Chicken gnocchi soup is a copycat of the Olive Garden’s. It’s so quick and simple to make, you can have a restaurant quality soup any day of the week.

Chicken gnocchi soup originally won my husband over when he tried it at the Olive Garden. He kept taking me out to eat so often that I finally challenged myself to learn to make it at home and save a trip.
After spending so much time perfecting the recipe, I can say that I like my version better! I love being able to fine tune the flavors on the fly. I add a little more pepper when I want it spicy or switch up the veggies depending on what is in season.
How to Make Gnocchi
If you want to be an all-star, make the gnocchi from scratch. Find everything you need to know about how to make these Italian potato dumplings here. Making gnocchi is a bit time consuming, but it is worth it. When you do set aside the time to take the plunge, make sure you make several batches so you can freeze gnocchi and have them on hand for later – like when you want to make this soup!
If you are a bit strapped for time or not in the mood to get your hands dirty, go to the grocery store and purchase the pre-made gnocchi. Trader Joe’s has an excellent gnocchi to use when you are in a pinch.
Can You Freeze Gnocchi Soup?
Sadly, freezing this soup isn’t a great idea. The dairy breaks down when you freeze it and when reheated, the texture turns funky. If you have leftovers, it is best to plan to eat them within 5 days. Store the soup in an airtight container in the fridge to keep it fresh longer.
How to Make Chicken Gnocchi Soup
- Season your chicken and grill it. Cube it up and set aside.
- In a pan warmed to medium-high heat, sauté your diced onion, celery and carrots until softened. Whisk in your flour.
- Add in half-and-half and cooked chicken. Bring to a simmer. Add your chicken broth. Bring to a simmer again.
- Add gnocchi. Bring to a simmer.
- Add spinach and remove from heat.
- Serve PIPING hot with a nice piece of no-knead bread.






Tips For The Best Chicken Gnocchi Soup
- Dice your veggies into equal sized pieces to promote even cooking.
- Use store bought gnocchi if you must! But, I don’t have to tell you that homemade is always better.
- Use fresh spinach! The frozen stuff waters down your soup.
- Shred or chop your carrots – whatever suits your preference!
What to Serve Chicken Gnocchi Soup With
Chicken Gnocchi Soup is rich and filling on its own. But, if you want to round it out for a full meal, pair it with one of the following Momsdish favorites:
- Caesar Salad Recipe (Homemade Dressing): What goes better with pasta than a classic caesar salad?
- Classic Garden Cucumber Tomato Salad: The perfect combination of crunch and vinegar to cut through all the fatty richness of the gnocchi.
- Easy Focaccia Bread: Make no-fuss focaccia bread in a pinch and sop up all that delicious sauce.
- The Perfect 5-Minute Asparagus: It only takes three ingredients to make the perfect asparagus. This is my hubby’s absolute favorite!

