Quick & Cozy Better Than Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup Recipe

Crafting a soul-warming chicken gnocchi soup that surpasses olive garden’s beloved classic requires some culinary magic.

Soft potato dumplings dance alongside tender chicken pieces in a creamy broth that whispers comfort.

Hearty ingredients blend seamlessly, creating a symphony of flavors you’ll crave on chilly evenings.

Home cooking lets you control quality and customize every spoonful with love.

Fragrant herbs and carefully selected spices elevate this dish from ordinary to extraordinary.

Each ingredient tells a story of warmth and nourishment.

Prepare to transform your kitchen into a gourmet sanctuary with this irresistible recipe that promises to delight every palate.

Why This Chicken Gnocchi Soup Tops Olive Garden’s

• Savor Comfort in a Bowl: Dive into a creamy, hearty soup that wraps you in warmth like a cozy blanket, delivering restaurant-quality flavors right in your kitchen.
• Master Easy Restaurant Techniques: Learn professional cooking methods without complex skills, transforming simple ingredients into a gourmet-style soup that rivals popular restaurant chains.
• Customize Your Culinary Adventure: Swap ingredients, adjust seasonings, and make the recipe your own, creating a personalized dining experience that suits your taste preferences perfectly.
• Crowd-Pleasing Meal Solution: Impress family and friends with a delicious, satisfying soup that appeals to all ages, making it ideal for gatherings, weeknight dinners, or meal prep.

Key Ingredients for Chicken Gnocchi Soup Perfection

• Chicken Breasts: A lean and tender meat that provides substantial protein and flavor to the soup.

• Chicken Broth: A flavorful liquid that forms the foundation of the soup, adding depth and richness.
• Half-and-Half, Heavy Cream: Creates a creamy and luxurious texture, enhancing the soup's overall smoothness.

• Celery, Onion, Carrots: A classic mirepoix that provides a sweet and savory base, adding complexity to the soup's flavor profile.
• Garlic: Adds a pungent and aromatic element that deepens the overall taste.
• Spinach: Introduces a fresh, green component with additional nutrients and color.

• Gnocchi: Soft, pillowy potato dumplings that serve as the hearty carbohydrate element in the soup.
• Thyme, Parsley: Fresh herbs that contribute a subtle, earthy brightness to the soup's flavor.

• Salt, Pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance and balance the soup's overall taste.
• Nutmeg: An optional spice that adds a warm, subtle depth to the soup.
• Olive Oil: Used for sautéing vegetables and creating a base for the soup.
• Parmesan Cheese: A garnish that provides a salty, tangy finish to the dish.

Step-by-Step Chicken Gnocchi Soup Instructions

Step 1: Prepare Chicken

Cut chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces. Season with salt and pepper.

Fully cook the chicken in a skillet until golden and completely done.

Step 2: Sauté Vegetable Base

• Onions
• Celery
• Carrots
• Garlic

Heat olive oil in a large pot.

Toss in chopped vegetables and cook until softened and fragrant. Stir frequently to prevent burning.

Step 3: Create Soup Foundation

Pour chicken broth into the pot. Add herbs like thyme and parsley.

Sprinkle in a hint of nutmeg for depth. Season with salt and pepper.

Allow mixture to simmer gently.

Step 4: Incorporate Protein and Pasta

Drop cooked chicken pieces into the simmering broth.

Add gnocchi and let them dance in the liquid. Cook until gnocchi float and become tender, approximately 35 minutes.

Step 5: Enrich with Creamy Goodness

Lower heat. Slowly pour in half-and-half or heavy cream.

Stir gently to prevent separation. Add fresh spinach leaves and cook until they wilt beautifully.

Step 6: Final Flourish

Ladle soup into warm bowls. Sprinkle generously with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Serve alongside warm crusty bread for the ultimate comfort meal.

Handy Tips to Nail Chicken Gnocchi Soup

• Pound chicken breasts evenly before cooking to ensure uniform thickness and tender, juicy meat throughout the soup.
• Avoid overcooking gnocchi by adding them towards the end of cooking and removing the pot from heat once they float, preventing a mushy texture.
• Temper the cream by slowly adding a small amount of hot soup liquid to it before pouring into the pot, preventing potential curdling and ensuring smooth integration.
• Dice vegetables uniformly for even cooking and consistent texture, allowing each spoonful to have a balanced mix of ingredients.
• Toast dried herbs like thyme in the pot before adding liquid to enhance their aromatic qualities and deepen the soup's overall flavor profile.

Flavor Variations for Chicken Gnocchi Soup Lovers

• Rustic Italian Peasant Soup: Replace gnocchi with crusty homemade bread cubes, add white beans, and include diced pancetta for extra richness.
• Mediterranean Seafood Version: Swap chicken with mixed seafood like shrimp, scallops, and white fish, incorporate saffron for depth and use clam broth instead of chicken broth.
• Vegetarian Alpine Style: Use roasted butternut squash gnocchi, replace chicken with grilled portobello mushrooms, add kale instead of spinach, and use vegetable broth with smoked paprika.
• Spicy Southwest Adaptation: Add diced green chiles, use pepper jack cheese, incorporate chorizo sausage, replace thyme with cumin and cilantro for a bold southwestern profile.

