Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup {Creamy Gnocchi Soup}
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Healthy and easy, this Chicken Gnocchi Soup is the perfect comfort food. Loaded with vegetables and packed with flavor, this Olive Garden copycat soup recipe will become a family favorite. A one-pot wonder, you’ll love this creamy gnocchi soup for the perfect dinner. It’s even better the next day, so you get to enjoy it for lunch too!
When my mom was first diagnosed with cancer, she stopped eating. She shut down and retreated into herself.
Until I made this soup.
The day after I first made this Chicken Gnocchi Soup, I asked what she wanted for lunch. She sighed and said “nothing, I’m not hungry”. I told her I had some leftover soup, and she said: “maybe I’ll try a few bites”.
The mug was empty when I returned.
Creamy Gnocchi Soup isn’t just a soup. It’s a hug in a bowl and a spoonful of comfort.
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 and don’t have to tip the waiter.
What is Gnocchi?
What is gnocchi you may be asking yourself? Gnocchi are tiny little dumplings made from potatoes, eggs, and flour. They have been pressed with the tines of a fork to hold sauces and your heart.
They’re amazing and are the star of my Crispy Oven-Fried Gnocchi and Veggies.
Where is Gnocchi in the Grocery Store?
You can find gnocchi in three main places at the store. Frozen gnocchi can be found with freezer meals/pasta, fresh gnocchi is located 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.
What Kind of Chicken to Use in Chicken Gnocchi Soup?
I used organic chicken breast from Butcher Box in this soup. I cubed it before adding it to the rest of the ingredients in my dutch oven. If you want to make this creamy gnocchi soup even easier to whip up, cook whole chicken breast in the soup and shred when cooked through.
You could also use leftover chicken from a homemade Paleo Roast Chicken or even a grocery store rotisserie chicken. Follow the instructions in the recipe card for when to add pre-cooked chicken.
Can I Make This Chicken Gnocchi 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.
Need more dairy-free and gluten-free soups? You’ll love Whole30 Potato Soup, homemade Ramen Noodle Bowls, and these 16 Whole30 Soup recipes.
Can You Freeze Creamy Gnocchi Soup?
You can! The cream may turn a bit grainy in the broth when it defrosts. But guess what? It’s still going to be delicious!
Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
- Add 2 cups of cooked spinach for even 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.
More Delicious Comfort Soup Recipes You’ll Love
- Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings
- Spicy Vegan Butternut Squash Soup
- Whole30 Beef Stew
- Vegetable Noodle Soup
- Instant Pot Lentil Soup
- Whole30 Tomato Soup
- Miso Veggie Soup in a Jar
WEIGHT WATCHERS POINTS
One serving of Chicken Gnocchi Soup has 8 WW Freestyle SmartPoints.
Making this recipe or others?
Post a photo on my Facebook page, share it on Instagram, or save it to Pinterest with the tag #sustainablecooks. I can't wait to see your take on it!
This easy Chicken Gnocchi Soup is perfect comfort food. Loaded with vegetables and flavor, this Olive Garden copycat soup recipe will be a family favorite.
- 7 carrots peeled and chopped
- 6 stalks of celery cut down the middle and chopped
- 1 small onion diced
- 4 cloves garlic chopped or pressed
- 3 tsp butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp dried tarragon double or triple if using fresh
- 1 tsp dried parsley double or triple if using fresh
- 1 tsp dried thyme double or triple if using fresh
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- Few gentle shakes of red pepper flakes
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup chicken awesome way to use leftovers from a roasted chicken. Or fresh is great too!
- 2 cups half and half*
- 8 cups chicken stock an excellent time to use homemade
- 1 package of shelf-stable gnocchi or three cups of homemade.
In a heavy pan (like a dutch oven), combine butter and olive oil over medium heat.
Once the butter is melted, add carrots, celery, and onions, stirring to combine. Cook for 10 minutes.
Add garlic. If using raw diced chicken, add here. Cook for 5-10 more minutes.
Sprinkle flour over the veg and chicken, and gently stir to combine.
Slowly add the half and half, stirring to combine.
