🎉 Introduction

If you love creamy soups that feel warm, comforting, and satisfying in every spoonful, this Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup will instantly become one of your favorites. Inspired by the famous restaurant classic, this soup combines tender shredded chicken, soft pillowy gnocchi, creamy broth, fresh vegetables, and fragrant herbs to create a bowl that tastes luxurious yet soothing.

The richness comes from a buttery flour roux, milk, and a flavorful chicken broth that simmers together to create a silky, velvety base. Carrots, onion, spinach, and garlic add freshness and depth, while the gnocchi brings a soft chewiness that makes the soup hearty enough for a full dinner. Every bite delivers creamy texture, savory chicken, and warming herbs — perfect for chilly nights, busy weeknights, or comforting meals when you want something extra cozy.

Whether you’re recreating the experience of Olive Garden at home or simply looking for a comforting one-pot chicken soup, this version is delicious, easy, and full of restaurant-quality flavor.

🧰 Equipment Needed

• Large soup pot or Dutch oven
• Cutting board
• Sharp knife
• Wooden spoon
• Measuring cups & spoons
• Mixing bowl
• Ladle
• Whisk

🛒 Ingredients

Meat

• 1 lb cooked, shredded chicken breast (boneless & skinless)

Vegetables

• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 cup carrots, sliced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup fresh spinach
• 2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes

Liquids

• 6 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups milk

Pasta

• 16 oz mini potato gnocchi

Oil & Butter

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 4 tablespoons butter

Thickener

• ¼ cup all-purpose flour

Seasonings

• Salt and black pepper to taste

👩‍🍳 Directions

Step 1 — Sauté the vegetables

Heat olive oil and butter in a large soup pot over medium heat.
Add the diced onion and sliced carrots.
Cook for 5–7 minutes until the vegetables begin to soften.
Add minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute.

Step 2 — Make the creamy roux

Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables.
Stir well for 1–2 minutes to remove the raw flour taste and create a thick base.

Step 3 — Add broth

Slowly pour in the chicken broth while whisking.
Stir until the mixture becomes smooth and begins to thicken.

Step 4 — Add shredded chicken

Add the cooked shredded chicken to the pot and mix well.

Step 5 — Add milk

Pour in the milk and stir to create a creamy, silky broth.

Step 6 — Cook the gnocchi

Add the mini potato gnocchi.
Simmer for 10–12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the gnocchi become soft and tender.

Step 7 — Add spinach & parsley

Add the fresh spinach and parsley flakes.
Simmer for another 2–3 minutes until the spinach wilts.

Step 8 — Season

Add salt and black pepper to taste.

Step 9 — Serve warm

Ladle into bowls and enjoy a creamy restaurant-style soup right at home.

🍽️ Servings & Timing

• Servings: 6
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Total Time: 35 minutes

🧊 Storage & Reheating

Refrigerator

• Store for 3–4 days in airtight containers.
• Gnocchi will soften — add extra broth before reheating.

Freezer

• Freeze without milk or gnocchi for up to 2 months.
• Add fresh milk and gnocchi when reheating for best texture.

Reheating

• Reheat on low heat to avoid scorching the creamy base.
• Add broth or milk if the soup thickens.

🥄 Variations

1. Extra Creamy Version

Add ½ cup heavy cream.

2. Spinach Lover’s Version

Add up to 2 cups of fresh spinach.

3. Herb-Rich Soup

Add dried basil, thyme, or Italian seasoning.

4. High-Protein Version

Add chickpeas or extra chicken.

5. Lightened-Up Version

Use low-fat milk and reduce butter.

6. Vegetable-Rich Version

Add celery, mushrooms, or zucchini.

7. Brothy Gnocchi Soup

Add 1 extra cup of broth.

8. Kid-Friendly Mild Soup

Use less garlic and skip pepper.

9. Gluten-Free Version

Use gluten-free gnocchi and GF flour.

10. Cheesy Gnocchi Soup

Add mozzarella or Parmesan on top.

❓ 10 FAQs

1. Can I use rotisserie chicken?

Yes — a great time-saver.

2. Can I use frozen gnocchi?

Absolutely — no need to thaw.

3. Can I make this dairy-free?

Use plant milk and vegan butter, though the flavor will differ.

4. Can I add celery?

Yes — celery adds classic soup flavor.

5. Does the soup thicken as it cools?

Yes — add broth when reheating.

6. How do I keep it from curdling?

Use low heat when adding milk.

7. Can I use evaporated milk?

Yes — it makes the soup extra creamy.

8. What gnocchi works best?

Mini potato gnocchi cook quickly and absorb flavor well.

9. Can I add cheese?

Yes — Parmesan is delicious.

10. Can I use chicken thighs?

Yes — they stay tender and juicy.

🏁 Conclusion

This Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup is the perfect combination of creamy broth, tender gnocchi, savory chicken, sweet carrots, and warm herbs. Every bite is comforting, velvety, and satisfying — the kind of cozy meal you want to curl up with on a cool evening. It brings restaurant-quality flavor right to your kitchen with simple ingredients and easy steps.

Whether you’re serving it to family, making it for meal prep, or indulging in a warm bowl after a long day, this soup delivers pure comfort with every spoonful.

