Olive Garden’s Chicken Gnocchi Soup Copycat

Normally I don’t order soups at restaurants, but Olive Garden’s Chicken Gnocchi soup is all I order when I’m there! So I found a copy-cat recipe online and now we make it at home.

If you love Olive Garden’s Chicken Gnocchi Soup, this copycat version brings that same creamy, comforting bowl right to your own kitchen for a fraction of the price. It is loaded with tender chicken, soft potato gnocchi, carrots, spinach, and a rich, velvety cream base that tastes just like the restaurant.

This is one of my favorite soups! It’s a lot of little steps, but don’t try to shortcut it. I did that once and the soup did not turn out as good as it usually does.

Ingredients

• 1/2 onion
• 2 stalks celery
• 4 T butter
• 1 T garlic, minced
• 1 quart half and half
• Chicken breasts
• 1/2 c shredded carrots
• 1 can chicken stock
• Gnocchi
• 1 c chopped spinach
• 1/2 c Parmesan cheese
• 1 T parsley
• About 1 T chicken bouillon, to taste

Instructions

1. Dice the onion and celery, place them in a pan, and saute with the butter and minced garlic.
2. While those cook, boil the chicken breasts. Get a separate pan of water boiling for the gnocchi.
3. Once the onion is clear, mix well for about a minute, then add 1 quart of half and half.
4. Cut the cooked chicken into chunks and add it to the soup.
5. Shred 1/2 cup of carrots and add them to the soup.
6. Once the soup starts to thicken, add 1 can of chicken stock.
7. Cook the gnocchi in the boiling water. Once they rise to the top they are done, about 2 to 4 minutes. Spoon the cooked gnocchi into the soup.
8. Add 1 cup chopped spinach, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, 1 T parsley, and about 1 T chicken bouillon. Adjust the bouillon to taste. Enjoy!

A few tips for the best results: do not rush the steps, the little bit of extra care is what gives this soup its signature flavor. Use rotisserie chicken to save time, and stir the gnocchi in near the end so they stay pillowy instead of falling apart. Leftovers keep well in the fridge for about three days. Warm gently on the stove and add a splash of milk or broth to loosen it back up. Serve with warm breadsticks or a crusty roll for the full Olive Garden experience at home.

This soup is about 250 calories per large bowl, the same size Olive Garden serves. It is so filling I can never eat more than one bowl!