Creamy Herb Chicken Gnocchi (Printable)
Tender chicken and gnocchi in a creamy herb Parmesan sauce, ready in 40 minutes.
# What You'll Need:
→ Proteins
01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 cup baby spinach, roughly chopped
05 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
→ Gnocchi & Dairy
06 - 1 lb potato gnocchi (fresh or shelf-stable)
07 - 1 cup heavy cream
08 - 1/2 cup chicken broth
09 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
10 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
11 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
→ Fresh Herbs
12 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
13 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
14 - 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
15 - 1 teaspoon chopped fresh chives
→ Spices & Seasonings
16 - 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
17 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
# How-To Steps:
01 - Heat olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken pieces generously with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Add the chicken to the skillet and cook until golden brown and cooked through, approximately 5 to 6 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
02 - In the same skillet, add the remaining tablespoon of butter. Sauté the diced onion for 2 to 3 minutes until softened and translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
03 - Pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream, stirring to combine and scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
04 - Add the potato gnocchi directly to the simmering sauce. Cover the skillet and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the gnocchi are tender and cooked through.
05 - Return the seared chicken to the skillet along with the chopped spinach and halved cherry tomatoes. Stir everything together and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes until the spinach has wilted. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese and all fresh herbs. Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper to taste.
06 - Remove the skillet from heat and let stand for 2 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken slightly. Serve hot, garnished with extra fresh herbs and additional Parmesan if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Everything cooks in one skillet, which means you get maximum flavor with minimal cleanup on busy nights.
- The herb flecked cream sauce clings to every pillowy bite of gnocchi in a way that feels restaurant quality but takes barely forty minutes.
02 -
- Do not skip the resting step at the end because the sauce continues to thicken off the heat and reaches the perfect consistency in just two minutes.
- Resist the urge to stir the chicken constantly while searing since a golden crust only forms when you let it sit undisturbed and develop color.
03 -
- Grate your own Parmesan from a block rather than using the pre shredded kind because it melts smoother and has far better flavor.
- Halve the cherry tomatoes just before adding them so their juices release at exactly the right moment during cooking.