Heavenly Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup Recipe at Home

Comfort hugs your taste buds with this olive garden chicken gnocchi soup that feels like a warm embrace from an Italian grandmother.

Soft potato dumplings nestle alongside tender chicken pieces in a creamy broth that whispers culinary magic.

Memories of cozy restaurant moments dance through each spoonful, inviting you into a world of hearty deliciousness.

Nonna’s secret recipes inspired this copycat version that brings restaurant flavors directly to your kitchen.

Restaurants charge premium prices, but you can craft this luxurious soup with simple ingredients and minimal effort.

Weeknight dinners never tasted so sophisticated yet remained incredibly easy to prepare.

Grab your apron and let’s create a bowl of pure comfort that will make everyone at the table ask for seconds.

Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup: Creamy Goodness You’ll Remember

• Quick Comfort Meal: Whip up this hearty soup in under 30 minutes with minimal kitchen skills required.
• Family-Friendly Feast: Packed with tender chicken, soft gnocchi, and nutritious vegetables that appeal to both kids and adults.
• Restaurant-Quality Magic: Recreate the beloved Olive Garden soup at home, saving money while enjoying restaurant-style flavors without leaving your kitchen.
• Versatile Winter Warmer: Perfect for chilly nights, meal prep, or when you need a cozy, satisfying dish that comes together effortlessly.

Chicken Gnocchi Soup Olive Garden Style Ingredients

• Chicken, Chicken Broth: Provides rich, savory flavor and protein foundation for the soup.
• Heavy Cream, Milk: Creates a creamy, luxurious texture and adds depth to the soup.

• Onion, Carrots, Celery, Garlic: Classic soup base that builds a deep, complex flavor profile. Fresh vegetables work best for maximum taste.
• Spinach: Adds fresh green color and provides nutritional boost with earthy undertones.

• Dried Thyme, Dried Parsley: Brings subtle herbal notes and traditional Italian seasoning. Use dried herbs for concentrated flavor.
• Potato Gnocchi: Soft, pillowy Italian potato dumplings that serve as the hearty carbohydrate element. Choose fresh or vacuum-sealed gnocchi for best texture.

• Olive Oil or Butter: Provides initial cooking fat for sautéing vegetables and creating soup base.
• Salt and Pepper: Fundamental seasonings to enhance and balance overall soup flavor. Adjust according to personal taste preference.

How to Prepare Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup

Step 1: Warm Up the Cooking Vessel

Start by heating olive oil or butter in a spacious pot over medium heat.

Allow the fat to melt and spread evenly across the bottom of the pot.

Step 2: Create a Flavor Base

Toss in chopped onions, minced garlic, diced carrots, and sliced celery.

Sauté the vegetables until they become soft and release their aromatic goodness, creating a delicious foundation for the soup.

Step 3: Introduce the Protein

Add shredded or cubed chicken to the pot.

Sprinkle in dried thyme and parsley, then season with salt and pepper.

Stir everything together to distribute the herbs and spices evenly.

Step 4: Build the Liquid Foundation

Pour in the chicken broth, bringing the mixture to a gentle simmer.

Let the ingredients mingle and develop flavor for about 5 minutes, allowing the chicken to become tender and infused with herb notes.

Step 5: Bring in the Creamy Goodness

Slowly pour in heavy cream and milk, stirring gently to create a smooth, velvety texture.

Let the soup simmer for 10 minutes, allowing the cream to thicken and the flavors to blend beautifully.

Step 6: Add the Pillowy Gnocchi

Carefully drop in the gnocchi, stirring softly.

Cook for 3-4 minutes or until the little potato dumplings float to the surface, indicating they’re perfectly cooked.

Step 7: Finish with Fresh Greens

Toss in fresh spinach leaves, stirring until they wilt and turn a vibrant green.

This adds a pop of color and nutritional boost to the soup.

Step 8: Final Flavor Check

Taste the soup and adjust seasonings as needed.

The flavors should be rich, creamy, and perfectly balanced.

Step 9: Serve and Enjoy

Ladle the hot soup into bowls.

Serve alongside crusty bread or a crisp salad for a complete and satisfying meal that’ll warm you from the inside out.

Soup Success Tips for Chicken Gnocchi Like Olive Garden

• Sauté vegetables in butter or olive oil until they caramelize slightly for deeper, richer taste.
• Add gnocchi when soup is gently simmering to prevent them from becoming mushy or falling apart.
• Swap chicken with rotisserie chicken, turkey, or plant-based protein for variety and dietary preferences.
• Adjust liquid ratio by adding more broth if soup becomes too thick or simmering longer to reduce and thicken.
• Replace heavy cream and milk with coconut milk or unsweetened almond milk for a lighter, lactose-free version.

Reheat Gnocchi Soup Like Olive Garden Style

• Store leftover soup in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking, keeping it fresh in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
• Transfer cooled soup to freezer-safe containers, leaving space for expansion, and freeze up to 2 months for later enjoyment.
• Warm soup over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching and maintain creamy texture. Add a splash of chicken broth if needed to restore consistency.
• Heat in short 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval to distribute heat evenly and prevent separation of cream-based soup.

