Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup Recipe and Guide

Creamy, hearty, and restaurant-style at home

This Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup copycat brings the comfort of the restaurant favorite right to your kitchen. With tender chicken, pillowy gnocchi, and fresh spinach in a creamy garlic broth, every spoonful is rich, cozy, and satisfying. It’s quick to prepare, perfect for weeknights, and doubles as a crowd-pleasing fall dinner idea or holiday starter.

⏱️ Time Breakdown

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Servings: 6

📝 Ingredients List

• 3 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 small onion, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 medium carrots, diced
• 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cooked and shredded, or rotisserie chicken)
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups whole milk or half-and-half
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 lb potato gnocchi (store-bought or homemade)
• 2 cups fresh spinach, chopped
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese (for serving)

✨ Kitchen Tools You’ll Need

This recipe doesn’t require fancy gadgets, just a few reliable kitchen basics to keep everything simple and stress-free.

• Large soup pot or Dutch oven
• Sharp knife
• Cutting board
• Measuring cups & spoons
• Wooden spoon or ladle
• Whisk

👩‍🍳 Step-by-Step Beginner-Friendly Instructions

1. Heat butter and olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, celery, carrots, and garlic. Cook for 5 minutes until softened.
2. Stir in cooked chicken, broth, milk, cream, thyme, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes.
3. Add gnocchi and cook for 3–4 minutes, or until they float to the surface ✨.
4. Stir in spinach and let it wilt for 1–2 minutes.
5. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
6. Serve hot, garnished with Parmesan and paired with crusty bread 😋.

💡 Pro Tips

• Shortcut Chicken: Use shredded rotisserie chicken for quick prep.
• Thicker Soup: Mash a few gnocchi into the broth to naturally thicken it.
• Storage: Refrigerate up to 3 days. Add extra broth when reheating, since gnocchi absorb liquid.
• Extra Flavor: Top with crispy beef bacon crumbles or red pepper flakes for a savory kick.

📊 Nutrition Table

Conclusion

This Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup is creamy, hearty, and filled with Italian-inspired flavor that makes every bite cozy and satisfying. Whether it’s a cold-weather dinner, a holiday starter, or just a craving for restaurant comfort at home, this recipe is one you’ll come back to again and again.

Chicken Gnocchi Soup

A creamy and hearty copycat of Olive Garden's Chicken Gnocchi Soup, featuring tender chicken, gnocchi, and fresh spinach in a garlic broth.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Dinner, Soup

Cuisine Italian

Servings 6 servings

Calories 370 kcal

Ingredients

  

For the Soup Base

• 3 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 small onion, diced
• 2 stalks celery, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 medium carrots, diced
• 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cooked and shredded, or rotisserie chicken) Use shredded rotisserie chicken for quick prep.
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups whole milk or half-and-half
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 lb potato gnocchi (store-bought or homemade)
• 2 cups fresh spinach, chopped
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese (for serving)

Instructions

 

Preparation

• Heat butter and olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
• Add onion, celery, carrots, and garlic. Cook for 5 minutes until softened.

Cooking

• Stir in cooked chicken, broth, milk, cream, thyme, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes.
• Add gnocchi and cook for 3–4 minutes, or until they float to the surface.
• Stir in spinach and let it wilt for 1–2 minutes.
• Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
• Serve hot, garnished with Parmesan and paired with crusty bread.

Notes

To thicken soup, mash a few gnocchi into the broth. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Add extra broth when reheating, since gnocchi absorb liquid. For extra flavor, top with crispy beef bacon crumbles or red pepper flakes.

Keyword Chicken Gnocchi Soup, Comfort Food, Creamy Soup, Hearty Soup, Olive Garden Copycat