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An extreme close-up of the creamy chicken gnocchi soup, highlighting the texture of the shredded chicken and soft gnocchi in the rich broth.

Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup (The BEST Copycat Recipe)

This Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup is even better than the restaurant's! A rich, creamy, and easy copycat recipe with tender chicken, pillowy gnocchi, and fresh spinach. The ultimate comfort food ready in under an hour.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course, Soup
Cuisine: American, Italian-American
Calories: 580
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tbsp Olive Oil
  • 1 lb Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast About 2 medium breasts
  • 4 tbsp Unsalted Butter
  • 1 cup Yellow Onion Finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup Celery Finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup Carrots Shredded or finely chopped
  • 3 cloves Garlic Minced
  • 1/4 cup All-Purpose Flour
  • 4 cups Low-Sodium Chicken Broth
  • 2 cups Heavy Cream Half-and-half can be substituted
  • 1 lb Potato Gnocchi
  • 3 cups Fresh Spinach Roughly chopped
  • 1 tsp Salt Or to taste
  • 1/2 tsp Black Pepper Or to taste

Equipment

  • 1 Large Pot or Dutch Oven
  • 1 Whisk

Method
 

  1. Cook Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper and cook until golden and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes per side. Remove and shred.
  2. Sauté Aromatics: In the same pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion, celery, and carrots, cooking until soft (5-7 minutes). Stir in garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
  3. Make Roux: Sprinkle flour over the vegetables and stir constantly for 1 minute to cook out the raw flour taste.
  4. Build Broth: Gradually whisk in the chicken broth until smooth. Bring to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes.
  5. Combine: Stir in the heavy cream and the shredded chicken. Return to a gentle simmer.
  6. Cook Gnocchi: Add the gnocchi and cook until they float to the surface, about 3-5 minutes.
  7. Finish: Remove from heat and stir in the spinach until it wilts. Season to taste with salt and pepper before serving.

Notes

Reheating Tip: Reheat gently on the stovetop and do not boil to prevent the cream from separating.
Gnocchi Tip: Do not overcook the gnocchi. Once they float, they are ready.