Add the chicken broth and parsley, tarragon, thyme, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
Crank the heat up to medium-high, and bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Stirring constantly, cook on medium-high for 2-4 minutes.
Once the mixture seems to thicken up and looks a bit cloudy, add the gnocchi, and reduce heat to medium-low. You'll need to keep an eye on it and stir occasionally. If using leftover cooked chicken, add that now.
The soup is ready when the (raw) chicken is cooked through, and the gnocchi are floating near the top.
Half and half seems to be an American ingredient. It is basically a mixture of heavy cream and milk. If you can't find it in stores near you, simply use 1 cup heavy cream, and 1 cup of your preferred milk.
Add a pinch (~1/8 tsp) of nutmeg to really bring out the flavor of the soup.
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Oh, also I used full fat coconut milk because it’s all I had and it was perfect.
Omg. This soup is so delicious that I am compelled to write my first ever comment after following your blog for the last 8 years. I crisped the gnocchi in a pan before adding to the soup. I also used chicken thighs which I browned first and then set aside and diced…so added a bit of time and effort to the overall process but, totally worth it!! So yummy!!! The gnocchi melted in our mouths. The herb combo is freaking delicious. Smoked paprika and chili flakes are the secret underdog ingredients here; they create an amazing depth of flavour that is so warm and flavourful. My husband could not get enough of this soup and he even sipped up every last bit of the herby broth, which he never does!
Sarah, this was so so so good. My husband is sick and when I saw this on my RSS feed, it felt like kismet! I usually make soup that’s just a bunch of old-ish veggies that I blend at the end, which I do like but tastes a little same-y, and this one was amazing. Creamy, and the gnocchis felt like silk on the tongue… I served it with crack bread and it was just heavenly on this autumn night. Thanks for your great work.
Mireille, I’m so glad you guys liked it! Sorry to hear about the man cold, but I’m thrilled I could help keep happy bellies in your home. 🙂
I kinda whined about having to actually stand and cook this soup, but HOLY HELL! Eating it was like if a hug from your grandma came in soup form! Very, very good AND I can freeze half and have it again in 3-4 weeks when nothing sounds good and it’s cold as shit outside! I’ve basically eaten nothing but your soups for like a month now. I have no intention of stopping until spring ♥️
Haha, I’m so excited it was worth the standing time for you. And I love that this review included swearing which basically just means you made my week.
Daily soup is my kind of thing. You’re my people!
Could I make this without chicken?
Of course! I put so little chicken in because I really care about the veggies and the broth. 🙂 If there was no chicken I wouldn’t miss it AT ALL.
Thank you for this recipe! It sounded great and given that I’m on day 5 of a cold that can last 7-14 days (thanks dr!) is just what I needed.
I used almond milk—it worked well! And cauliflower gnocchi from TJ’s—also just as yummy!
Didn’t have tarragon and may have doubled the smoked paprika, but it was sooo sooo good.
I have a bag of TJ’s gnocchi in my freezer right now and have been dying to try it in this recipe. You’ve inspired me!
This was so good! My teenage son claimed the leftovers and requested that it show up often. Thanks Sarah!
Jess, so glad to hear it was a hit and actually fed a teen enough to have leftovers!
Do you have a recipe for homemade gnocchi?
I’m so sorry but I don’t!
This is so good! It has lots of taste, texture and so easy to make!
So glad you liked it Jean! It’s one of our favorites and is so filling.
Yum! Soooooo good and I love how easy and fast it was to make (especially with frozen chopped onion and carrot shreds cuz I ain’t got time to peel and chop after work).
Aidan really liked it too, and he’s super picky. Of course, it helped that he has a thing for chicken noodle soup, and I told him this was a tastier version.🤣
Haha, love that it is all about marketing with the kiddos! 🙂
So glad you both liked it!
Made this tonight and it was my very favorite kind of recipe: dead easy, so damn satisfying, and sneakily healthy. My picky kids were too busy gobbling down gnocchi to notice the veggies. I’ll happily eat leftovers the rest of the week.
Who-hoo mom win!! I prefer this soup the next day (well all soups), so enjoy those leftovers friend.