This Chicken Gnocchi Soup is the perfect simple comfort food. Loaded with vegetables and packed with flavor, this Olive Garden copycat soup recipe will become a family favorite.
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Creamy Gnocchi Soup isn’t just a soup. It’s a hug in a bowl and a spoonful of comfort. This is the soup that your family will insist you make weekly…and you’ll happily oblige.
If you love Olive Garden copycat soups, check out my Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana. There are no unlimited breadsticks, but you’ll save a boatload of cash, don’t have to tip the waiter, or wear pants!
If you’re looking for an Instant Pot version of this recipe, check out our Instant Pot Chicken Gnocchi Soup.
Can I Make This Soup Dairy-Free?
You sure can! Use your favorite non-dairy milk and butter and voila, this soup will be dairy-free.
If you need a dairy AND gluten-free version, you’ll want to check out my Dairy and Gluten-Free Chicken Gnocchi Soup recipe.
What to Serve With Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup
Stick with the Olive Garden theme and serve this gnocchi soup with bread and salad! I recommend a Kale Chopped Salad, Cheesy Garlic Bread, Air Fryer Texas Toast, or No Knead Dutch Oven Bread.
Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
- You can use raw chicken breasts or thighs OR leftover chicken (like from a rotisserie chicken, a Dry-Brined Chicken, or Air Fryer Chicken Tenders (No Breading), or even chopped leftover Thanksgiving turkey.
- Use veggie broth instead of chicken stock and this soup easily becomes vegetarian. I often leave the chicken out of this recipe altogether and nobody in my family notices.
- Add 2 cups of raw spinach or chopped kale right before serving for a soup that is even more veggie-packed.
- Add 1/8 tsp nutmeg to take your soup next level.
- Want to make it lower carb? Sub in cauliflower florets in lieu of the gnocchi.
- Make your prep even easier by learning how to freeze carrots, how to freeze celery, how to freeze garlic, and how to freeze onions.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can store it in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to four days.
Yes, thanks to the cream, this soup freezes very well. I like to freeze it in my 1-cup Souper Cubes for individual servings, or 2-cup Souper Cubes for family-size servings.
This soup will keep in the freezer for 3-6 months. Allow it to defrost in the fridge overnight, or slowly reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave (cook 1 minute at a time and stir between cooking).
You can find gnocchi in three main places at the store. Frozen gnocchi can be found with freezer meals/pasta, fresh gnocchi is located in the refrigerator section with fresh pasta, and dried gnocchi will be in the pasta aisle.
I use dried gnocchi because it is affordable, shelf-stable, and tastes great. You can sub in frozen, fresh gnocchi, or even homemade. If using frozen, do not thaw before adding it to your chicken gnocchi soup. If you want to use fresh, follow the instructions in the recipe card.
Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 3.5 cups carrots {peeled and chopped}{~7 carrots}
- 2.5 cups celery {chopped}{~6 stalks}
- 1 cup white or yellow onion {diced}{~1 small onion}
- 4 cloves garlic {minced}
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast {cut into bite-sized pieces}
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 8 cups chicken stock
- 1 tsp dried tarragon {1 tbsp chopped if using fresh}
- 1 tsp dried parsley {1 tbsp chopped if using fresh}
- 1 tsp dried thyme {1 tbsp chopped if using fresh}
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 16 oz package of shelf-stable gnocchi {or 3 cups homemade}
- 1/8 tsp red pepper flakes {optional}
Instructions
- In a heavy soup pan, combine butter and olive oil over medium heat.3 tbsp unsalted butter, 1 tbsp olive oil
- Once the butter has melted, add carrots, celery, and onions, stirring to combine. Cook for 10 minutes.3.5 cups carrots, 2.5 cups celery, 1 cup white or yellow onion
- Add garlic and chicken. Cook for 5-10 more minutes.4 cloves garlic, 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast
- Sprinkle flour over the veggies and chicken, and gently stir to combine.1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- Slowly add the heavy cream, stirring to combine.2 cups heavy cream
- Add the chicken stock, parsley, tarragon, thyme, and smoked paprika. Salt and pepper to taste.8 cups chicken stock, 1 tsp dried tarragon, 1 tsp dried parsley, 1 tsp dried thyme, 1/2 tsp smoked paprika, Salt and pepper to taste
- Increase the heat to medium-high, and bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Stirring constantly, cook on medium-high for 2-4 minutes.
- Once the mixture starts to thicken up and looks a bit cloudy, add the gnocchi, and reduce heat to medium-low. Stir occasionally. If using leftover cooked chicken, add that now.1 16 oz package of shelf-stable gnocchi
- The soup is ready when the chicken is cooked through, and gnocchi are floating near the top (~5 minutes).
Notes
- You can use raw chicken breasts or thighs OR leftover chicken or even chopped leftover Thanksgiving turkey.
- Add 2 cups of raw spinach or chopped kale right before serving for a soup that is even more veggie-packed.
- Add 1/8 tsp nutmeg to take your soup next level.
- If using frozen gnocchi, do not thaw it before adding it to your chicken gnocchi soup.
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Cooking now, but before I forget, you might want to change ingredient list to either half and half, or one cup heavy cream- one cup milk. Excited to try this, it looked too good in the photo and I have almost everything on hand.
The original recipe called for half and half and I later changed it to heavy cream. And totally missed that detail in the recipe card instructions. Off to change now. Thank you!
This soup is quick (even on the stovetop), hearty and fricking delicious. I am not a natural with soups, my mum holds the soup queen title, she enjoyed this and went back for seconds. My belly is full and happy and there are plenty of leftovers ❤️
I think we need to talk about the fact that your mom has the title of “Soup Queen” and I think I need her to share some recipes with me!! 🙂
So glad you and the Soup Queen enjoyed this!
I’m looking at this recipe, wanting to make it and think “oh no it serves 8!” There are only two people in my household. Then I notice I can change the serving size. You are a Rock Star! A very thorough Rock Star.
I’m so glad you noticed the serving adjustment; not everyone does! That being said, I could/would/have consume an entire batch of soup by myself. HA!
Had this for dinner last night. Hubby had two servings and I got to quickly eat a bowl in between feeding my daughter and being a binkie slave for my friends son. It was delicious and I hope we can eat the leftovers before they go bad. May have to freeze some of it.
So glad you liked it Mallori! Binkie slave? LOL!