Creamy Garlic Chicken Gnocchi Soup (2024)

This Creamy Garlic Chicken Gnocchi Soup is better than Olive Garden and is sure to keep you warm and comforted throughout the cooler months of the year and you're guaranteed to be satisfied. A great weeknight option or comforting weekend addition for the entire family, this soup boasts of it’s major flavor factor and comes loaded with tender, soft potato gnocchi, major garlic flavor, herbs + seasonings, chopped kale, and beautifully shredded chicken! Vegan + Gluten-Free options.

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Making soup is my personal self-care moment and I literally indulge in all kinds of textures and flavors. Growing up in a Jamaican household, soup is such a major staple especially once the temperature outdoors drops and you find yourself needing a bit of warmth and comfort. Haha. This Creamy Garlic Chicken Gnocchi Soup is specifically one of my latest faves and my husband definitely finished all leftovers within 24 hours (oh there's a soup form of my infamous Marry Me Chicken dish---'Marry Me’ Tuscan Chicken Gnocchi Soup that's a MUST)! YES---it's that delish! And if you're a lover of gnocchi then you'll love this oven-baked Garlic Chicken Broccoli Gnocchi Recipe and Skillet Baked Cheesy Pumpkin Gnocchi. Try this Cheesy Kale Garlic Breadas a delicious side! Plus, this Creamy Roasted Red Pepper + Tomato Soup is a delicious soup to try next!

The best part about this soup is that it reminds you of the Olive Garden chicken gnocchi soup, but better! People have attested to this. Oh and have you tried this Jamaican Chicken Soup? If not, you truly will love the complete nourishment that it provides and kick of spice. But you're also sure to love and lean into creamier based soups like my Creamy White Chicken Lasagna Soup,Creamy Roasted Garlic Tomato Soup, and Roasted Carrot Soup + Cheesy Croutonswhich have been top contenders! Also, Indulge in the fiery goodness of our Spicy Vegan Chili--A bold and hearty dish that's a flavor explosion in every spoonful.

Also, I'm in complete love with this soup and I love the fact that you can add your favorite greens (i.e. kale, spinach, etc.) into the mix and create a really nice flavor.

This Creamy Garlic Chicken Gnocchi Soup is family-friendly, a crowd-pleaser (even for Olive Garden fans), super easy to make, only uses afew staple ingredients,creamy,velvety,flavorful. Plus, it comeswith avegan + gluten-free option.

What is Gnocchi and How Do You Make It?

Gnocchi are basically Italian dumplings made with flour, eggs, and potatoes---unless they are egg-free like this one that I purchased from Delallo foods. When it comes to making your own gnocchi, the process is done is fairly a few steps. It starts with boiling and mashing the potatoes, combining the ingredients together and kneading them into a ball, shaping the dough, cutting them into pieces, and boiling and draining the gnocchi. For a great recipe, check out AllRecipes.com.

What is the Chicken Gnocchi Soup at Olive Garden Made of?

Everyone loves a good soup, especially Olive Garden's Chicken & Gnocchi soup which is creamy soup made withroasted chicken, traditional Italian dumplings and spinach. This soup recipe is very similar with an addition of bold flavor that includes garlic, herbs + seasonings, and chopped kale. Definitely a crowd-pleaser!

How to Make Creamy Garlic Chicken Gnocchi Soup

To make this creamy gnocchi soup, you'll start by baking and shredding your chicken, if you haven't already. Then to finish the soup, you'll need a pot on the stove to sauté the garlic followed by the flour and seasonings. The shredded chicken, chopped kale, gnocchi, along with the remaining ingredients go into the pot for the soup. Let it simmer a bit more, add the cheese, and wallah! Nice, creamy results.

Ingredients for Creamy Garlic Chicken Gnocchi Soup

Here's what you need to make this Creamy Garlic Chicken Gnocchi Soup at home:

• Chicken Breasts. One of the stars of this dish. I decided to shred them after it being cooked for a nice bite; Can also be diced in chunks.
• Gnocchi. You can make them yourself or purchase a quality store-bought version from Delallo Foods. For a gluten-free version, simply use gluten-free gnocchi.
• Flour. Used for the thickening of soup. You can sub with GF flour for that option.
• Chicken stock. Use store-bought low-sodium broth or make your own! For vegan option, use veggie stock.
• Heavy cream. I recommend organic–always! Of course, for a vegan option, just use full-fat coconut cream/milk.
• Butter. I recommend unsalted. You can always substitute with olive oil, grapeseed oil, or coconut oil. For a vegan option, use vegan butter.
• Garlic. I prefer fresh, but you could substitute with 1 Tablespoon garlic powder in a pinch for a bold flavor. You can also roast a garlic bulb for greater flavor.
• Herbs + Seasonings. A great addition of flavor. Adds such savoriness from the salt, black pepper, garlic powder, oregano, parsley, and basil.
• Kale. Any kind of kale will work! You can also sub with spinach, collard greens, broccoli, or bok choy.
• Parmesan. I love to freshly-grate my cheese, however, you can use your favorite shredded brand---quality does matter! For a vegan option, So Delicious Dairy-Free or Violife cheese shreds tastes great.