Ideal Side Dishes for Chicken Gnocchi Soup

• Pair with Rustic Italian Red Wine: Choose a medium-bodied Chianti or Sangiovese that complements the creamy soup's richness and cuts through its velvety texture, enhancing the chicken and herb flavors.
• Serve with Herbed Focaccia Bread: Create a golden, olive oil-brushed focaccia sprinkled with rosemary and sea salt, perfect for soaking up the soup's delicious broth and adding a crispy contrast to the soft gnocchi.
• Match with Crisp Arugula Salad: Toss peppery arugula with shaved Parmesan, toasted pine nuts, and a light lemon vinaigrette to provide a fresh, zesty counterpoint to the soup's creamy warmth.

How to Store Chicken Gnocchi Soup Safely

• Store leftovers in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Keep in the refrigerator for 35 days, ensuring the soup remains fresh and safe to consume later.
• Transfer cooled soup to freezer-safe containers or freezer bags. Remove excess air, seal tightly, and freeze for up to 3 months. Label with the date for easy tracking.
• Place soup in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval to distribute heat evenly. Stop when the soup reaches desired temperature, typically 12 minutes total.

FAQs

• Is this soup actually better than Olive Garden's version?

This homemade recipe offers fresher ingredients, more control over seasoning, and can be customized to personal taste preferences, making it potentially superior to the restaurant version.

• Can I make this soup healthier?

Yes, use lean chicken breast, low-fat half-and-half, and load up on extra vegetables like spinach to boost nutritional value without compromising flavor.

• What if I can't find gnocchi?

You can substitute with small pasta like orzo or diced potatoes. If using alternative ingredients, adjust cooking time to ensure they’re cooked through without becoming mushy.

• How do I prevent the cream from curdling?

Keep the heat low after adding cream, stir constantly, and avoid boiling. Adding cream at the end of cooking and maintaining a gentle temperature helps prevent separation.

Better Than Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup Recipe

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4.5 from 11 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 34 1x

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Description

Olive Garden’s legendary chicken gnocchi soup gets a delightful home-kitchen makeover with this creamy, comforting classic. Hearty potato gnocchi and tender chicken swim in a velvety broth that brings Italian-inspired warmth right to your dinner table, promising rich flavors you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

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Protein:

• 3–4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and diced
• 16 ounces (454 grams) potato gnocchi, store-bought or homemade
• 2 cups fresh spinach leaves, chopped

Vegetables and Aromatics:

• 1 stalk celery, chopped
• 1/2 white onion, diced
• 1/2 cup shredded carrots
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic

Liquids and Seasonings:

• 4 cups chicken broth (low-sodium preferred)
• 2 cups half-and-half or heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional, for depth of flavor)
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste

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Instructions

1. Prepare the protein by seasoning chicken breasts with salt and pepper, then cook thoroughly and dice into bite-sized pieces.
2. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium temperature, sautéing celery, onions, and carrots until they soften and become translucent, approximately 5-7 minutes.
3. Introduce minced garlic to the vegetable mixture, stirring quickly to release aromatic flavors without burning, about 30-45 seconds.
4. Pour chicken broth into the pot, incorporating thyme, parsley, and a hint of nutmeg for depth of flavor. Season with salt and pepper to enhance the overall taste profile.
5. Gently fold diced chicken into the simmering liquid, allowing the ingredients to meld together for 2-3 minutes.
6. Carefully drop gnocchi into the pot, allowing them to cook until they float and become tender, typically 3-5 minutes.
7. Reduce heat to low, slowly incorporate half-and-half or heavy cream, stirring continuously to prevent separation and maintain a smooth consistency.
8. Add fresh spinach leaves, letting them wilt gracefully into the soup without overcooking, which should take approximately 1-2 minutes.
9. Serve immediately in warm bowls, generously sprinkled with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and accompanied by crusty bread for a complete dining experience.

Notes

• Pat the chicken breasts dry before seasoning to ensure a golden, crispy exterior that locks in maximum flavor.
• Low and slow cooking of aromatics develops a rich, deep base that elevates the entire soup’s taste profile.
• Avoid overcooking gnocchi by watching them closely; they’re ready when they float and look plump but not mushy.
• Temper the cream by adding a small amount of hot soup to it before incorporating to prevent separation and ensure a smooth, silky texture.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: Italian-American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 34
• Calories: 157
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 210 mg
• Fat: 5 g
• Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 11 g
• Fiber: 1.5 g
• Protein: 15 g
• Cholesterol: 50 mg