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Creamy Chicken and Gnocchi Soup

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This Creamy Chicken and Gnocchi Soup is a spin on the Olive Garden classic; creamy soup with juicy chicken, veggies, and pillow-soft gnocchi. Cozy up with a bowl of this classic restaurant meal from the comfort of home!

So you're looking for more comfort food in a bowl? Then you have to warm up with my Low-Carb Chicken Pot Pie Soup or this Chicken Lime and Avocado Soup.

close-up of chicken and gnocchi soup on a spoon
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Whether you want a casual night in or are trying to save some money, making your favorite restaurant meals at home is a great option.

Why we love this recipe

This Olive Garden copycat recipe tastes like it was cooked low and slow over hours but it takes just a fraction of that time!

You can customize the recipe to your diet or tastes and make more than enough to serve the family and enjoy leftovers the next day.

I can say with confidence that this creamy chicken and gnocchi soup is better than the restaurant version that was the inspiration!

close-up of a bowl of chicken and gnocchi soup

Creamy Chicken and Gnocchi Soup Ingredients

This soup has flavor in every bite thanks to the following:

  • Butter: The chicken will cook in this.
  • Chicken breasts: Sear the chicken before starting the soup. To save time, you can use pre-cooked chicken instead.
  • Vegetables: Cut yellow onion, celery, and baby carrots small so they cook evenly. This healthy medley adds nutrition, fresh flavor, and a nice crunch.
  • Garlic: This just makes everything taste better!
  • Water: Add more or less depending on how thick or thin you want your soup to be.
  • All-purpose flour: This gives the soup that thick consistency we need.
  • Half and half: For the creaminess.
  • Potato gnocchi: The heart of this recipe! You will know gnocchi is cooked nice and tender when you can easily slice it.
  • Red Pepper Flakes: An optional addition for a spicy kick!
  • Seasoning: Seasoned salt, black pepper, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper (to taste).
close-up of a spoonful of chicken and gnocchi soup

What is gnocchi?

Gnocchi is a staple in Italian cuisine. These dumplings consist of cooked mashed potatoes, flour, and eggs. Gnocchi goes best with thick sauces which makes it ideal for this rich, creamy soup.

Although gnocchi can be made from scratch, I used premade potato gnocchi from the pasta aisle. Not using homemade gnocchi saved me a few steps and cut back on cooking time.

soup in a bowl sitting on a table with a piece of buttered bread next to it

How to Make Creamy Chicken and Gnocchi Soup

Here are the steps simplified. Check out the recipe at the end of this post for details.

Sear Chicken

Season the chicken breast and sear for five minutes on each side. Then set it aside.

Sauté Veggies

Next, add the diced vegetables directly into the pot and sauté for five minutes. Add the garlic at the last minute so that it does not burn.

Season and Cook

Then place the chicken back into the pot and pour the water directly over the chicken. Add in the rest of the seasoning: garlic powder and Italian seasoning before covering and simmering for 20 minutes.

chicken and gnocchi soup in a bowl with a piece of buttered bread nearby

Make Roux

Remove the chicken from the pot. Then mix the flour into about one cup of water until it is dissolved and forms a thick slurry for your gnocchi soup.

Add Liquid and Other Ingredients

Pour the flour mixture and half and half directly into the pot with the veggies. Shred the chicken with your hands, or cut it into bite-size pieces with a knife and add it back into the pot. Add the gnocchi to the pot.

Simmer

Cover and simmer for an additional 20 minutes or until the gnocchi are tender. Add salt and pepper to taste if needed. Finally, enjoy your Creamy Chicken and Gnocchi Soup!

chicken and gnocchi soup in a bowl with a piece of buttered bread next to it

How this is a spin on Olive Garden's Chicken and Gnocchi Soup:

This soup tastes even better than the restaurant version. One of the main differences is that this recipe does not call for spinach.

Feel free to add the spinach to your variation when you make it. The spinach should be added at the same time you add the gnocchi.

close up of a bowl of olive garden soup with buttered bread

Can I use a slow cooker for this recipe?

You can use a slow cooker or crockpot for chicken and gnocchi soup. However, I would still saute the veggies and sear the chicken. Slow-cook everything except for the gnocchi and half and half for 3-4 hours. The gnocchi would be added to the broth in the last hour and the half and half just before serving.

Can you freeze Creamy Chicken and Gnocchi Soup?

I do not recommend freezing chicken gnocchi soup because it contains dairy and gnocchi. The milk will separate and the gnocchi will get too soft.

How to store the leftover soup:

If you intend to have leftovers, try to cook the gnocchi separately and add them to individual servings. For soup that is already cooked with the gnocchi in it, it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Just note, the gnocchi will puff up after it cooks so it will be super tender.

📖 Recipe

bowl of creamy chicken and gnocchi soup
Yield: 6 Servings

Creamy Chicken and Gnocchi Soup

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

This Creamy Chicken and Gnocchi Soup is a spin on the Olive Garden classic; creamy soup with juicy chicken, veggies, and pillow-soft gnocchi. Cozy up with a bowl of this classic restaurant meal from the comfort of home!

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons Butter, unsalted
  • 2 boneless skinless Chicken breasts
  • 1 tablespoon Seasoned salt
  • ½ tablespoon Black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 small Yellow onion, diced
  • 1 stick of Celery, diced
  • ½ cup Baby carrots, sliced
  • 2 cloves Garlic, minced
  • 4 cups Water
  • 2 tablespoons All-purpose flour
  • 2 cups Half and half
  • 1 pound Potato gnocchi, found in the pasta isle)
  • 1 pinch red pepper flakes, optional
  • Salt and pepper, to taste (if needed)

Instructions

  1. Add 3 tablespoons of the butter to a heavy bottom stock pot and melt it over medium heat. Season the chicken breast with the seasoned salt and black pepper.
  2. Place the chicken directly into the pot and sear on both sides for five minutes. After five minutes, remove the chicken and set aside.
  3. Add the other tablespoon of butter to the pot and then add the diced vegetables directly into the pot and sauté for five minutes. Add the garlic at the last minute so that it does not burn.
  4. Place the chicken back into the pot and pour the water directly over the chicken. Add in the rest of the seasoning: garlic powder and Italian seasoning. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes.
  5. Remove the chicken from the pot and set it aside to cool. Skim the top of the water for any fat remnants from the chicken if needed.
  6. Meanwhile, mix the flour into about one cup of water until it is dissolved and forms a thick slurry. Pour the flour mixture and the half and half directly into the pot with the veggies.
  7. Shred the chicken with your hands, or cut it into bite size pieces with a knife and add it back into the pot.
  8. Add the gnocchi into the pot. Cover and simmer for an additional 20 minutes or until the gnocchi are tender. Add salt and pepper to taste if needed.

Notes

Add fresh spinach to the soup if desired. It will be added when the potato gnocchi are added.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 442Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 105mgSodium: 920mgCarbohydrates: 46gFiber: 3gSugar: 5gProtein: 22g

This website provides approximate nutrition information as a courtesy and for convenience only.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog and tag me in your photo on Instagram or Facebook!

© Tamara J.
Category: Soups and Stews

Be sure to tag me on Instagram or Facebook when you make this recipe! I would love to see your creation, and give you a shoutout!

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  1. Steven Fricke

    Can I use frozen gnocchi for this recipe, should I thaw it before hand

    Reply

    • Tamara J.

      You can use frozen, just adjust cooking times to make sure it cooks through.

      Reply
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