By Becky Hardin
Updated Feb 18, 2025
Chicken Gnocchi Soup is one of my favorite soups for the cozy warm weather! It’s so creamy, filled with colorful veggies, chicken, and pillowy potato gnocchi! This copycat Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup is incredibly easy to make and tastes so much better!
5-Star Reviews
“So good and way better than the restaurant version because there are no junk ingredients!” -Kimberly
Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup (Copycat Recipe)
Chicken Gnocchi Soup is a super creamy soup filled with the most delicious mini potato gnocchis. What I love most is how flavorful they are with every bite! With a rich cream base, shredded carrots, onions, spinach, soft pillowy gnocchi dumplings, and chicken—this soup is so satisfying!
Replicating restaurant style quality is my passion. It helps me to save money and time and I serve a healthier meal! Want more restaurant copycat recipes? Try our Bang Bang Shrimp , Carrabba’s Sausage and Lentil Soup , and Applebee’s Fiesta Lime Chicken !
Tips for Beginners
- Do not continue boiling after adding the cream. The cream may curdle after a while.
- I highly recommend using fresh spinach. Frozen spinach will make the soup watery.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 8 tablespoons butter divided
- ▢ 1 small yellow onion chopped
- ▢ 1 cup shredded carrot
- ▢ 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- ▢ 30 ounces chicken broth click for homemade recipe!
- ▢ 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
- ▢ 1/2 tablespoon dried thyme
- ▢ 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- ▢ 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ▢ 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- ▢ 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
- ▢ 16 ounces potato gnocchi
- ▢ 1/3 cup white flour
- ▢ 2 cups half and half
- ▢ 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ▢ 1/3 cup heavy cream
- ▢ 2 cups fresh baby spinach roughly chopped
Video
Instructions
- Heat a large stock pot or dutch oven over medium high heat. 3 tablespoons butter until just melted. 8 tablespoons butter
- Add in the onion and carrot and stir to coat in the butter. Saute for 3-5 minutes or until onions are translucent. 1 small yellow onion, 1 cup shredded carrot
- Stir in garlic and cook for 1-2 more minutes or until fragrant. 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- Pour in the chicken broth and add in the nutmeg, thyme, paprika, salt, and pepper. Add in chicken breast and bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to simmer. Allow to cook for 8-10 minutes or until chicken is fully cooked. Remove chicken and set aside. 30 ounces chicken broth, 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/2 tablespoon dried thyme, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 2 lbs boneless
- While chicken is cooking, heat remaining butter in a small sauce pan. Once melted, stir in the flour briskly with a whisk. 1/3 cup white flour
- Pour in the half and half, whisking while you pour. Once fully combined and smooth, allow to simmer to 3 minutes or until thickened. Whisk often. 2 cups half and half
- Stir in the parmesan cheese until combined. Remove from the heat and stir in the cream, whisking with your hand until smooth. Set aside. 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1/3 cup heavy cream
- Once chicken has been removed from the broth, add in the 16 ounces potato gnocchi. Allow to simmer, covered, for 5-7 minutes or until gnocchi rises to the top and is done. 16 ounces potato gnocchi
- Stir the cream mixture into the broth/gnocchi mixture.
- Cube the cooked chicken and return to the soup, along with the spinach. Heat until warmed to your liking, but do not allow to come to a boil.
Becky’s Tips
- Use mini size gnocchi for the soup. They are easy to scoop in and so tasty.
- Swap potato gnocchi to cauliflower gnocchi or simply use any pasta.
- Throw some sun dried tomatoes on top while serving.
- You can also use skinless boneless chicken thighs or shredded chicken.
- Feel free to add peas, zucchini, asparagus, and broccoli.
- Adjust the salt in the recipe if you’re using salted butter.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Chicken Gnocchi Soup Step by Step
Cook vegetables and chicken: Heat a large stock pot or dutch oven over medium high heat. Add 3 tablespoons butter (out of 8 tablespoons butter) until just melted. Add in 1 small chopped yellow onion, 1 cup shredded carrot and saute until onions become translucent.
Stir in 1 tablespoon minced garlic and cook a couple more minutes.
Add broth and chicken: Pour in the 30 ounces chicken broth, 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/2 tablespoon dried thyme, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. At the same time add in 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts and bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to simmer.
