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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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.