Quick & Creamy Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup Recipe

Olive Garden chicken gnocchi soup whispers comfort from the first spoonful, inviting you into a world of creamy, hearty delight.

Italian-inspired culinary magic redefines simple ingredients into a symphonic blend of flavors and textures.

Soft, pillowy gnocchi dance alongside tender chicken pieces in a luxurious broth that feels like a warm embrace.

Robust seasonings weave through each carefully crafted element, creating a soul-warming experience that transcends ordinary soup expectations.

Home cooks can easily recreate this restaurant favorite with minimal kitchen expertise and maximum satisfaction.

Rich, velvety, and deeply satisfying, this soup represents more than just a meal—it’s a celebration of rustic, homestyle cooking.

Authentic techniques and carefully balanced ingredients promise a dining experience that transports you straight to a cozy Italian kitchen.

Why Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup Feels Like a Cozy Classic

• Savor Comforting Creamy Goodness: This soup delivers a luxurious, velvety texture that wraps you in warmth with every spoonful, making it the ultimate comfort food for chilly days or when you need a soul-soothing meal.
• Whip Up Restaurant-Quality Dish at Home: Recreate the beloved Olive Garden classic in your own kitchen, saving money while impressing family and friends with a professional-tasting soup that's surprisingly easy to prepare.
• Packed with Nutritious Ingredients: Loaded with protein from chicken, vitamins from spinach and carrots, and satisfying potato gnocchi, this soup offers a balanced meal that's both delicious and nourishing for the whole family.
• Quick and Simple Cooking Method: Ready in under 30 minutes, this one-pot wonder requires minimal cooking skills and cleanup, making it perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekend meals that don't compromise on flavor.

Ingredients for Copycat Chicken Gnocchi Soup

• Chicken Breasts: Lean protein that adds heartiness and substance to the soup, best when freshly cooked and diced.
• Celery, White Onion, Shredded Carrots: Classic soup base vegetables that provide depth of flavor and subtle sweetness, crisp and fresh produce recommended.

• Minced Garlic: Aromatic ingredient that enhances overall soup flavor, fresh garlic gives the best taste.
• Thyme: Delicate herb that adds earthy and slightly minty undertones to the soup.

• Chicken Broth: Essential liquid base that creates the soup's foundation, low sodium option allows better flavor control.
• Half and Half: Creamy component that gives the soup rich, smooth texture.
• Olive Oil: Helps sauté vegetables and adds subtle richness.

• Potato Gnocchi: Soft, pillowy Italian dumplings that serve as the soup's primary starch.
• Fresh Spinach: Adds nutritional value and bright green color, wilts beautifully in hot soup.
• Salt and Pepper: Basic seasoning to enhance and balance the soup's overall taste.

How to Make Creamy Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup at Home

Step 1: Prepare Aromatic Vegetable Base

• Chopped celery
• Diced onions
• Minced garlic
• Shredded carrots

Sauté the vegetables for 2-3 minutes until onions become translucent and release a delightful fragrance.

Step 2: Build Flavor Foundation

• Diced cooked chicken
• Low-sodium chicken broth
• Fresh thyme
• Salt
• Black pepper

Bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Carefully add potato gnocchi and cook for 3-4 minutes. Reduce heat to low and let the soup simmer for 10 minutes, allowing flavors to meld together beautifully.

Step 3: Create Creamy Texture

• Half and half
• Fresh chopped spinach

Cook for 1-2 minutes until spinach wilts and becomes tender.

Step 4: Perfect the Finishing Touches

Taste the soup and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed. Ladle into warm bowls and serve immediately for a comforting meal that feels like a warm hug.

Tips for Soft Gnocchi and a Rich, Creamy Base

• Select Fresh Ingredients: Choose crisp celery, sweet onions, and vibrant spinach for maximum flavor and nutrition.
• Manage Gnocchi Texture: Cook gnocchi just until they float to prevent becoming mushy or overly soft.
• Control Cream Consistency: Add half and half slowly, stirring continuously to prevent separation and maintain smooth texture.
• Enhance Chicken Flavor: Use rotisserie chicken or season and pre-cook chicken breast for deeper, more robust taste.
• Boost Soup Depth: Deglaze the pot with a splash of white wine after sautéing vegetables to add complexity and richness.

