Copycat Olive Garden Chicken And Gnocchi Soup Recipe

Olive Garden chicken and gnocchi soup recipe lovers, this copycat version is one of those cozy, creamy restaurant-style soups that feels like comfort food but is surprisingly easy to make at home.

This is the kind of meal I would make when I want something warm, filling, and satisfying without turning dinner into an entire production.

It has tender chicken, soft potato gnocchi, carrots, celery, spinach, and a creamy broth that tastes like it took way more effort than it actually did.

And honestly, that is the whole point.

I love a good restaurant copycat recipe when it gives you the same cozy feeling without needing to go out, wait for a table, spend extra money, or end up with leftovers that do not reheat as well as something homemade.

This copycat Olive Garden chicken gnocchi soup is creamy, comforting, and easy enough for a weeknight.

It is not the lightest soup in the world, but it is a real-life meal. It has protein, vegetables, and enough comfort to make it feel like something you actually want to eat. That matters.

Why You’ll Love This Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup

This soup works because it feels restaurant-worthy without being complicated.

The base starts with a simple mix of onion, carrot, celery, garlic, and broth. Then the chicken, gnocchi, cream, and spinach bring everything together into a thick, cozy bowl of soup.

It is a great recipe for using up cooked chicken, rotisserie chicken, or leftover shredded chicken from another meal. The gnocchi cooks directly in the soup, which means fewer dishes and less fuss.

You’ll love this recipe because it is:

• Easy enough for a weeknight
• Creamy without being overly complicated
• Made with simple grocery store ingredients
• A good way to use leftover or rotisserie chicken
• Cozy, filling, and family-friendly
• Great for a restaurant-style dinner at home

It is also a good example of what I like about practical homemade meals.

You do not have to recreate every restaurant meal perfectly. You just need the version that works in your real kitchen, with ingredients you can actually find, on a night when you still have other things to do.

Ingredients You’ll Need

For this copycat Olive Garden chicken and gnocchi soup recipe, you’ll need:

Butter and olive oil: Using both gives the soup a little richness while helping the vegetables soften without burning.

Onion, celery, and carrots: This is the simple vegetable base that gives the soup flavor. Dice them small so they cook evenly and blend into the creamy broth.

Garlic: Fresh minced garlic gives the soup better flavor, but jarred garlic works in a pinch.

All-purpose flour: This helps thicken the soup slightly so it has that creamy restaurant-style texture.

Chicken broth: Use a broth you like because it makes up most of the base. Low-sodium broth gives you more control over the salt.

Cooked chicken: Rotisserie chicken is the easiest shortcut. You can also use leftover baked chicken, shredded chicken, or even poached chicken breasts.

Potato gnocchi: Shelf-stable, refrigerated, or frozen gnocchi can work. Just adjust the cooking time slightly if needed.

Heavy cream or half-and-half: Heavy cream gives the richest texture. Half-and-half makes it a little lighter but still creamy.

Fresh spinach: Stir it in at the end so it wilts without getting mushy.

Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper: Keep the seasoning simple so the soup stays close to the Olive Garden-style flavor.

Optional parmesan: A little parmesan stirred in at the end adds more savory flavor, but the soup is still good without it.

How To Make Olive Garden Chicken And Gnocchi Soup At Home

Start by heating butter and olive oil in a large Dutch oven or soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, and carrots. Cook for about 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften.

Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, just until fragrant. Do not let it brown.

Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and stir until everything is lightly coated. Let it cook for about 1 minute. This helps remove the raw flour taste and gives the soup a better texture.

Slowly pour in the chicken broth while stirring. This helps prevent lumps and creates a smoother broth. Add the cooked chicken, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.

Bring the soup to a gentle simmer. Add the gnocchi and cook according to the package directions, usually about 3 to 5 minutes. The gnocchi should become tender and float to the top.

Reduce the heat to low and stir in the heavy cream or half-and-half. Add the spinach and let it wilt into the soup.

Taste and adjust the salt and pepper as needed. If you want a thicker soup, let it simmer for a few extra minutes. If it gets too thick, add a splash of broth.

