Slow Cooker Chicken Gnocchi Soup

This post may contain affiliate links which won't change your price but will share some commission. Read more here.

This slow cooker chicken gnocchi soup recipe tastes just like the Olive Garden classic. Here’s a copycat that’s quick to prepare and makes a batch big enough to feed the whole family!

Chicken and gnocchi with spinach soup in a bowl

Are you a good speller? Did you like spelling bees in elementary school?

No? I am but I totally blew the pronunciation for this soup when I first made it.

It’s “nokey” or “nyo-key” (my phonics, not the dictionary’s.) Since I often fix this soup when one of our family gets sick I better at least know how to pronounce it! (Spelling is optional.)

Who loves a good copycat recipe? I sure love me some Olive Garden food and today I’m sharing my Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup that’s similar to the original. I may have taken a few shortcuts but I’m not a purist!

A bowl of this coup is perfect for cold winter days when you don’t want to spend all day in the kitchen. The ingredients are easily found in your local store and great if you menu plan!

This is a great recipe for dumping in the slow cooker around noon so that it’s ready for dinner. The flavor is delicious and one of my favorite recipes to serve with this is my Jiffy Cornbread with Creamed Corn recipe.

Ingredients

Ingredients for chicken gnocchi soup
  • Alfredo sauce
  • water or chicken broth
  • cooked cubed chicken
  • chopped spinach
  • creamed corn
  • evaporated milk or heavy cream
  • potato gnocchi
  • chopped celery, garlic, shredded carrots or onions (optional)
  • seasonings: thyme, salt, pepper, parsley, nutmeg (use as desired)

Instructions

Cook and shred skinless chicken breasts.

You can buy chicken already cooked and shredded which will save you some prep time or I just like to keep a few packages frozen to use when needed.

Add all ingredients except gnocchi to the slow cooker and combine well.

I like to grease my crockpot with butter or a spray just to make sure nothing sticks. Or you can also use the disposable slow cooker liners. Anything for an easy cleanup!

This is also the time to add any extra veggies or spices to truly make this soup your own perfect version!

Cook in the crock pot on high for 2 hours or low 4 hours.

If desired, stir as needed. As always, your crock pot may vary in cooking speed so check as often as necessary.

Add gnocchi to soup and combine well. Cook for 1 hour longer on low.

Serve immediately or store in refrigerator in an airtight container.

I like to add a little bit of liquid when I rewarm the soup because the gnocchi tends to soak up the liquid. Use milk, broth or water as you please.

Tips for storing and serving:

  1. Serve immediately or store in refrigerator in an airtight container.
  2. I like to add a little bit of liquid when I rewarm the soup because the gnocchi tends to soak up the liquid.
  3. Use milk, broth or water as you please.
  4. For a smaller family I would definitely cut this recipe in half and use a smaller slow cooker. Adjust the cook time for this change.

Be sure to check out the full recipe and ingredient list below

White bowl of spinach and pasta soup

FAQs about Gnocchi

Gnocchi are a type of miniature pasta dumplings, usually made from wheat, eggs and potatoes. With a lightly dense texture and potato flavor, they are a hearty and unique type of pasta. 

Gnocchi is boiled, just like pasta and potato dumplings, and while it’s typically served more like a pasta, recipes that use dumplings are delicious as well.

For this recipe I added them to the slow cooker but you can also bring a large pot water to a boil and add 1 tablespoon salt. Add the gnocchi; when they rise to the top (after about 2 minutes), continue to cook until tender, about 15 seconds more. This is a short cook time!