Allow to cook for 8-10 minutes or until chicken is fully cooked. Remove chicken and set aside.
Prepare the soup base: While the chicken cooks, melt the remaining butter in a small saucepan and whisk in the 1/3 cup white flour.
Then whisk in 2 cups half and half, and let it simmer until it thickens.
Stir in 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese, remove from heat, then whisk in 1/3 cup heavy cream.
Once the chicken is fully cooked through, remove it from the pot and set it aside.
Add gnocchi and cook: Add the 16 ounces potato gnocchi into the broth mixture and let it simmer until the gnocchi rises to the top (that’s how you know it’s cooked through). It takes around 5-7 minutes.
Combine soup base and chicken: Pour the cream mixture from the saucepan into the rest of the soup.
Cube the chicken breast then add it into the soup, along with the chopped spinach, and stir until heated.
I just love how creamy and delicious this chicken gnocchi soup recipe turns out.
How to Store and Reheat
Refrigerate: Refrigerate leftover soup for up to 3 days. Place it in an airtight container and store. Keep in mind, gnocchi and veggies absorb the juices and your soup may get thicker. Add some chicken broth or half and half and adjust the consistency. You may need to adjust salt per taste.
Freeze: I don’t recommend freezing this chicken gnocchi soup. Cooked gnocchi sticks with each other. The soup may curdle after thawing due to dairy.
Serving Suggestions
In my opinion Chicken Gnocchi soup makes a complete meal in itself, lean protein from chicken, carbs from gnocchi and fat from the cream base! You could also pair this with my Olive Garden Salad with Dressing or some homemade garlic bread .
Add an Italian Cream Cake for dessert if you’re celebrating something special!
more delicious soups recipes to try
Crockpot Stuffed Pepper Soup
Creamy Chicken Soup
Beef Stew Seasoning
Turkey Wild Rice Soup
Beef Barley Soup
Ham and Lentil Soup
Dumpling Soup
15 Bean Soup
Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 tablespoons butter divided
- 1 small yellow onion chopped
- 1 cup shredded carrot
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 30 ounces chicken broth click for homemade recipe!
- 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/2 tablespoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 16 ounces potato gnocchi
- 1/3 cup white flour
- 2 cups half and half
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups fresh baby spinach roughly chopped
Instructions
- Heat a large stock pot or dutch oven over medium high heat. 3 tablespoons butter until just melted. 8 tablespoons butter
- Add in the onion and carrot and stir to coat in the butter. Saute for 3-5 minutes or until onions are translucent. 1 small yellow onion, 1 cup shredded carrot
- Stir in garlic and cook for 1-2 more minutes or until fragrant. 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- Pour in the chicken broth and add in the nutmeg, thyme, paprika, salt, and pepper. Add in chicken breast and bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to simmer. Allow to cook for 8-10 minutes or until chicken is fully cooked. Remove chicken and set aside. 30 ounces chicken broth, 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/2 tablespoon dried thyme, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 2 lbs boneless
- While chicken is cooking, heat remaining butter in a small sauce pan. Once melted, stir in the flour briskly with a whisk. 1/3 cup white flour
- Pour in the half and half, whisking while you pour. Once fully combined and smooth, allow to simmer to 3 minutes or until thickened. Whisk often. 2 cups half and half
- Stir in the parmesan cheese until combined. Remove from the heat and stir in the cream, whisking with your hand until smooth. Set aside. 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1/3 cup heavy cream
- Once chicken has been removed from the broth, add in the 16 ounces potato gnocchi. Allow to simmer, covered, for 5-7 minutes or until gnocchi rises to the top and is done. 16 ounces potato gnocchi
- Stir the cream mixture into the broth/gnocchi mixture.
- Cube the cooked chicken and return to the soup, along with the spinach. Heat until warmed to your liking, but do not allow to come to a boil.
Video
Notes
- Use mini size gnocchi for the soup. They are easy to scoop in and so tasty.
- Swap potato gnocchi to cauliflower gnocchi or simply use any pasta.
- Throw some sun dried tomatoes on top while serving.
- You can also use skinless boneless chicken thighs or shredded chicken.
- Feel free to add peas, zucchini, asparagus, and broccoli.
- Adjust the salt in the recipe if you’re using salted butter.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