Serve warm with parmesan, black pepper, and a simple piece of bread if you want the full cozy soup dinner situation.

Tips For The Best Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup

• The biggest thing with this soup is texture. You want it creamy and cozy, not gluey or overly thick.
• Do not boil the soup hard after adding the cream. Keep the heat low so the broth stays smooth.
• Add the spinach at the end. It only needs a minute or two to wilt.
• Use cooked chicken to keep the recipe simple. Rotisserie chicken is honestly perfect here because it adds flavor and saves time.
• If the soup thickens too much as it sits, add more broth when reheating. Gnocchi continues to absorb liquid, so leftovers will be thicker than the first serving.
• Taste before serving. Creamy soups often need a little more salt than you think because the cream softens the flavor.

Can You Make Chicken And Gnocchi Soup In The Crockpot?

Yes, you can make this copycat Olive Garden chicken and gnocchi soup in the crockpot, but the timing matters.

The chicken, broth, vegetables, and seasonings can cook low and slow, but the gnocchi, cream, and spinach should be added at the end so the soup stays creamy and the gnocchi does not get mushy.

To make it in the crockpot, add the onion, celery, carrots, garlic, chicken broth, cooked or raw chicken, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to the slow cooker. Cook on low for 4 to 6 hours or on high for 2 to 3 hours, until the vegetables are tender and the chicken is fully cooked.

If using raw chicken, remove it from the crockpot, shred it, and return it to the soup.

About 30 minutes before serving, whisk together 1 cup of the warm broth from the crockpot with the flour until smooth, then stir it back into the soup. Add the gnocchi and cook on high for 20 to 30 minutes, or until the gnocchi is tender.

Stir in the cream, spinach, and parmesan if using. Let everything warm through for another 5 to 10 minutes, then serve.

As much as I love a good shortcut, for this specific recipe, I recommend the stovetop method. The stovetop is the faster and easier because the gnocchi and cream cook best at the end.

Can You Use Rotisserie Chicken?

Yes. Rotisserie chicken is probably the easiest option for this recipe. It makes the soup faster and gives it that slow-cooked flavor without actually cooking chicken from scratch.

Use shredded or chopped rotisserie chicken and add it when you add the broth. Since it is already cooked, it only needs to warm through.

This is also a great recipe for leftover chicken if you meal prep earlier in the week.

If you have chicken waiting to be cooked, make some easy meal prep shredded chicken using your crockpot or using an instant pot if you want it done fast.

What Kind Of Gnocchi Should You Use?

Shelf-stable potato gnocchi works well and is easy to keep in the pantry. Refrigerated gnocchi also works and usually cooks quickly.

Frozen gnocchi can work too, but you may need to add an extra minute or two to the cooking time. Add it directly to the simmering soup unless the package says otherwise.

The only thing I would avoid is overcooking the gnocchi. Once it is tender, move on. Overcooked gnocchi can get too soft and make the soup feel heavier.

Can You Make This Soup Lighter?

Yes, with a few realistic swaps.

You can use half-and-half instead of heavy cream. The soup will still be creamy, just not quite as rich.

You can also use a little less cream and add extra broth if you prefer a lighter texture. I would not remove the cream completely because then it stops feeling like a true copycat Olive Garden chicken gnocchi soup.

For more protein, use extra chicken.

For more vegetables, add extra spinach, carrots, or celery.

Just keep the balance in mind so the soup still tastes like the cozy restaurant-style version.

What To Serve With Chicken And Gnocchi Soup

This soup is filling enough to stand on its own, but it also works well with simple sides.

Good options include:

• A side or Caesar salad
• Garlic bread
• A slice of sourdough
• Roasted vegetables
• Simple steamed green beans

If you want the Olive Garden-style experience, serve it with salad and breadsticks or keep it simple and pair it with whatever makes dinner feel easy and satisfying.

How To Store And Reheat Leftovers

Store leftover chicken and gnocchi soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

The soup will thicken as it sits because the gnocchi absorbs some of the broth. When reheating, add a splash of chicken broth or milk to loosen it back up.

Reheat gently on the stovetop over low heat or in the microwave in short intervals, stirring between each one.

I do not love freezing this soup because creamy soups and gnocchi can change texture after thawing. If you do freeze it, expect the broth to separate slightly and the gnocchi to be softer.

Copycat Olive Garden Chicken And Gnocchi Soup

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A cozy copycat Olive Garden chicken and gnocchi soup recipe made with tender chicken, pillowy potato gnocchi, spinach, carrots, celery, and a creamy broth.

• Author: Stephanie
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Category: Soup
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 small yellow onion, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 2 medium carrots, shredded or finely diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups cooked shredded chicken
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, plus more to taste
• 1 pound potato gnocchi
• 1 1/2 cups heavy cream or half-and-half
• 2 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan, optional

Instructions

• Heat the butter and olive oil in a large Dutch oven or soup pot over medium heat.
• Add the onion, celery, and carrots. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften.
• Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, just until fragrant.
• Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and stir until everything is coated. Cook for 1 minute.
• Slowly pour in the chicken broth while stirring to create a smooth base.
• Add the cooked chicken, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Bring the soup to a gentle simmer.
• Stir in the gnocchi and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the gnocchi is tender and floats to the top.
• Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream or half-and-half.
• Add the spinach and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until wilted.
• Stir in parmesan if using. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
• Serve warm with extra black pepper, parmesan, or bread on the side.

Notes

• Rotisserie chicken or shredded chicken works really well in this recipe and keeps the prep simple.
• If the soup gets too thick, add more chicken broth until it reaches your preferred consistency.
• For a lighter version, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream.
• Add spinach at the end so it stays bright and does not overcook.
• Leftovers will thicken in the fridge. Add broth or milk when reheating.

Recipe FAQs

Is Olive Garden Chicken And Gnocchi Soup Healthy?

It depends on what you mean by healthy. This is a creamy comfort soup, so it is richer than a broth-based vegetable soup. But when you make it at home, you can control the ingredients, add extra chicken or spinach, and adjust the cream depending on what works for you.

For Reach Wellth, I would frame this as a practical comfort meal, not a “diet” recipe.

What Is In Chicken And Gnocchi Soup At Olive Garden?

Chicken and gnocchi soup at Olive Garden is known for its creamy broth, roasted chicken, potato gnocchi, spinach, carrots, celery, and Italian-style seasoning. This copycat version uses those same core ingredients in a simple homemade format.

Can I Make This Without Heavy Cream?

Yes. Half-and-half works well if you want a lighter creamy soup. Whole milk can work, but the soup will be thinner and less rich. If using milk, keep the heat low and avoid boiling after adding it.

Can I Make This Gluten-Free?

You can make a gluten-free version by using gluten-free gnocchi and replacing the flour with a gluten-free flour blend or cornstarch slurry. Check your broth and gnocchi labels carefully.

Does Gnocchi Get Mushy In Soup?

It can if it is overcooked or reheated too many times. Cook the gnocchi just until tender, then lower the heat. For leftovers, reheat gently and avoid boiling.

Final Thoughts

This copycat Olive Garden chicken and gnocchi soup recipe is the kind of restaurant-inspired meal that makes sense to keep in your dinner rotation.

It is cozy, creamy, easy to make, and satisfying enough to feel like a full meal.

It is also a good reminder that eating well at home does not have to mean recreating perfect “healthy” meals all the time.

Sometimes the win is making the comforting thing yourself, adding real ingredients, and having dinner ready without making your life harder.

More Cozy Soup Recipes

This homemade version is inspired by Olive Garden’s chicken and gnocchi soup, but it is designed for a real home kitchen.

It uses simple grocery store ingredients, comes together in one pot, and gives you the same creamy, cozy flavor without needing a restaurant trip.

If you like this cozy soup recipe, you’ll want to try this Copycat Olive Garden Minestrone Soup →