Cozy Sips and Bites for Chicken Gnocchi Soup

• Elevate Comfort Soup Pairings
• Pair Chardonnay's Creamy Complement: Select a buttery, medium-bodied Chardonnay that mirrors the soup's rich, velvety texture and enhances its creamy profile.
• Serve Rustic Sourdough Bread: Slice crispy, tangy sourdough to dip into the soup, providing a delightful textural contrast and absorbing the delicious broth.
• Create Fresh Arugula Salad: Prepare a light arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette, adding a zesty and peppery counterpoint to the soup's richness.
• Match Italian Pinot Grigio: Choose a crisp, light Pinot Grigio with subtle citrus notes that cut through the soup's creaminess while complementing its delicate chicken flavors.

Chicken Gnocchi Soup Like Olive Garden with Cozy Touches

• Vegetarian Gnocchi Soup: Replace chicken with plant-based protein like tofu or white beans. Use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth for a completely meat-free version.
• Gluten-Free Option: Select gluten-free gnocchi made from potato or alternative flours. Use cornstarch for thickening and verify all ingredients are certified gluten-free.
• Low-Dairy Alternative: Substitute heavy cream with coconut milk or almond milk cream. Use nutritional yeast for additional richness and replace milk with unsweetened plant-based milk.
• Keto-Friendly Adaptation: Swap gnocchi with roasted cauliflower chunks. Increase heavy cream ratio, use bone broth instead of regular chicken broth, and add extra herbs for flavor complexity.

FAQs

• Is this soup creamy or broth-based?

This Olive Garden chicken gnocchi soup is a creamy soup with a rich, velvety texture from the combination of heavy cream and milk, creating a luxurious and comforting base.

• Can I use frozen gnocchi for this recipe?

Yes, frozen gnocchi works perfectly fine. Just add them directly from the freezer and cook until they float to the top, which typically takes 3-4 minutes.

• How can I make this soup healthier?

To make the soup lighter, you can substitute half-and-half for heavy cream, use low-fat milk, and add more vegetables like zucchini or kale for extra nutrition.

• What type of chicken works best in this recipe?

Rotisserie chicken or leftover cooked chicken are excellent options. You can also use shredded chicken breast or dice fresh chicken and cook it directly in the soup for added flavor.

Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup Recipe

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4.5 from 31 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup brings creamy Italian comfort straight to home kitchens with hearty potatoes, tender chicken, and pillowy gnocchi. Warm spoons promise rich flavors that comfort and delight, letting you savor restaurant-quality goodness without leaving home.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Protein:

• 1 pound cooked chicken (shredded or diced)
• 1 package (16 ounces / 454 grams) potato gnocchi
• 2 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped

Vegetables and Aromatics:

• 1 small onion, diced
• 2 medium carrots, shredded or diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced

Liquids and Seasonings:

• 4 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons olive oil or butter
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• Salt and pepper, to taste

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Instructions

1. Warm a generously sized cooking vessel over moderate temperature, introducing olive oil or butter to create a silky base for the aromatic vegetables.
2. Carefully dice and introduce onions, minced garlic, julienned carrots, and finely chopped celery, allowing them to soften and release their fragrant essence while developing a tender texture.
3. Incorporate tender, pre-cooked chicken pieces into the vegetable medley, complementing the mixture with delicate dried thyme and fresh parsley, then delicately season with salt and freshly ground pepper.
4. Stream chicken broth into the pot, allowing the liquid to gently rise to a soft, bubbling simmer and encouraging the ingredients to meld together for approximately 5 minutes.
5. Introduce velvety heavy cream and smooth milk, carefully stirring to create a luxurious, creamy consistency, then permit the mixture to simmer and develop rich flavors for 10 minutes.
6. Gently fold in pillowy potato gnocchi, watching them dance and float to the surface, indicating they are perfectly cooked within 3-4 minutes.
7. Elevate the soup’s nutritional profile by delicately incorporating fresh spinach leaves, allowing them to wilt gracefully and add a vibrant green element to the dish.
8. Perform a final taste assessment, adjusting seasonings to personal preference, and present the soup piping hot, accompanied by crusty artisan bread or a crisp side salad.

Notes

• Swap butter for olive oil to create a lighter, heart-healthy version of the soup that reduces saturated fat content.
• Use gluten-free gnocchi or replace with cauliflower gnocchi to make the recipe suitable for those with gluten sensitivities.
• Choose low-sodium chicken broth to control salt intake and create a more diet-friendly option for individuals monitoring sodium consumption.
• Customize the protein by substituting chicken with rotisserie chicken, turkey, or plant-based alternatives like tofu for varied dietary preferences.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 650
• Sugar: 4 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 40 g
• Saturated Fat: 20 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 45 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 28 g
• Cholesterol: 100 mg