More Olive Garden Copycat Recipes You Will Love
- One-Pot Zuppa Toscana Soup: One-Pot Zuppa Toscana Soup is a copycat recipe of my favorite soup from the OG. It has a creamy broth that is loaded with sausage, potatoes and kale.
- Minestrone Soup: Coming in at a close second on the O.G.’s favorites list is the minestrone soup. Nothing quite warms the souls like a classic bowl of minestrone.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 Chicken Breasts
- 2 tbsp Garlic Salt
- Oil for cooking chicken
- 4 tbsp Butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup diced onion
- 1/2 cup diced celery
- 1 cup chopped carrots
- 3 garlic cloves pressed
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1 qt half and half
- 24 oz chicken broth
- 16 oz gnocchi
- 1 cup chopped spinach
- 1/2 tbsp parsley chopped
Instructions
- Season chicken on both sides with garlic salt. Preheat skillet to a medium/high and cook chicken until golden brown. Poke with a knife to see if the chicken is cooked through. Let the chicken rest for about 5 minutes and dice it into one inch cubes.
- Dice, chop and prepare ingredients for cooking the soup.
- Melt the butter with oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, celery, carrots and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the veggies softens. Whisk in the flour and cook for about 1 minute.
- Add in the half-and-half, cooked chicken, bring to a simmer. Add in chicken broth and bring it to a simmer again.
- Add gnocchi and simmer until gnocchi are fully cooked. Add spinach and remove from the heat.
- Serve while the soup is warm, it also reheats well.
Should I defrost my gnocchi if I bought mine frozen?
Hey Ruslana, you can add them frozen. Enjoy!
It was delicious!
Happy to hear this!
Made this soup twice now and it’s soo good! I use the packaged dried gnocchi from Walmart instead of fresh.
Hi Inna, thank you so much for sharing your feedback! I really appreciate you coming back to let me know.
Can I use frozen Gnocchi from Trader Joes?
Yes, you can. Their gnocchi are amazing.
I'm planning on making this soup this week so I did some prepping and did the gnochis from your recipe and froze them. When I'm making the soup should I cook them first and then throw them into soup or should I throw them in the order you have on here frozen.
Thanks
You can do either way, just cook for a bit longer if you use gnocchi. Tell me how you like the soup.
Made the soup and it turned out delicious. Thank u for the recipe!!!
That always makes me so happy when you guys enjoy the recipe.
DELICIOUS!!!!! Thanks,I love your cooking 🙂
Oh!! You are so nice. Thanks
DELICIOUS!!!!! Thanks, love your cooking 🙂
Thank you for this recipe. This is one of the few soups my kids like, and my 7 year old actually requests it!
That's is so awesome, it's hard to get kids to eat soups! Thanks for sharing your feedback.
I love that you use chicken breast in this soup I think they use some other part at olive garden, loved this soup except that part, will make this at home for sure. Thank you! I'm about to make golden key cake have been eyeing it for a while lol
Homemade version is always better, you get to use the good ingredients. And speaking of cake, it's my favorite cake of all. You reminding me of it just made me hungry!
Hi, what kind of gnocchi do you use? Because I bought potato gnocchi, that's the only one I found in the store.
Yes they are potato gnocchi. Here is the recipe I used http://momsdish.com/r349
i agree! tastes better than olive garden by far......and way less expensive. this ones a keeper!
Hey! Yes the cost is always such a huge bonus but also you get to control ingredients! 🙂
I just wanted to thank you so much for posting this awesome soup!! It turned out so so so good. Couldn't help but leave a comment. I've bragged to all my friends about your amazing website. You ROCK.
Hey Jenn, please leave comments 🙂 I love reading them.
That is so cool of you to share with your friend about the site 😉 ppl like you make me want to post more recipes.
My hubby would agree with you on this soup. Oh, he can eat a whole pot of it.
Ha, he has good taste! But that's because all you're postings are amazing. My macaroons turn out great thanks to your steps. I'll tag you on Instagram to show you one I made. Can't wait to try the rest of you're amazing creations--not only for busy moms but busy nursing students 🙂
Oh yeah, nursing students is a hard job 🙂 blessings with that!
If I wanted to add mushrooms to this, what should I do?
Saute mushrooms prior to adding them tot he soup. Add together with gnocchi. I haven't tried this, so I am not sure how it would turn out.
How much parsley do you use?
About 1/2 tablespoon of chopped parsley.
Thanks for such a quick reply! Made it last night and it was absolutely delicious!!! Thanks for yet another great recipe!
I love getting comments, now working on replying back really quick 🙂 so glad you loved the soup, my hubby would agree with you 🙂
This looks delicious.Homemade always tastes better.I get the same compliment for zuppa toscana.That it taste better then at restaurant.
I think its because it is so fresh and we use better ingredients at home 🙂
Looks so yummy and creamy! Great meal, especially on a cold day. 🙂
Yes, our weather in WA is chilly now so its a perfect way to warm up.