Adam

Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup – Creamy, Cozy & Restaurant-Style Comfort

If you love creamy soups that feel warm, comforting, and satisfying in every spoonful, this Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup will instantly become one of your favorites. Inspired by the famous restaurant classic, this soup combines tender shredded chicken, soft pillowy gnocchi, creamy broth, fresh vegetables, and fragrant herbs to create a bowl that tastes luxurious yet soothing. The richness comes from a buttery flour roux, milk, and a flavorful chicken broth that simmers together to create a silky, velvety base. Carrots, onion, spinach, and garlic add freshness and depth, while the gnocchi brings a soft chewiness that makes the soup hearty enough for a full dinner. Every bite delivers creamy texture, savory chicken, and warming herbs — perfect for chilly nights, busy weeknights, or comforting meals when you want something extra cozy. Whether you’re recreating the experience of Olive Garden at home or simply looking for a comforting one-pot chicken soup, this version is delicious, easy, and full of restaurant-quality flavor.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Meat

• 1 lb cooked shredded chicken breast (boneless & skinless)

Vegetables

• 1 small onion diced
• 1 cup carrots sliced
• 2 garlic cloves minced
• 1 cup fresh spinach
• 2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes

Liquids

• 6 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups milk

Pasta

• 16 oz mini potato gnocchi

Oil & Butter

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 4 tablespoons butter

Thickener

• ¼ cup all-purpose flour

Seasonings

• Salt and black pepper to taste

✨ Kitchen Essentials You’ll Love

Quick picks I trust for better results, faster prep, and easier cleanup.

• 🍳

  Lodge Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet

  View ↗
• ⚡

  Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 Electric

  View ↗
• 🔥

  CHEFMAN Digital Air Fryer XL 10L

  View ↗

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Equipment

• Large soup pot or Dutch oven
• Cutting board
• Sharp knife
• Wooden spoon
• Measuring cups & spoons
• Mixing bowl
• Ladle
• Whisk

Method

 

Step 1 — Sauté the vegetables

1. Heat olive oil and butter in a large soup pot over medium heat.
2. Add the diced onion and sliced carrots.
3. Cook for 5–7 minutes until the vegetables begin to soften.
4. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute.

Step 2 — Make the creamy roux

1. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables.
2. Stir well for 1–2 minutes to remove the raw flour taste and create a thick base.

Step 3 — Add broth

1. Slowly pour in the chicken broth while whisking.
2. Stir until the mixture becomes smooth and begins to thicken.

Step 4 — Add shredded chicken

1. Add the cooked shredded chicken to the pot and mix well.

Step 5 — Add milk

1. Pour in the milk and stir to create a creamy, silky broth.

Step 6 — Cook the gnocchi

1. Add the mini potato gnocchi.
2. Simmer for 10–12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the gnocchi become soft and tender.

Step 7 — Add spinach & parsley

1. Add the fresh spinach and parsley flakes.
2. Simmer for another 2–3 minutes until the spinach wilts.

Step 8 — Season

1. Add salt and black pepper to taste.

Step 9 — Serve warm

1. Ladle into bowls and enjoy a creamy restaurant-style soup right at home.

Notes

🧊 Storage & Reheating
Refrigerator

Store for 3–4 days in airtight containers.

Gnocchi will soften — add extra broth before reheating.

Freezer

Freeze without milk or gnocchi for up to 2 months.

Add fresh milk and gnocchi when reheating for best texture.

Reheating

Reheat on low heat to avoid scorching the creamy base.

Add broth or milk if the soup thickens.

🥄 Variations
1. Extra Creamy Version

Add ½ cup heavy cream.

2. Spinach Lover’s Version

Add up to 2 cups of fresh spinach.

3. Herb-Rich Soup

Add dried basil, thyme, or Italian seasoning.

4. High-Protein Version

Add chickpeas or extra chicken.

5. Lightened-Up Version

Use low-fat milk and reduce butter.

6. Vegetable-Rich Version

Add celery, mushrooms, or zucchini.

7. Brothy Gnocchi Soup

Add 1 extra cup of broth.

8. Kid-Friendly Mild Soup

Use less garlic and skip pepper.

9. Gluten-Free Version

Use gluten-free gnocchi and GF flour.

10. Cheesy Gnocchi Soup

Add mozzarella or Parmesan on top.

❓ 10 FAQs
1. Can I use rotisserie chicken?

Yes — a great time-saver.

2. Can I use frozen gnocchi?

Absolutely — no need to thaw.

3. Can I make this dairy-free?

Use plant milk and vegan butter, though the flavor will differ.

4. Can I add celery?

Yes — celery adds classic soup flavor.

5. Does the soup thicken as it cools?

Yes — add broth when reheating.

6. How do I keep it from curdling?

Use low heat when adding milk.

7. Can I use evaporated milk?

Yes — it makes the soup extra creamy.

8. What gnocchi works best?

Mini potato gnocchi cook quickly and absorb flavor well.

9. Can I add cheese?

Yes — Parmesan is delicious.

10. Can I use chicken thighs?

Yes — they stay tender and juicy.

🏁 Conclusion

This Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup is the perfect combination of creamy broth, tender gnocchi, savory chicken, sweet carrots, and warm herbs. Every bite is comforting, velvety, and satisfying — the kind of cozy meal you want to curl up with on a cool evening. It brings restaurant-quality flavor right to your kitchen with simple ingredients and easy steps.

Whether you’re serving it to family, making it for meal prep, or indulging in a warm bowl after a long day, this soup delivers pure comfort with every spoonful.