Soups
Olive Garden Inspired Chicken & Gnocchi Soup
A creamy restaurant-style soup with roasted chicken, tender potato gnocchi, spinach, carrots, and celery in a silky herb-scented broth.
Inspired by Olive Garden
Prep
20 min
Cook
30 min
Serves
6 servings
Difficulty
Easy
Pantry match
Uses the current servings and temporary recipe changes.
Missing 14 ingredients
- • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- • 1 tablespoon olive oil
- • 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
- • 2 celery ribs, finely diced
- • 1 medium carrot, peeled and cut into thin matchsticks
- • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- • 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- • 2 cups half-and-half
- • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- • 3 cups shredded cooked chicken
- • 1 pound shelf-stable or refrigerated potato gnocchi
- • 3 packed cups baby spinach, roughly chopped
- • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
View ingredient-by-ingredient match
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butterMissing
- 1 tablespoon olive oilMissing
- 1 small yellow onion, finely dicedMissing
- 2 celery ribs, finely dicedMissing
- 1 medium carrot, peeled and cut into thin matchsticksMissing
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flourMissing
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken brothMissing
- 2 cups half-and-halfMissing
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thymeMissing
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmegMissing
- 3 cups shredded cooked chickenMissing
- 1 pound shelf-stable or refrigerated potato gnocchiMissing
- 3 packed cups baby spinach, roughly choppedMissing
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepperMissing
Optional ingredients are not counted as required.
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Method
Recipe notes
This is an unofficial home recreation built around the restaurant dish's defining roasted chicken, Italian dumplings, spinach, and creamy broth. Add the gnocchi near the end because their starch continues thickening the soup as it stands.
Planning, storage, and serving
Storage and reheating
Cool promptly and refrigerate in a covered container for up to 3 days. Reheat gently to 165°F, adding broth or milk because the gnocchi absorb liquid; freezing is not recommended because dairy can separate and gnocchi become soft.
Make-ahead tips
Cook the vegetable-and-broth base up to 2 days ahead and refrigerate it separately from the gnocchi and spinach. Reheat the base, then add chicken, gnocchi, and spinach shortly before serving.
What to serve with it
- - Warm garlic breadsticks
- - Crisp Italian salad
- - Roasted broccoli with lemon
Equipment needed
- - Dutch oven or heavy soup pot
- - Whisk
- - Instant-read thermometer
Difficulty explained
The soup uses a simple roux; gentle heat and adding the gnocchi at the end keep the broth smooth and the dumplings tender.
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Nutrition facts
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Alternatives
Apply a reviewed substitution to this temporary working copy. The published recipe stays unchanged.
Browse reviewed options
Equal parts whole milk and heavy cream
Combine equal parts whole milk and heavy cream, then use the same total amount.
1-to-1 gluten-free baking flour
Use a commercial cup-for-cup blend that includes xanthan gum.
Plant-based butter
Use a firm, baking-style plant butter in the same amount.
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Pitfalls to Watch Out For
- Boiling half-and-half aggressively can make the soup grainy, so maintain only a gentle simmer after the dairy is added.
- Adding gnocchi too early makes them mushy and can turn the broth pasty as their starch releases.
- A crowded spoonful of flour added after the broth will clump; cook it with the vegetables before whisking in liquid.
Nutrition Context
- Chicken contributes protein, while gnocchi and the flour-thickened dairy broth provide most of the carbohydrate and richness.
- Lower-sodium broth and a measured salt addition keep the copycat flavor adjustable at home.
FAQ
Why did my soup become too thick?
Gnocchi release starch and absorb broth as they sit. Stir in warm broth or milk a little at a time until the soup is creamy but still ladleable.
Can I use rotisserie chicken?
Yes. Remove the skin and bones, shred the meat, and add it only long enough to heat through so it stays tender.
Should I cook the gnocchi separately?
Cooking them in the soup adds useful body and flavor. Cook separately only if you expect long storage and want to prevent soft dumplings.
Can this soup be frozen?
It is best refrigerated rather than frozen because dairy may separate and cooked gnocchi can become mealy after thawing.
How do I keep the broth smooth?
Cook the flour for a minute, whisk in broth gradually, and keep the half-and-half below a hard boil.
What sides pair best with this dish?
Good pairings include Warm garlic breadsticks; Crisp Italian salad; Roasted broccoli with lemon. Choose one or two based on how substantial you want the meal to be.