A bowl of chicken and spinach gnocchi soup

Slow Cooker Chicken Gnocchi Soup

This easy copy cat Olive Garden Slow Cooker Chicken Gnocchi Soup recipe is great for cold days and is perfect for busy families on the go!
Course Soup
Cuisine Italian
Author Marty’s Musings

Ingredients

  • 2 15- oz jars Alfredo sauce
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 cups cooked cubed chicken
  • 2 cans chopped spinach
  • 1 can creamed corn
  • 1 10- oz evaporated milk
  • 2 16- oz pkgs potato gnocchi
  • 1 chopped celery, garlic, shredded carrots or onions (optional)
  • 1 thyme, salt, pepper, parsley, nutmeg (use as desired)

Instructions

  • Add all ingredients except gnocchi to the slow cooker and combine well.
  • Cook on high for 2 hours or low 4 hours.
  • Add gnocchi to soup and combine well. Cook for 1 hour longer on low.

Notes

I made this recipe in my 6 qt. slow cooker and it was filled to capacity. This recipe would be perfect to cut in half for a 4 qt. cooker.
Slow cookers vary in length of cooking time so adjust according to your specifications.
When I warm this soup for leftovers I add a bit of milk to it because it thickens after it’s done.
copycat Olive Garden slow cooker chicken gnocchi soup recipe

Decorating Tips and Hacks
Get my FREE guide: How to decorate your home for practically nothing!
Featured Image

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

32 Comments

  1. Several old school Italians chewed me a new one when I pronounced gnocchi as nokey. Apparently it’s supposed to be prounced as yonkey.

  2. Do you drain the canned spinach first? I didn’t know if it would make the soup too “green” with the juice.

  3. I’m honestly surprised how much we liked this! Hubs said it reminded him of spinach artichoke dip so we ate it with tortilla chips. Thanks!

  4. What a fun soup – I have a friend who orders this everytime she goes to the olive garden! I’ll have to email it to her! Thanks for sharing on Throwback Thursday!

  5. Can’t wait to try this recipe. Looks and sounds so tasty. What is the serving size? Also, if I am to cut the recipe in half, do I still cook on high for 2 hours? And the gnocchi for 1 hour?

    1. Hi, Dina. The recipe makes quite a lot, probably enough for 6 people or so. If you’re using a 4 quart slow cooker and cutting it in half, cooking on high for 2 hours is probably still OK. It really just depends on your cooker. The same goes with gnocchi. You could always just test it after 30-45 minutes to see if it’s done. Sorry to be vague. It’s just that cookers can vary quite a lot. A serving size would be one bowl and I serve with bread or a sandwich. Hope that helps!

  6. Thank you for sharing this recipe. I have to take a soup to a party this weekend, and you just made my decision easy. I can’t wait to hear everyone’s reaction!
    Tanille from InspirationalMomma.com

  7. A happy spelling bee person you might be, but you would fail at grammar. Other than that, I am looking forward to trying this recipe. My kids love the Olive Garden version, and they order it every time we go there.

  8. Pingback: Slow Cooker Chicken Gnocchi Soup - FOOD BEA
  9. Perhaps, instead of a can of creamed corn, can of cream of celery soup would be closer to the Olive Garden version. Just a thought…

  10. Not a copycat. I can tell it would not be like Olive Garden’s, which has carrots, celery and parsley, but not corn. Yah is sounds very good, though.

    1. It is extremely close and we LOVE it. My kids say we don’t need to go to Olive Garden anymore! You’re right though, they use those additional ingredients and since the 1st time I made this recipe, I have added them. Not sure if OG uses corn but I followed the rest of the recipe to the letter and it was awesome. Just remembered, I only used one can of spinach as the time I used 2 it was too much for one of my non vegetable loving kids! One was perfect! Awesome recipe!

      1. I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe, Lisa. I’m sure it’s not a perfect replica but it does take terrific, doesn’t it? I know the spinach can be a bit much for kids that don’t like it!

        1. I don’t want to sound stupid, but I do not see the recipe anywhere, only the picture of the ingredients. Can you please reply with the recipe. I really want to make this. Thx Marty.
          RonneeSue

          1. Hi, there. You’re not stupid at all! Thanks so much for contacting me. For some reason the recipe disappeared, but I’ve added it back to the page and you should find it there now. Please let me know if you have any more problems!