Chicken Gnocchi Soup

This Chicken Gnocchi Soup is so hearty and so flavorful. It is filled with chicken, carrots, spinach, broccoli and gnocchi! It’s perfect all year long and is bound to be a new favorite.

If you’ve ever been to Olive Garden, you may have had their Chicken Gnocchi Soup. This recipe is a copycat of that soup, and it pairs perfectly with our recipe for Olive Garden Breadsticks!

Chicken gnocchi soup

What is gnocchi?

I LOVE soups during the winter. There is just something so wonderful about eating something warm and hearty when it’s cold outside.

The recipe for today is one my mom wanted to try out for Chicken Gnocchi Soup. Looking at the ingredients you can just tell it will be good since it has chunks of chicken, carrots, spinach, broccoli, and potato gnocchi!

Are you wondering, “What in the world is gnocchi??”

Gnocchi are various thick, small, and soft dough dumplings that may be made from semolina, ordinary wheat flour, egg, cheese, potato, breadcrumbs, cornmeal, or similar ingredients, with or without flavorings of herbs, vegetables, cocoa, or prunes.

Before this recipe, we had never tried gnocchi before, and I can’t believe we’d been missing out this whole time. Not sure why it was a little intimidating to us beforehand, but it’s delicious!

You can find gnocchi in most pasta sections at the grocery store, and it’s worth finding, because it added SO much to this recipe.

This soup is so delicious and reminds us of Olive Garden’s recipe!

Broccoli and shredded carrots for soup

How to make chicken Gnocchi Soup

VEGGIES. Warm olive oil in a large pot, over medium heat. When the oil is hot, toss carrots, broccoli and garlic, stirring for about 5-8 minutes. When your veggies are done cooking, pour your 7 cups of hot water into the pot and add 8 chicken bullion cubes. Stir thoroughly.

CHICKEN. Add the chopped chicken and bring to a boil.

GNOCCHI. Pour Gnocchi into the soup and let it come to a boil again, allowing the gnocchi to cook for about 3-4 minutes. The gnocchi will be cooked through when they float to the top.

REMAINING INGREDIENTS. Chop and toss 1 cup of spinach into the pot. Pour in Half and Half, dried thyme, teaspoon nutmeg, sugar and butter. Stir and let it come to a boil.

THICKEN. In a small bowl combine cold water and cornstarch. Mix well and pour into the soup. Stir as you let it come to a boil. Soup will thicken as it reaches a boil.

SERVE. Season with salt and pepper, and serve hot. ENJOY!

Crockpot & InstantPot Instructions

Crockpot: Put the chicken, veggies, and soup base in the pot on high for 4-5 hours or on low for 6-8. After this time is up, shred the chicken while it’s still in the pot. Add the gnocchi and cornstarch mixture and let it sit on low for another hour, or until the gnocchi is softened and the soup has thickened. 

InstantPot: Sauté the veggies with all of the seasonings on the sauté function for 3-4 minutes. Add the chicken water and bouillon cubes. Close the lid, turn off the sauté function and turn on the high pressure function for 9 minutes.

After the timer has run out, let the pot sit undisturbed for 10 minutes before manually letting out the rest of pressure. Turn on the sauté function, and add the gnocchi. Close the lid, but turn it to venting, allow the gnocchi to cook for a couple of minutes (let them float to the top). Add the spinach and the thickening mixture. Mix well and serve hot!

Chicken and gnocchi soup in pot

Substitutions, Serving and Storing

Here are a few substitution options if you happen to be short on some of the ingredients:

  • Bouillon cube: represents about 1 cup of broth. So instead of using the cubes substitute the 7 cups of water with broth. I would suggest using the low sodium chicken broth!
  • Half and half: Plain dairy-free milks are always a good idea if you can’t consume dairy products. It won’t be the same thickness as half and half, but you can add in some extra butter, or cornstarch until it’s your desired thickness. There’s also a product called coconut cream that is slightly thicker than a normal milk consistency. Since it’s coconut based it will alter the flavor, but worth a try..
  • Veggies:  add in celery or mushrooms. You can also use cauliflower.

Serve your chicken gnocchi soup with:

Storage & Reheating: Keep leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for 3-5 days. You can also freeze leftovers by placing the cooled soup in tupperware containers and popping them in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.

