Chicken gnocchi soup is hearty and full of flavor from the juicy chicken, potato gnocchi, and tender veggies. It can be made on the stovetop or in a slow cooker.

Why Chicken Gnocchi Soup? If you are anything like me – a quick and easy meal WINS many a night. And with this one you are guaranteed big-time flavor.

Why?

Because it’s a copycat recipe from America’s favorite ‘Italian’ eatery!

And since they do just about every single dish justice at ye old Olive Garden, this soup is no different (though I hear it’s no longer on the menu – craziness).

I have tested (and let’s be real, loved) a few other Olive Garden Recipes. So if you’re in need of pairings, or just other crowd-pleasing favorites check out the Chicken Scampi, Lasagna Fritta (my fav), and the Copycat Spinach and Artichoke Dip too.

What you need to make this recipe

• Onion
• Celery
• Garlic
• Butter & Olive oil
• Flour
• Half and half or subtitute evaporated milk if it’s what you have on hand.
• Cooked chicken breasts, feel free to use cooke dark meat here too. Any cooked and diced chicken works great.
• Carrot, shredded or finely chopped
• Chicken broth, look for low sodium chicken broth
• Fresh spinach, substitute frozen spinach. Just make sure to squeeze the water out.
• Thyme
• Salt and pepper
• Gnocchi

How to make chicken gnocchi soup

Start by sauteeing the onion, celery, and garlic in a stockpot or on the sautee setting on your crockpot, in the butter and oil until the onion is translucent; about 5 minutes.

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Next, add the flour and form a roux. Stir the flour in to coat the veggies and absorb the liquid. It will create a thick coating over the veggies as it cooks.

Then add the half and half, chicken and carrots, and allow the liquid to thicken.

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Meanwhile, if making on the stovetop and not in a slow cooker, pre-cook the gnocchi now as per the package instructions.

For the Slow Cooker:

Stir in the chicken broth, gnocchi, and spinach into the slow cooker and season with salt and pepper. Finally, cover and allow to cook 4 to 5 hours on low until it’s heated through, thick and creamy.

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Tips, tricks, and notes for this recipe

• This recipe calls for cooked chicken, however, you can use raw. Just brown the chicken in the pan or slow cooker and add time for the chicken to cook through in the broth before adding the gnocchi.
• If you simmer the gnocchi too long the soup can get starchy.
• I love spinach and can’t get enough of it. When it’s added to the soup it wilts down to barely anything, so feel free to double, or triple the spinach for this recipe.

What is Gnocchi and where can I get it?

Gnocchi can be hard to spot sometimes at the local market, but I often find it in the refrigerated pasta section.

Usually, near the pasta at markets, gnocchi are small and soft dough dumplings that can be made from a variety of ingredients including semolina, ordinary wheat flour, egg, cheese, potato, cornmeal, or other similar ingredients, sometimes including herbs and vegetables. Most gnocchi you are likely to find in the US is of the potato variety.

As such, it is sometimes hiding in the store with the frozen potatoes and not the pasta. I would check around in the fresh and dried pasta sections, and with the frozen spuds.

Otherwise, relocate to a more Italian-friendly neighborhood, and you are sure to find it at a fresh pasta vendor. For me though, I would make them.

This Gnocchi Recipe with savory short ribs is pretty outstanding. And I won’t blame you if you make a double batch to have them with the beef and in the soup.

How to Store Leftovers

Ladle leftover soup into a resealable airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in batches in the microwave or on the stovetop in a small pot as needed.

More Slow Cooker Recipes to Try

• Slow Cooker Loaded Hash Browns
• Slow Cooker Rum Soaked Fig Cranberry Sauce
• Slow Cooker Lemon Artichoke Dip

If you’ve tried my Chicken Gnocchi Soup recipe or any other recipe on passthesushi.com please don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know where you found it in the comments below, I love hearing from you! You can also follow along for more good eats and travel tips on Instagram @passthesushi & @girlcarnivore, Twitter & Facebook.