Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup is a cozy homemade recipe that is easy to enjoy as part of a family meal. It has a familiar, comforting style that makes it a welcome addition to a simple dinner at home.
This recipe is a practical choice for days when you want a satisfying meal without making things overly complicated. It makes four servings and is easy to prepare as part of your regular meal routine.
1. Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup (Yield: 4 Servings)
Ingredients
- 3–4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and diced
- 1 stalk celery, chopped
- ½ white onion, diced
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- ½ cup shredded carrots
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- 16 ounces potato gnocchi
- 2 cups half-and-half
- 1 cup fresh spinach, roughly chopped
Instructions
Start by preparing the chicken if you have not already cooked it. The chicken should be fully cooked before beginning the soup. Once it has cooled enough to handle, dice it into small, bite-sized pieces and set it aside.
Heat a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the olive oil and allow it to warm for a few seconds. Add the chopped celery and diced onion. Cook for about 4 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften.
Add the minced garlic and shredded carrots. Stir everything together and cook for another minute. Keep the heat moderate so the garlic does not burn.
Pour the low-sodium chicken broth into the pot. Stir well, making sure to scrape the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon to loosen any vegetables that may have browned slightly.
Add the cooked diced chicken, thyme, salt, and black pepper. Stir to combine all of the ingredients.
Bring the broth to a gentle simmer. Once it begins simmering, reduce the heat to medium-low and allow the soup to cook for about 10 minutes. This gives the vegetables time to become tender and allows the chicken to warm throughout.
Add the potato gnocchi to the simmering soup. Stir gently to prevent the gnocchi from sticking together. Cook according to the package directions, generally for several minutes, until the gnocchi are tender.
Once the gnocchi are cooked, slowly pour the half-and-half into the pot while stirring gently. Continue cooking over medium-low heat for about 3 to 5 minutes. Keep the soup at a gentle heat rather than allowing it to boil rapidly after adding the dairy.
Add the chopped fresh spinach. Stir it into the soup and cook for approximately 1 to 2 minutes, or until the spinach has wilted.
Taste the soup and adjust the salt and black pepper as needed. The amount of seasoning required will depend on the chicken broth and chicken you use, so adding extra seasoning gradually is best.
Turn off the heat and allow the soup to rest for a few minutes. The broth may thicken slightly as it cools.
Ladle the finished soup into bowls and serve warm. If you are preparing the soup ahead of time, allow it to cool appropriately before transferring it to airtight containers and refrigerating it.
2. Tips for Perfect Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup
Use evenly diced chicken. Smaller, similar-sized pieces distribute throughout the soup more easily and make each serving more consistent.
Cook the vegetables until they are tender but not mushy. They will continue cooking after the broth is added, so there is no need to overcook them during the initial sautéing stage.
Use low-sodium broth when possible. This gives you more control over the final seasoning, especially because the chicken and gnocchi can contain varying amounts of sodium.
Add the gnocchi at the right time. Potato gnocchi cooks relatively quickly, so adding it too early can result in an overly soft texture.
Avoid a rapid boil after adding the half-and-half. Gentle heat helps keep the soup smooth and prevents the dairy from separating.
Add the spinach toward the end. Fresh spinach wilts quickly and only needs a short amount of cooking time.
Taste before adding more salt. Different brands of broth and cooked chicken can have different levels of seasoning, so the final taste is the best guide.
Let the soup rest briefly before serving. A few minutes allows the liquid to settle and the soup to thicken slightly.
Reheat leftovers gently. Gnocchi tends to absorb liquid while sitting, so add a small amount of chicken broth or half-and-half if the soup becomes too thick.
Store leftovers in airtight containers. Refrigerate the soup promptly after it has cooled and use proper food-storage practices to maintain its quality.
3. Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts?
Yes. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs can replace chicken breasts in this recipe. They tend to be slightly richer and more tender, but they work well with the other ingredients. Make sure the chicken is fully cooked before dicing it.
Can I use homemade chicken broth?
Absolutely. Homemade chicken broth works well and can give you greater control over the seasoning. If your broth is unsalted or lightly seasoned, taste the soup near the end and adjust the salt accordingly.
Can I use frozen spinach instead of fresh spinach?
Yes. Frozen spinach can be substituted for fresh spinach. Thaw it first and squeeze out excess water before adding it to the soup. Since frozen spinach is already wilted, it only needs enough time to heat through.
What type of gnocchi should I use?
Potato gnocchi is the best choice for this recipe. Shelf-stable, refrigerated, or frozen varieties can all work, but cooking times differ between brands and types. Follow the package directions and check the gnocchi for tenderness.
How can I make the soup thicker?
If you prefer a thicker consistency, allow the soup to simmer gently for a few additional minutes before serving. You can also mash a small amount of the cooked vegetables and gnocchi against the side of the pot to naturally add more body.
4. Nutrition Information
The following nutrition information is an estimate based on four servings. Actual nutritional values can vary depending on the size of the chicken breasts and the brands of chicken broth, gnocchi, and half-and-half used.
| Nutrient | Amount per Serving |
|---|---|
| Calories | 575 kcal |
| Protein | 48 g |
| Total Fat | 24 g |
| Saturated Fat | 11 g |
| Carbohydrates | 48 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugars | 7 g |
| Cholesterol | 150 mg |
| Sodium | 850 mg |
Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup is a straightforward homemade recipe that brings a familiar and satisfying feel to the dinner table. It is filling, easy to prepare, and makes a convenient four-serving batch.
This is also a useful recipe to have on hand when you want something different from the usual dinner options. Its simple preparation makes it approachable for home cooks and easy to return to whenever you want a relaxed homemade meal.