When you want to use it again, let it thaw in the fridge all day or overnight. To reheat, place in a pot and warm slowly over low heat on the stove. Add in more half and half if the soup has separated from being in the freezer. If you’re in a hurry or on the go, you can just microwave individual portions until hot.

Chicken gnocchi soup recipe

For more chicken soups, check out:

Chicken Gnocchi Soup Recipe

4.95 from 17 votes
This Chicken Gnocchi Soup is so hearty and so flavorful. It is filled with chicken, carrots, spinach, broccoli and gnocchi! It's perfect all year long and is bound to be a new favorite.
Course Soup
Cuisine American, Italian
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 12 servings
Calories 239 kcal
Author Lil’ Luna

Ingredients

  • 3-4 chicken breasts cooked and chunked
  • 2 large carrots peeled and grated
  • 1-2 cup broccoli chunks
  • 6 tsp minced garlic
  • 2-3 tbsp olive oil
  • 7 cups water
  • 8 chicken bullion cubes
  • 16 oz package of Potato Gnocchi
  • 4 cup half and half
  • 1 cup spinach chopped
  • 1 tbsp thyme
  • 1/8 tbsp nutmeg
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 1/4 cup cold water
  • 5 tbsp cornstarch
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Warm olive oil in a large pot, over medium heat.
  • When the oil is hot, toss carrots, broccoli and garlic, stirring for about 5-8 minutes.
  • When your veggies are done cooking, pour your 7 cups of hot water into the pot and add 8 chicken bullion cubes. Stir thoroughly.
  • Add the chopped chicken and bring to a boil.
  • Pour Gnocchi into the soup and let it come to a boil again, allowing the gnocchi to cook for about 3-4 minutes. The gnocchi will be cooked through when they float to the top.
  • Chop and toss 1 cup of spinach into the pot.
  • Pour in Half and Half, dried thyme, teaspoon nutmeg, sugar and butter. Stir and let it come to a boil.
  • In a small bowl combine cold water and cornstarch. Mix well and pour into the soup.
  • Stir as you let it come to a boil. Soup will thicken as it reaches a boil.
  • Season with salt and pepper.

Video

Recipe adapted from HERE.

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About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

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Comments:

  1. Sounds good except for the bouillon. It’s too salty. I would use less salt chicken broth and Better Than Bouillion.

  2. I tried this recipe, it was easier than I thought it was going to be to make. The flavor was great, my family enjoyed it. I have a family of three so I don’t think we will eat it all in a week, do you know if this soup freezes well?

  3. 5 stars
    Went to Olive Garden this month and the hubby told me we had to figure out how to make this soup at home! He’s going to be so excited when I surprise him with this for dinner!

  4. 5 stars
    Mmm…i love the little pillows of gnocchi in this!! It has a delicious taste. I am so excited for cooler temps, so I can make soup all the time!

  5. 5 stars
    I love the wonderful collection of herbs and spices! And Gnochi…such a wonderful little pasta/dumpling! I will gladly eat gnocchi any day and am so thrilled with this version of chicken Gnochi soup.

  6. 5 stars
    This tastes exactly like Olive Garden’s soup. It is awesome!! My family absolutely loved it. Next time I will add more grated carrots and more spinach.

  7. 5 stars
    Love this!! Just like Olive Garden if you add a little freshly graded Parmesan at the end as you serve it! Magnifico!

  8. This soup was really good. The only thing is the recipe called for 2 large carrots grated. Next time I think I will cut down a little on them.
    Thanks!!

  9. 4 stars
    Just made this and it’s good. I didn’t add butter as it’s already fatty but I unfortunately let my 1/2 and 1/2 get to a boil where it split, so I’d advise not letting it get that hot. Other than that I have no idea how much 1/8 Tablespoons of nutmeg is (especially since I halved the recipe( but i used a pinch and it was fine. A good base recipe to work off of.

    1. Glad you enjoyed the soup. I would have done just a pinch of nutmeg too if you were halving the recipe, so good call. Thanks for sharing!

  10. 5 stars
    Great recipe but I cheat a little bit. I use the already cooked rotisserie chicken. It is a life saver for those busy weeknights.

  11. 5 stars
    My Grandma used to make chicken gnocchi soup and it was always a hit! I just made this recipe and it reminded me of her. Thank you for sharing it! I will be making it many more times.

  12. 5 stars
    This chicken gnocchi soup is the ultimate comfort food! The soup is so easy to make and loaded with so much flavor!!!