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This Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup Recipe combines tender diced chicken, pillowy potato gnocchi, fresh spinach, and vegetables in a rich, creamy broth. The combination of half and half and low-sodium chicken broth creates a smooth texture without making the soup overly heavy. Garlic, thyme, onion, celery, and carrots build a savory base that makes every spoonful flavorful.
Using pre-cooked chicken keeps the preparation simple, while the gnocchi cooks directly in the soup and absorbs the seasoned broth. Fresh spinach is added near the end so it wilts gently while keeping its color and delicate texture.
If you enjoy comforting restaurant-inspired meals, this Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup is an easy choice for a cozy dinner, especially when you want something warm and satisfying without complicated preparation.
Why You’ll Love This Chicken Gnocchi Soup
This Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup brings together simple ingredients that create layers of flavor in one pot. The vegetables provide sweetness and freshness, while the chicken and gnocchi make the soup substantial enough for dinner.
Pre-cooked chicken also makes this Homemade Chicken Gnocchi Soup especially convenient. There is no need to wait for raw chicken to cook in the broth, so you can focus on building the vegetable base and getting the gnocchi to the right texture.
The finished soup is creamy, savory, and comforting, with soft gnocchi contrasting against tender vegetables and wilted spinach.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Chicken
Use 3 to 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts that have already been cooked and diced. Pre-cooked chicken keeps the recipe fast while providing tender pieces throughout the soup.
Vegetables and Aromatics
Celery, white onion, carrots, and garlic create the foundation of the soup. Sautéing these ingredients in olive oil first helps soften the vegetables and develops their flavor before the broth is added.
Chicken Broth
Low-sodium chicken broth gives the soup a flavorful liquid base while leaving room to control the final seasoning. Since the broth is reduced slightly during cooking, adding salt gradually helps prevent the soup from becoming too salty.
Gnocchi
Potato gnocchi gives this Easy Chicken Gnocchi Soup its signature texture. The tender dumplings cook directly in the broth, making them convenient while also allowing them to absorb some of the savory flavor.
Half and Half
Two cups of half and half provide the creamy finish. It creates a rich texture without requiring heavier cream.
Spinach and Seasoning
Fresh spinach adds color and a mild vegetable flavor. Use fresh rather than frozen spinach here, because frozen spinach can introduce additional water into the soup.
Thyme adds an earthy note that complements the chicken, vegetables, and creamy broth. Season with salt and black pepper according to taste.
How to Make Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup
This Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup Recipe comes together in a single large pot, starting with the vegetables and finishing with the cream and spinach.
1. Sauté the Vegetables
Warm the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the diced onion, shredded carrots, chopped celery, and minced garlic.
Cook until the onion becomes soft and translucent. This first step creates the flavorful base that carries through the finished soup.
2. Add the Chicken and Broth
Add the diced cooked chicken to the pot, then pour in the low-sodium chicken broth. Add thyme along with salt and black pepper.
Bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Avoid aggressively boiling the soup, particularly once the dairy is added later.
3. Cook the Gnocchi
Stir the potato gnocchi into the simmering broth. Make sure the gnocchi is distributed throughout the pot so it cooks evenly.
Continue cooking until the gnocchi becomes tender. The dumplings will absorb some of the seasoned broth as they cook, giving the soup its characteristic hearty texture.
4. Finish With Half and Half and Spinach
Lower the heat and allow the soup to simmer for about 10 minutes. Pour in the half and half, then add the roughly chopped fresh spinach.
Cook just until the spinach wilts. Taste the soup and adjust the salt and pepper as needed before serving.
Tips for the Best Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup
Use pre-cooked chicken for the most efficient preparation. Shredded or diced cooked chicken works well as long as the pieces are bite-sized and evenly distributed throughout the soup.
Keep the heat moderate after adding the half and half. A gentle cooking temperature helps maintain the smooth, creamy character of the broth.
Add the gnocchi before the half and half so the dumplings have time to cook properly in the seasoned broth. Once the gnocchi is tender, the soup is ready for its creamy finishing ingredients.
Fresh spinach should go in at the end. It wilts quickly, so there is no advantage to cooking it for a long period.
For another comforting version of this combination, you can also explore this Crockpot Chicken Gnocchi Soup recipe.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Adding the spinach too early
Spinach cooks very quickly. Adding it at the end keeps it fresh-looking and prevents it from becoming unnecessarily soft.
Over-seasoning at the beginning
Low-sodium chicken broth is used so the seasoning can be controlled. Start with a modest amount of salt, then adjust after the soup has finished cooking.