How to Store and Reheat Chicken Gnocchi Soup

• Refrigerate: Transfer cooled soup to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Keep the gnocchi separate from the liquid to prevent them from becoming mushy.
• Freeze: Pour soup into freezer-safe containers, leaving some space for expansion. Freeze for up to 2 months. Avoid freezing spinach as it can become soggy when thawed.
• Reheat: Warm gently in a pot over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Add a splash of chicken broth to restore creamy consistency if the soup has thickened. Avoid boiling to prevent separating the cream and overcooking the gnocchi.

Best Sides for Chicken Gnocchi Soup Night

• Pair with Crisp White Wine: Complement the creamy soup's richness with a chilled Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc, cutting through the velvety texture and enhancing the herb and chicken flavors.
• Serve with Crusty Garlic Bread: Match the soup's warmth with a side of toasted, buttery garlic bread to soak up the delicious broth and add a delightful crunch.
• Add Fresh Herb Salad: Balance the soup's creaminess with a light, zesty side salad featuring mixed greens, fresh herbs like basil and parsley, and a tangy vinaigrette to brighten the palate.
• Pour Sparkling Water with Lemon: Refresh your meal with a glass of chilled sparkling water garnished with a lemon slice, providing a clean, crisp contrast to the soup's rich profile.

Creative Twists on Chicken Gnocchi Soup

• Tuscan Herb Infusion: Replace thyme with a blend of fresh rosemary, sage, and basil for a robust Italian countryside flavor profile. Add sun-dried tomatoes for extra Mediterranean richness.
• Spicy Southwest Remix: Incorporate diced green chiles, cumin, and a dash of cayenne pepper. Swap spinach for roasted corn and top with crispy tortilla strips for a zesty kick.
• Mushroom Lovers' Edition: Sauté sliced cremini or porcini mushrooms with the vegetables. Use heavy cream instead of half and half for deeper, earthier undertones. Garnish with fresh parsley for brightness.
• Protein Power Boost: Replace chicken with shredded rotisserie chicken or add crispy pancetta pieces. Stir in white beans for additional protein and a creamy texture that complements the gnocchi perfectly.

Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup Recipe

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4.6 from 33 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Olive Garden’s chicken gnocchi soup brings comfort straight from Italian kitchens to your dinner table. Pillowy potato gnocchi, tender chicken, and creamy broth create a satisfying meal that transports you to a rustic trattoria with each delicious spoonful.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 3 to 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and diced
• 16 ounces (453 grams) potato gnocchi
• 2 cups (480 milliliters) half and half
• 4 cups (960 milliliters) low sodium chicken broth

Vegetables and Aromatics:

• 1 stalk celery, chopped
• ½ white onion, diced
• ½ cup (75 grams) shredded carrots
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1 cup (30 grams) fresh spinach, roughly chopped

Seasonings and Oils:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• Salt, to taste
• Pepper, to taste

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Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium temperature. Introduce chopped celery, diced onions, minced garlic, and shredded carrots into the warming pan. Gently maneuver vegetables until onions become translucent and release aromatic essence, approximately 2-3 minutes.
2. Incorporate diced cooked chicken, low-sodium chicken broth, thyme, salt, and pepper into the vegetable mixture. Allow liquid to reach a gentle boiling point, creating a flavorful foundation.
3. Carefully slide potato gnocchi into the simmering liquid. Monitor cooking process for 3-4 minutes, ensuring gnocchi maintains its delicate texture. Reduce heat, permitting ingredients to meld and develop complex flavor profiles for approximately 10 minutes.
4. Stream half and half into the soup, creating a luxurious creamy consistency. Introduce fresh spinach leaves, allowing them to wilt and integrate seamlessly into the liquid landscape.
5. Evaluate seasoning profile, adjusting salt and pepper as necessary to enhance overall taste experience. Ladle the velvety soup into serving bowls, presenting a comforting culinary creation that promises warmth and satisfaction.

Notes

• Whip up this restaurant-inspired soup that transforms simple ingredients into a comforting culinary masterpiece right in your kitchen.
• Perfectly balanced flavors emerge from slowly simmered vegetables, tender chicken, and pillowy gnocchi swimming in a creamy broth.
• Minimal prep time means you can enjoy a restaurant-quality meal without leaving home, making weeknight dinners feel extra special and indulgent.

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 395
• Sugar: 4 g
• Sodium: 550 mg
• Fat: 21 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 36 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 18 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg