Description
Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup is a creamy, comforting Italian-inspired favorite you can recreate at home. Tender chicken, potato gnocchi, carrots, celery, and spinach drift in a velvety chicken broth enriched with half-and-half (or coconut milk for dairy-free). This copycat Olive Garden soup is easy, cozy, and crowd-pleasing—perfect for weeknights and meal prep, with simple pantry ingredients and adaptable dairy options. Adjust salt to taste and enjoy with crusty bread; the recipe scales easily for gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 medium carrots, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup half-and-half or coconut milk (for a dairy-free option)
- 1 (16 oz) package potato gnocchi
- 1 cup fresh spinach, roughly chopped
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp thyme
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, carrots, and celery. Sauté until vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the cooked chicken, Italian seasoning, thyme, salt, and pepper.
- Pour in chicken broth and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Add gnocchi and cook according to package directions, usually 2–3 minutes, until they float to the top.
- Stir in half-and-half or coconut milk and chopped spinach. Simmer for another 5 minutes until the soup thickens slightly and the spinach wilts.
- Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
- Serve warm, topped with Parmesan if desired.
Notes
- For dairy-free, use coconut milk in place of half-and-half.
- Gluten note: traditional potato gnocchi contains gluten; use gluten-free gnocchi if needed.
- To thicken, simmer a bit longer or whisk in a splash of dairy-free milk.
- Leftovers freeze well for up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American/Italian-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240 ml)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 640 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
Keywords: Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup, chicken gnocchi soup, copycat recipe, creamy soup, Italian-inspired soup, Olive Garden copycat, gnocchi soup recipe