Crockpot Olive Garden Copycat Chicken Gnocchi Soup 🥣✨

If there’s one recipe that I’ve made on repeat for years — the kind that makes my whole family come wandering into the kitchen sniffing the air — it’s this one. My Crockpot Olive Garden Copycat Chicken Gnocchi Soup.

This recipe has a fan club of its own on my blog (no, really), and once you make it, you’ll understand why. It’s creamy, cozy, flavorful, and wildly easy to throw together. And here’s the thing: it’s not just soup. It’s the kind of recipe that warms more than your belly — it creates the kind of memories that stick around.

Growing up, the best meals in our house were the ones that didn’t require fancy ingredients or complicated steps. They were slow-simmered, deeply comforting, and served with big spoons and bigger laughter. This chicken gnocchi soup brings me right back to those days. But here’s the best part — you can make it right in your crockpot. No standing over the stove. No stirring and sweating over a pot. Just toss, simmer, and let the magic happen.

Why This Recipe Works So Well

You know that feeling when the smell of something cooking fills your home, and it just feels like love? That’s exactly what this soup does.

It’s effortless. All the heavy lifting happens in your crockpot. You can throw it together in the morning and have a full-on cozy dinner by evening. It’s flavorful. With a base of chicken broth, carrots, onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, and a hint of Parmesan — every spoonful tastes like a warm hug. It’s creamy but not heavy. Thanks to a balance of cream and broth, it’s rich without being too rich. Comfort food at its finest. It’s family approved. No picky eater protests in this house when this soup is on the table. It tastes like Olive Garden… but better. Homemade always hits different — and you can control exactly what goes in.

What You’ll Need 🛒

Here’s what makes this soup so magical:

3 chicken breasts 1 ½ cups shredded carrots 2 tablespoons minced garlic 1 cup diced white onion 3 tablespoons Italian seasoning ½ teaspoon celery salt 1 bay leaf 32 oz chicken broth 16 oz potato gnocchi 2 cups heavy cream Salt and pepper to taste 2 cups spinach 1 cup Parmesan cheese

How to Make Olive Garden Copycat Chicken Gnocchi Soup in the Crockpot

Step 1: Load Up the Crockpot

Start by adding your chicken breasts to the bottom of your crockpot. Top with carrots, onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, celery salt, a bay leaf, and chicken broth. This is the moment when your kitchen starts smelling like love (even if you haven’t cooked a single thing yet).

Set your crockpot to low for 6 hours or high for 4 hours. Let it do its thing.

Step 2: Shred That Chicken

Once it’s cooked through, take out the chicken breasts and shred them with two forks. Pop the shredded chicken right back into that beautiful broth.

This step alone always makes me smile because the soup starts to look like home — hearty, rustic, and so inviting.

Step 3: Add the Creamy Magic

Stir in the potato gnocchi, heavy cream, salt, pepper, and spinach. Give it a good mix and let it cook an additional 30 minutes.

As the gnocchi cooks, it soaks up all that flavor, becoming little pillows of deliciousness floating in creamy, herby broth.

Step 4: Finish Strong

Add your Parmesan cheese and stir until it melts into the soup, turning it velvety and rich. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed — more pepper, a little more salt, or an extra sprinkle of Parmesan if you’re feeling fancy.

And just like that, you’ve made a restaurant-worthy meal… without ever turning on your stove.

Tips for the Best Chicken Gnocchi Soup

✨ Use quality gnocchi. If you can, use a good store-bought or homemade gnocchi. It makes a difference.

✨ Make it ahead. This soup reheats beautifully. You can store it in the fridge for up to 3 days. Just add a splash of chicken broth when reheating to bring it back to that creamy consistency.

✨ Add extra veggies. This recipe is flexible. I’ve added mushrooms, peas, even chopped kale. It’s delicious every single time.

✨ Double it. If you’ve got a crowd or want leftovers, double the recipe. Trust me, no one will complain.

Why This Soup Feels Like Home 🏡

There are recipes that fill your stomach, and then there are recipes that fill your heart.

This one is the second kind. It’s the smell that greets you when you walk through the door after a long day. It’s your people gathering in the kitchen, bowls in hand, already ladling before you even say dinner’s ready.

It’s the way everyone seems to slow down, if only for a little while — talking, laughing, sharing stories. That’s what this chicken gnocchi soup brings to our table. And honestly, that’s why it’s one of my most popular recipes.

It’s not just about the flavor (even though it’s chef’s kiss good). It’s about what it represents: comfort, connection, and the kind of love you can taste.

How to Serve It

This soup is a star on its own, but if you want to make it feel extra special:

Serve it with warm crusty bread or breadsticks (yep, we’re channeling that Olive Garden energy). Add a side salad for a full restaurant-style dinner at home. Sprinkle extra Parmesan on top and maybe even a little cracked black pepper for good measure. Light a candle. Pour a glass of wine. Pretend your kitchen is the coziest café on earth.

Freezer & Storage Tips ❄️

Fridge: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Freezer: You can freeze the soup before adding the gnocchi and cream. When ready to serve, thaw it, reheat it, and then add those two final touches. (This keeps the texture perfect.) Reheat: Warm it gently on the stove or in the crockpot. Add extra broth or cream if needed to bring it back to life.

FAQ — Because I Know You’ll Ask 😉

Can I use rotisserie chicken?

Absolutely. Just add it after the broth and veggies have cooked, and let it simmer with the gnocchi and cream.

Can I use half-and-half instead of heavy cream?

Yes! It won’t be quite as rich, but it’ll still be delicious.

Can I use frozen gnocchi?

Yep. Just add a few extra minutes to the final cooking time.

What if I don’t like spinach?

Leave it out or swap it for kale or another leafy green.

The Secret Ingredient (Spoiler: It’s Not in the Recipe)

Here’s the truth: the best part of this soup isn’t the Parmesan cheese, the fluffy gnocchi, or the creamy broth — it’s the feeling it gives you.

It’s the kind of recipe that says, “come as you are.” You don’t have to make it perfect. You just have to make it. And when you do, it wraps everyone up in a cozy little memory that lingers long after the last bite.

A Lake House Favorite 🌿

At The Last Resort Lake House, this soup has become a little tradition. I make it every fall when the air turns crisp and the deer start wandering through the yard at sunset. It’s the kind of meal that makes the house feel warm, even if it’s chilly outside.

Brian usually sneaks in for a taste before I can ladle the first bowl. The girls hover nearby, pretending they’re not waiting, but I know better. And honestly? That’s what makes it special.

Food has this way of anchoring us to moments — the ordinary, beautiful, everyday kind. And this crockpot chicken gnocchi soup is one of those recipes.

Let’s Recap 📝

Effortless: Crockpot does the work for you. Cozy: Creamy, hearty, and full of flavor. Family Favorite: Everyone goes back for seconds. Versatile: Easy to make ahead, freeze, or tweak. Memorable: Because it’s more than just soup.

Make It, Share It, Love It 🫶

If you make this recipe, I hope it fills your home with the same warmth it brings to ours. Whether it’s a busy weeknight or a lazy Sunday, this crockpot chicken gnocchi soup has a way of slowing everything down — just enough

Tracy 💛