Knock off Olive Garden-Style Chicken & Gnocchi Soup

Absolutely! Olive Garden’s Chicken & Gnocchi Soup is one of their most loved dishes, and it’s actually pretty easy to make at home. Here’s a full expanded recipe for you:

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🥣 Olive Garden-Style Chicken & Gnocchi Soup

Ingredients (4–6 servings)

• 2 tbsp olive oil or butter
• 1 small onion, finely diced
• 2 medium carrots, diced or julienned
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour (to thicken)
• 4 cups chicken broth (low sodium)
• 2 cups cooked chicken (shredded or diced – rotisserie works great)
• 2 cups half & half (or 1 cup heavy cream + 1 cup milk)
• 1 package (16 oz / 450g) potato gnocchi
• 2 cups fresh spinach leaves, roughly chopped
• 1 tsp thyme (dried) or 1 tbsp fresh thyme
• ½ tsp nutmeg (optional, adds warmth)
• Salt & black pepper, to taste
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese (for finishing, optional)

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Instructions

1. Prep the base

   • In a large pot, heat olive oil or butter over medium heat.
   • Add onion, carrots, and celery. Cook until softened (about 5–7 minutes).
   • Add garlic and cook 1 minute more.

2. Thicken the soup

   • Sprinkle flour over veggies, stir well, and cook for 1–2 minutes.
   • Slowly pour in chicken broth while whisking, so it thickens smoothly.

3. Build the flavor

   • Add cooked chicken, thyme, nutmeg (if using), and bring mixture to a gentle simmer.

4. Make it creamy

   • Stir in half & half (or cream + milk). Keep heat low to medium — don’t let it boil hard or it may curdle.

5. Cook the gnocchi

   • Add gnocchi straight into the pot. Simmer 3–5 minutes until they float and are tender.

6. Finish with greens

   • Stir in spinach and cook 1–2 minutes until wilted.
   • Taste and adjust with salt & pepper.

7. Serve & enjoy

   • Ladle into bowls, top with Parmesan if desired, and serve with warm breadsticks or garlic bread.

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✨ Pro Tips

• If you like it extra creamy, replace half of the broth with more half & half.
• For a richer soup, add 2 strips of diced bacon at the start with the veggies.
• This soup reheats beautifully — but the gnocchi will continue to soften, so if making ahead, cook the gnocchi separately and add when serving.

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