Description

This Chicken Gnocchi Soup is a comforting and hearty Olive Garden copycat recipe featuring tender shredded chicken, soft potato gnocchi, fresh vegetables, and a creamy broth seasoned with Italian herbs and Parmesan cheese. Slow-cooked to perfection, it’s an easy, family-friendly meal that warms you from the inside out.

Ingredients

Scale

Soup Base

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts (approx. 3 chicken breasts)
2 cups matchstick carrots
1 cup diced onion
2 stalks celery, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 ½ Tablespoons Italian seasoning
4 cups chicken stock

Final Ingredients

1 pound potato gnocchi
2 cups heavy cream
2 cups fresh baby spinach
1 ½ cups shredded Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

Prepare Slow Cooker Base: In the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker, add the chicken breasts, matchstick carrots, diced onion, diced celery, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and chicken stock. This combination sets the flavor foundation for your soup.
Cook Slowly: Cover the slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 4 hours or on LOW for 6 hours, allowing the flavors to meld together and the chicken to become tender enough to shred.
Shred Chicken: About 30 minutes before serving, carefully remove the cooked chicken breasts from the slow cooker. Using two forks, shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces and then return the shredded chicken back into the slow cooker.
Add Gnocchi and Cream: Stir in the potato gnocchi and heavy cream. Replace the lid and cook for an additional 30 minutes so the gnocchi can cook through in the creamy broth.
Add Spinach and Cheese: Just before serving, stir in the fresh baby spinach and shredded Parmesan cheese. Mix until the spinach is wilted and the cheese is melted and incorporated into the soup.
Season and Serve: Taste the soup and season with salt and pepper as needed. Ladle the soup into bowls and serve warm for a comforting meal.

Notes

Using fresh baby spinach adds color and nutrients; you can substitute kale if desired.
For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or milk, but the soup will be less creamy.
The slow cooker makes this recipe easy to prepare ahead of time and great for busy days.
Feel free to add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes if you like a touch of heat.
If potato gnocchi is unavailable, small pasta like mini shells or ditalini can be used, but adjust cooking time accordingly.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
Category: Soup
Method: Slow Cooking
Cuisine: Italian-American

Keywords: Chicken Gnocchi Soup, Olive Garden copycat, slow cooker soup, creamy chicken soup, potato gnocchi soup, comfort food