Homemade Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup Recipe Worth Savoring

Olive Garden chicken gnocchi soup is a creamy dish that makes weeknight dinners feel more special.

The rich broth comes together with tender chicken, soft potato dumplings, and a mix of vegetables for a hearty balance.

A touch of cream blends smoothly with the savory base, creating a soup that feels both filling and satisfying.

Fresh herbs add aroma and depth, bringing out the best in the simple ingredients.

This recipe is inspired by a restaurant favorite but is easy enough to prepare at home.

It’s a warm and wholesome option that fits perfectly into family meals or casual gatherings.

Why Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup Is So Popular

• Whip Up Comfort Quickly: This soup delivers tasty flavor without complicated techniques, making it perfect for home cooks of all skill levels.
• Customize Your Comfort: Swap ingredients easily to match dietary preferences or what’s in your kitchen, from using different greens to adjusting protein choices.
• Transform Weeknight Dinners: Packed with vegetables, protein, and soft gnocchi, this one-pot wonder turns an ordinary meal into a hearty, satisfying experience that everyone will love.
• Crowd-Pleasing Simplicity: Requires minimal cooking skills while producing a rich, creamy soup that feels like a warm hug, ideal for family gatherings or cozy nights in.

Ingredients for Chicken Gnocchi Soup

• Chicken: Tender shredded chicken that provides protein and hearty flavor to the soup.
• Gnocchi: Soft potato dumplings that add a comforting and traditional Italian texture to the dish.
• Chicken Broth: Rich liquid base that creates a flavorful foundation for the soup.

• Onion, Garlic, Celery, Carrots: Classic aromatic vegetables that build a deep and complex flavor profile for the soup.

• Half-and-Half, Spinach, Butter, Olive Oil: Ingredients that add creaminess, freshness, and richness to the final soup preparation.
• Salt, Pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance and balance the overall taste of the soup.

How to Cook Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup

Step 1: Warm Up the Cooking Vessel

Grab a large pot and melt butter with olive oil over medium heat, creating a delicious base for your soup.

Step 2: Sauté Veggie Medley

Toss chopped onions, minced garlic, diced celery, and sliced carrots into the pot.

Cook until the vegetables become tender and release their aromatic flavors.

Step 3: Introduce Protein and Liquid

Add shredded chicken into the vegetable mixture.

Pour in chicken broth and sprinkle your favorite seasonings.

Bring the entire mixture to a rolling boil, letting the ingredients dance and mingle.

Step 4: Create Creamy Texture

Lower the heat and pour in half-and-half, transforming the soup into a luxurious, silky concoction.

Let it simmer gently for 5 minutes, allowing flavors to blend beautifully.

Step 5: Welcome Gnocchi

Drop the pillowy soft gnocchi into the soup.

Cook them according to the package instructions, watching them float and become perfectly tender.

Step 6: Add Fresh Greens

Toss fresh spinach leaves into the soup, stirring them gently.

Let the spinach wilt and integrate into the creamy broth for about 2 minutes.

Step 7: Final Flavor Adjustment

Taste the soup and adjust seasonings as needed.

Serve the soup piping hot, ready to comfort and delight.

Expert Tips for Creamy Gnocchi Soup

• Add gnocchi near the end of cooking to maintain their soft, pillowy texture and prevent turning mushy.
• Finely dice vegetables for even cooking and deeper flavor infusion throughout the soup.
• Adjust soup consistency by adding more chicken broth if too thick or simmering longer to reduce liquid.
• Swap shredded chicken with rotisserie chicken, turkey, or plant-based protein for versatile meal variations.
• Replace half-and-half with coconut milk or unsweetened almond cream for a lactose-free alternative.

Variations to Enhance Chicken Gnocchi Soup

• Gluten-Free Version: Replace traditional gnocchi with gluten-free potato gnocchi and ensure all broth and seasonings are certified gluten-free.
• Vegetarian Adaptation: Swap chicken with plant-based protein like cubed tofu or white beans, and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
• Low-Carb Alternative: Substitute gnocchi with cauliflower florets or zucchini noodles to reduce carbohydrate content while maintaining soup’s creamy texture.
• Dairy-Free Option: Use coconut milk or almond milk cream in place of half-and-half, and choose olive oil-based margarine instead of butter for a lactose-free version.

