This homemade chicken gnocchi soup is the perfect comfort food…creamy, hearty and delicious! Only takes one pot and 30 minutes to make.
Easy Olive Garden Copycat
Last year we visited my BIL and SIL in New York for their baby’s blessing and she made the most delicious chicken gnocchi soup while we were there. It tasted like Olive Garden’s chicken gnocchi soup.
I knew once I got home that I had to get the recipe and make it for my family. It’s so creamy, rich and delicious. It’s definitely a new family favorite along with this creamy potato leek soup recipe!
I had never tried gnocchi until I got married, but have made several recipes with it ever since (this soup and sheet pan gnocchi are my faves). This recipe is SO easy to make and can be made in one pot in 30 minutes. You can’t beat that! Enjoy it for lunch, dinner, or whenever. It’s a comforting home cooked meal that the whole family will love!
Why We Love This Recipe
- Made in one pot. What’s not to love about one pot meals? Less dishes means less time cleaning up, which is always a win in my book!
- Ready in 30 minutes. Weeknights get busy, so quick and easy dinners are a must in our house. Easy 30-minute meals come to my rescue time and time again!
- Inexpensive copycat. Learn to make an Olive Garden favorite at home, while saving money at the same time. This inexpensive version tastes just like the real thing!
- Comfort food. This soup will curb all your comfort food cravings. It’s super creamy and hearty and just like my clam chowder recipe will warm you up on a chilly day.
What is Gnocchi?
Gnocchi is basically just mini dumplings made from potato and flour. They are dense, yet soft dumplings that are small in size and typically have ridges on them to help hold sauce.
My kids love to eat them with marinara, basil pesto, bolognese or alfredo sauce. They are also SO yummy in soup and add a great texture! I love eating them with butter and parmesan cheese for a simple lunch as well.
Where is gnocchi found in the grocery store?
If you’ve never tried gnocchi, you can find it in the pasta section at any store. It’s usually vacuum packed to keep it’s freshness. Sometimes it’s also sold in the frozen foods section near other frozen pasta such as ravioli and tortellini. I especially like the DeLallo brand of gnocchi which can be found in the pasta aisle.
Tips + Variations
- Prepare veggies. Make sure to chop the vegetables before getting started. For convenience, use a bag of shredded carrots or buy pre chopped onions and celery.
- Rotisserie chicken. Instead of cooking the chicken breasts, use a rotisserie chicken to make this recipe even easier.
- Greens. You can use kale instead of spinach if preferred. Just make sure to wait to add it in until the very end.
- Gluten-free. Use gluten-free gnocchi if needed. DeLallo and Trader Joe’s make a great gluten-free version.
- Vegetarian. Omit the chicken and use vegetable broth to make vegetarian. You can even add in a can of chickpeas or more veggies to bulk it up a little more.
How to Store Chicken Gnocchi Soup
This soup will keep in the refrigerator for about 3 to 4 days in an airtight container. Leftovers make a great lunch the next day! I don’t recommend freezing this soup, as dairy tends to separate when frozen and the gnocchi could get mushy.
5 star review
“This recipe was very easy to make! Super easy, super tasty, and super fulfilling. My family went for seconds!‘
– Kaitlin
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Chicken Gnocchi Soup
Video
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- ½ onion , diced
- 1 cup carrots , sliced or shredded
- 1 cup celery , chopped
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 3 chicken breasts cooked and shredded (or use rotisserie chicken)
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 1 pint heavy cream
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon pepper
- 16 ounce package mini potato gnocchi
- 1-2 cups spinach , chopped
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, celery and garlic and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the onions are translucent.
- Add the chicken, chicken stock, whipping cream, salt, pepper and thyme. Heat to boiling and then add the gnocchi. Gently boil for 4 minutes, then turn down and simmer for 10 minutes, or until it has reached desired thickness.
- Add spinach and cook for another 1-2 minutes, or until the spinach has wilted. Salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy while warm!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
This is going to be in heavy rotation all season long for dinner at my house! So good!
I love soup season! this recipe looks so delish! I think my kids would dig this one! Pinning for later!
Wow this soup is so hearty and delicious! I loved how creamy it was – the flavor POPPED!
This looks amazing! Thanks for sharing!
Hope you enjoy! :)
The perfect comfort food!
This is so perfect for weeknights! So creamy and really easy!
mmmm!! I love everything about this!! I can’t wait to try this recipe!!
Hey Jamielyn…! I also read your post and this is one of my favorite post…this looks sooo good & delicious…Thanks for sharing….!
All these flavors! So perfect for fall and cold weather! Yum!
This soup looks really scrumptious! I love how creamy it is!
I’ve made this soup twice and it’s turned out great both times. I used a 12 1/2 oz can of chicken this time and it worked great!
I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed this recipe! Thank you for your nice comment and review. :)
Delicious! I did substitute evaporated milk for the cream, but that is just personal preference. I love the celery ‘heart’ in the soup ladle picture — not sure if that was styled or just a happy accident, but it made me smile.
I’m so glad you liked this soup! Glad to know evaporated milk worked just as great. I have never noticed the celery “heart” before, I love it!!
This is my favorite soup I choose at Olive Garden. Yesterday was a cold wintery day here in Ohio and I had almost all the ingredients . My dear husband shopped for the spinach and carrots. I will definitely make this soup over and over. It is delicious. Thank you for sharing your recipe.
I’m so glad you liked it! I live in Ohio too and have been making soup so often the past few weeks. This one is perfect for a cold winter day! :)
Where do you find the mini potato gnocchi
at in the grocery store?
I’ve seen it in the pasta isle where you see all the other boxed pasta. I believe they also have frozen gnocchi too! :)
Thank you for posting this! I made this for my family and everyone loved it!! Delicious!
This soup is eye-catching! I’m tempted to add in some coconut milk. Hope it won’t destroy the flavor!
Can you recommend a gnocchi?
I really like the Delallo brand! :)
This looks really good! My kids, for whatever reason, don’t like gnocchi so this may be a good way to fool them!! Visiting from Tidy Mom.