Description
This creamy chicken gnocchi is the ultimate comfort food—quick enough for weeknights but impressive enough for guests! Featuring pillowy gnocchi, tender chicken, and a silky garlic butter cream sauce, it’s a one-pan, 25-minute dish packed with flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 pound potato gnocchi (fresh or shelf-stable)
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves (or ½ teaspoon dried)
- 1 cup fresh baby spinach, roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Pat chicken dry and season with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken for 4–5 minutes until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- Boil gnocchi (2–3 min) or skip boiling and use the one-pan method later.
- In the same skillet, melt butter and sauté garlic for 30–60 seconds.
- Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute. Gradually whisk in chicken broth, then add heavy cream.
- Simmer sauce 2–3 minutes until thickened.
- Add uncooked gnocchi to the sauce, cover, and cook 3–4 minutes until tender (or add boiled gnocchi).
- Stir in Parmesan and thyme. Return chicken to skillet.
- Fold in spinach and cook until wilted. Stir in lemon juice and adjust seasoning.
- Garnish with parsley and red pepper flakes if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
Avoid overcooking gnocchi—they only need a few minutes. Use room-temperature cream to prevent curdling. Taste and adjust seasoning at the end. Add extra broth or cream if sauce thickens too much while cooling.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: One-Pan
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 710mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 17g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 44g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 34g
- Cholesterol: 130mg
Keywords: gnocchi, creamy chicken, one-pan dinner, comfort food, weeknight meal