g net carbs, 2.5g fat, 4g protein, and 140 calories.

What is the difference between zuppa Toscana and minestrone? ›

Zuppa Toscana has a thicker consistency due to the addition of cream or milk, which gives it a velvety smoothness. On the other hand, Minestrone has a more broth-like consistency with chunks of vegetables and beans creating a heartier texture.

Can you get more than one soup at Olive Garden? ›

Yes! I believe it is only one portion. Normally, entrees also come with unlimited soup or salad & breadsticks.

What is zuppa in Italian menu? ›

Zuppa (soup)

In addition to vegetables, zuppa never includes rice or pasta. It's only served with croutons, at most. Its name is similar in all European languages and derives from the Gothic suppa, which indicated the slice of bread that was placed in the bowls before pouring the soup.

Does Olive Garden make noodles from scratch? ›

Then, when done, the noodles are served with a ladle of sauce that also had been cooked that morning. So, although Olive Garden's pasta isn't entirely made fresh to order, it is cooked fresh that day and it never sees the inside of a freezer or microwave. The restaurant uses the same process for its sauces and soups.

Does Olive Garden make their breadsticks in house? ›

While the bread may be a staple of eating at Olive Garden, they actually aren't made from scratch in-house. Instead, Darden Restaurants, Inc. — the parent company of Olive Garden — outsources the bread from Turano Baking Company.

What is Olive Garden minestrone soup made of? ›

2 (15 ounce) cans red kidney beans, drained 2 (15 ounce) cans small white beans or 2 (15 ounce) cans great northern beans, drained 1 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes 1/2 cup carrot (julienned or shredded) 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper ...

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