Cooking the gnocchi too aggressively
Gnocchi needs gentle cooking to become tender without losing its pleasant texture. Keep the soup at a gentle boil or simmer rather than maintaining a harsh boil.
Making the soup too hot after adding dairy
Once the half and half is incorporated, lower the heat and avoid aggressively boiling the soup. Gentle heat is better suited to maintaining the creamy broth.
Easy Ways to Serve This Soup
This Chicken Gnocchi Soup Recipe is substantial enough to serve as a main course because it contains chicken and potato gnocchi along with vegetables.
For a simple dinner, serve it with crusty bread or another favorite side that can soak up some of the creamy broth. A fresh salad can also provide a lighter contrast to the rich soup.
If you enjoy creamy chicken-based comfort food, another recipe to consider is this Marry Me Chicken Tortellini Soup, which also combines tender chicken with a comforting soup base.
Can You Make This Soup Ahead?
Yes, this soup can be prepared ahead and refrigerated for later. Because the recipe contains cooked chicken and dairy, refrigerate leftovers promptly rather than leaving the soup at room temperature for an extended period.
The USDA recommends refrigerating leftovers within two hours and using refrigerated leftovers within 3 to 4 days. For additional guidance, follow the USDA recommendations for safely handling leftovers.
How to Store Chicken Gnocchi Soup
Allow the finished soup to cool appropriately, then transfer it to covered containers and refrigerate. Keep the refrigerator at 40°F or below.
Because the gnocchi continues to sit in the broth during storage, its texture may become softer over time. For the best texture, enjoy the soup within the recommended refrigerated storage period.
Cooked chicken can generally be refrigerated for 3 to 4 days according to USDA guidance.
How to Reheat Chicken Gnocchi Soup
Reheat individual portions gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, stirring as needed for even heating. Avoid using excessive heat because the soup contains half and half.
For food safety, leftovers should be reheated thoroughly to 165°F. The USDA recommends checking reheated leftovers with a food thermometer when appropriate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use frozen spinach?
The supplied recipe specifically calls for fresh spinach rather than frozen spinach. Fresh spinach wilts quickly and avoids adding the extra water that frozen spinach can contribute.
Can I use homemade chicken in this soup?
Yes. The recipe calls for cooked, diced chicken, so homemade cooked chicken can be used as long as it is fully cooked and cut into bite-sized pieces.
If starting with raw chicken, poultry should reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 165°F when measured with a food thermometer, according to the USDA.
What kind of gnocchi should I use?
Use potato gnocchi. The recipe calls for 16 ounces, and the gnocchi is cooked directly in the seasoned broth before the creamy ingredients are added.
How do I keep the soup creamy?
Add the half and half after the gnocchi has softened, then lower the heat and cook gently while the spinach wilts. Avoid aggressively boiling the soup after adding the dairy.
Is this the same as Olive Garden’s original soup?
This is a homemade, copycat-style version inspired by the familiar chicken-and-gnocchi soup combination. It uses the specific ingredients and method provided here rather than claiming to reproduce a restaurant’s proprietary recipe.
Final Thoughts
This Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup Recipe delivers the cozy combination of tender chicken, soft potato gnocchi, fresh spinach, and creamy seasoned broth in one pot. Pre-cooked chicken keeps the process convenient, while the sautéed vegetables provide a flavorful foundation.
For a comforting weeknight dinner, the balance of creamy broth, tender gnocchi, and savory chicken makes this Homemade Chicken Gnocchi Soup especially satisfying. Serve it warm with your favorite bread or a fresh side salad for a complete meal.
Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup
Creamy chicken gnocchi soup made with tender cooked chicken, potato gnocchi, fresh spinach, vegetables, chicken broth, and half and half.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
3–4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cooked and diced
1 stalk celery, chopped
1/2 white onion, diced
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1/2 cup shredded carrots
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
Salt and pepper to taste
1 teaspoon thyme
16 ounces potato gnocchi
2 cups half and half
1 cup fresh spinach, roughly chopped
Instructions
1. Warm olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
2. Add onion, carrots, celery, and garlic.
3. Sauté until the onion is soft and translucent.
4. Add diced cooked chicken and chicken broth.
5. Add thyme, salt, and pepper.
6. Bring to a gentle boil.
7. Stir in the gnocchi and cook until tender.
8. Lower the heat and simmer for about 10 minutes.
9. Add half and half and chopped spinach.
10. Cook until the spinach wilts.
11. Taste and adjust seasoning before serving.
Notes
Use fresh spinach rather than frozen spinach.
Add salt gradually because the chicken broth is low-sodium.
Keep the heat gentle after adding the half and half.
Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours and use within 3–4 days.
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