How to Best Shred Chicken

When it comes to creating pulled or shredded chicken, there are two most effective ways to do so. Firstly, you would need to ensure that your chicken is fully cooked and cooled and then you shred the chicken in one of the following ways:

Forks:For this method you would need two forks. If using this method, place your cooked chicken breast onto a plate or cutting board and use both forks to separate the chicken meat and 'shred' as you separate. Continue doing this until all of your chicken is shredded.

Stand Mixer:If you're looking to avoid using arm strength, then the method of a stand mixer might be just for you. This is by far the fastest and easiest way to shred chicken and you simply place all of your cooked chicken breasts in the bowl of stand mixer. Add the paddle attachment and mix on low. In just 15-20 seconds you’ll have shredded chicken. That easy!

Tips For Making Good Soup Every Time:

Now, if you're intimidated with making soup or are concerned that it won't turn out as delicious, no worries. In my experience with making many different types of soup and watching the adults around me make a TON of soup (it's a staple in the Jamaican culture), I've learned a few things along the way that can help you make really good soup, including this Creamy Garlic Chicken Gnocchi Soup:

• Chop your veggies and ingredients into bite-sized piecesfor greater ease when eating.
• ALWAYS sauté your veggies,especially the garlic, onions, etc.
• Make your own stockif you can or use water as your base with seasonings + herbs for a great taste. If using store-bought stock/broth, always purchase high-quality ones.
• Let it simmer.While you might be tempted to cook your soup on high for a faster cook time, it's definitely BEST to let everything simmer and allow the flavors to "fuse" together slowly.
• If using meat, always sear your meatin the pot first prior to adding it to the soup to cook the rest of the way.
• If adding dairy or an alternative, always stir it in lastor during the final few minutes.
• To thicken (if needed), always mix your thickener (flour, arrowroot, starch, etc.) in a small bowl with some of the hot broth from your soup before adding it to the entire pot of soup. This prevents lumps and gives you a nice creaminess.

Top Reasons Why You’ll Love This Creamy Gnocchi Soup

Once you make and eat this Creamy Garlic Chicken Gnocchi Soup—– you’ll fall in absolute love. Haha. More importantly, here are also the reasons why you’ll love it the most:

• It’s super easy to make.
• Simple set + forget it—-Simmer, Simmer, Simmer over the stovetop!
• Only requires ONE pot.
• Makes for a great weeknight meal with a full vegan + gluten-free option.
• So creamy and full of texture.
• Great for meal prepping and make aheads for the week!
• Super flavorful.
• Perfect Fall + Winter vibes!
• Did I mention, it’s just delicious?

How to Thicken Soup in General

While many soups are thickened for texture, what you use as a thickening agent is solely up to you. All in all, it depends on how you like it! Use 1 tablespoon at a time mixed with 1 tablespoon of water to dilute. Then pour the mixture into the soup, simmering for an additional few minutes to activate the thickener.

Some thickening agents you can use are:

• Cornstarch (GF)
• Arrowroot starch (GF)
• Potato starch (GF)
• All-purpose flour

Why Won't My Cheese Melt in the Soup?

It's so important to use freshly-grated parmesan cheese for the creamiest results in your creamy garlic chicken gnocchi soup. While you can use shredded cheese, it won't melt as seamlessly because it has a special "coating", which prevents it from melting smoothly.

NOTE: If you only have shredded cheese, then I recommend adding it the soup while it's simmering in the last 5 minutes or so, stirring until melted and then topping it immediately after serving it into bowl(s).

What Can I Add to This Creamy Soup?

I like to add some extra texture to creamy soups like this Creamy Garlic Chicken Gnocchi Soup. While the ingredients in this creamy soup is perfect as is, I wanted to share a few more ideas of ingredients that you can add incase you make this soup more than once and want to switch things up!

Other ingredient ideas include:

• Roasted broccolini or broccoli instead of kale
• Crispy bacon (if you're not plant-based, of course)
• Grated cheese like Parmesan, mozzarella, pecorino romano, etc. (vegan or regular if you're not vegan!)
• Crispy sage leaves (for the topping)
• Roasted chickpeas
• Beans (White beans, etc.)
• Top with Homemade Croutons for a nice crunch
• Seafood (like shrimp, lobster, etc.)
• Sausage

Common Q + A's for this Creamy Garlic Chicken Gnocchi Soup

More Comforting Soup Recipes to Try this Season!

• Creamy Roasted Garlic Tortellini Soup
• Hearty Cheddar Garlic Herb Potato Soup
• Creamy Roasted Garlic Cauliflower Chickpea Soup
• Apple Cheddar Sweet Potato Soup
• Loaded Vegan Veggie Soup
• Easy Flavorful Rigatoni Meatball Soup

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