Description
This creamy chicken and gnocchi recipe is a comforting and flavorful dish perfect for weeknight dinners. Tender chicken breasts are seasoned and seared to perfection, then combined with pillowy gnocchi cooked in a velvety Parmesan cream sauce enhanced with sun-dried tomatoes and fresh basil. Ready in just 25 minutes, it’s an ideal one-pan meal that delivers rich, satisfying flavors with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Sauce and Vegetables
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 Tablespoons butter (divided)
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons flour
- 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh sliced basil leaves, plus more for garnish
Main Ingredient
- 1 lb gnocchi
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Dice the chicken breasts into 2-inch pieces. In a bowl, season the chicken with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes if using. Mix well to coat evenly.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add the seasoned chicken pieces and cook undisturbed for about 3 minutes until well browned on one side. Stir and cook for another 3 minutes until the other side is browned and the chicken is cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside, leaving the fat in the skillet.
- Sauté Aromatics: Add minced garlic to the skillet and sauté for about 2 minutes until fragrant.
- Brown the Gnocchi: Add the gnocchi and 1 tablespoon of butter to the skillet. Cook and stir for 2 minutes until the gnocchi is lightly browned.
- Add Spinach and Broth: Add the sun-dried tomatoes and chicken broth to the skillet. Cover and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until the sun-dried tomatoes are softened and gnocchi has absorbed some liquid.
- Add Cream and Butter: Stir in the heavy cream, milk, and the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter. Cook until the butter melts and the mixture is hot but not boiling.
- Create the Sauce: Remove the skillet from heat and stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until it melts, creating a smooth, velvety sauce.
- Combine Chicken and Garnish: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and gently mix it into the gnocchi and sauce. Sprinkle fresh sliced basil over the top and garnish with extra basil if desired. Serve hot.
Notes
- Use chicken breasts carefully to avoid overcooking for juicy, tender meat.
- You can substitute chicken breasts with thighs or Italian sausage for different flavor and texture.
- Use either frozen or fresh gnocchi; dried gnocchi are more economical and shelf-stable.
- For a dairy-free option, substitute heavy cream with full-fat coconut cream and butter with vegan butter.
- If avoiding dairy, use nutritional yeast as a cheese substitute but note the sauce will be less creamy.
Keywords: creamy chicken gnocchi, chicken gnocchi recipe, one pan chicken dinner, creamy gnocchi, Italian comfort food