Serving Suggestions for Chicken Gnocchi Soup

• Cozy Dinner Companion: Pair this soup with a fresh garden salad and warm garlic breadsticks for a complete meal that feels like a restaurant experience at home.
• Rustic Comfort Plating: Serve in deep ceramic bowls, garnish with fresh cracked black pepper and a sprinkle of grated parmesan cheese to enhance the soup’s rich flavors.
• Wine Pairing Delight: Complement the creamy soup with a crisp white wine like Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc, which will balance the richness of the half-and-half and chicken.

Best Storage Methods for Chicken Gnocchi Soup

• Transfer cooled soup to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Ensure the container is sealed tightly to maintain freshness and prevent contamination.
• Pour completely cooled soup into freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. Remove excess air, seal securely, and freeze for up to 2-3 months. Label with the date to track storage time.
• Place desired portion in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover with a microwave-safe lid or plastic wrap with a small vent. Heat on medium power in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval until thoroughly warmed.

FAQs

• What makes gnocchi different from regular pasta?

Gnocchi are soft, pillowy dumplings made from potatoes, flour, and eggs, offering a unique texture compared to traditional wheat pasta.

• Can I use frozen vegetables instead of fresh?

Yes, frozen vegetables work well. Just add them directly to the soup and adjust cooking time slightly to ensure they’re heated through.

• Is this soup gluten-free?

Not automatically. To make it gluten-free, use gluten-free gnocchi and verify that your chicken broth is gluten-free.

• How can I make the soup more protein-rich?

Add extra shredded chicken, include white beans, or top with a sprinkle of grated parmesan cheese to increase protein content.

Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup Recipe

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4.7 from 23 reviews

• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Chicken gnocchi soup in the Olive Garden style blends a creamy base with soft dumplings and hearty chicken. It’s an Italian-inspired bowl of comfort that feels like home cooking made special.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 3 cups chicken, shredded
• 1 lb potato gnocchi
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups half-and-half

Vegetables:

• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 cup celery, chopped
• 1 cup carrots, shredded
• 1 cup spinach, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced

Seasonings and Fats:

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• 1 teaspoon parsley
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper

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Instructions

1. Warm a large pot over medium heat, melding butter and olive oil together until they create a fragrant base.
2. Gently sauté the diced onion, minced garlic, chopped celery, and shredded carrots until they become tender and release their aromatic flavors, approximately 4-5 minutes.
3. Introduce the shredded chicken into the vegetable mixture, then pour in the chicken broth and sprinkle in the selected seasonings, raising the temperature to achieve a rolling boil.
4. Reduce the heat to a gentle simmer, slowly incorporate the creamy half-and-half, and let the mixture meld together for 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to harmonize.
5. Carefully add the prepared gnocchi to the simmering soup, cooking them according to the package guidelines until they become pillowy and tender.
6. Incorporate fresh spinach leaves into the soup, letting them wilt and infuse green color and subtle flavor for approximately 2 minutes.
7. Taste the soup and fine-tune the seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed, ensuring a perfectly balanced flavor profile.
8. Ladle the steaming soup into serving bowls, presenting a comforting and luxurious dish ready to be enjoyed immediately.

Notes

• Customize vegetable thickness by finely chopping or roughly cutting for different texture preferences.
• Use rotisserie chicken for quicker preparation and enhanced flavor depth.
• For gluten-free option, replace traditional gnocchi with cauliflower gnocchi or zucchini noodles.
• Reduce calories by substituting half-and-half with low-fat milk or unsweetened almond milk.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Lunch
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: Italian-American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 330 kcal
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 780 mg
• Fat: 18 g
• Saturated Fat: 7 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0.1 g
• Carbohydrates: 24 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 19 g
• Cholesterol: 55 mg