Delicious Ways to Enjoy Creamy Gnocchi with Chicken

A family favorite is creamy chicken and gnocchi, which can be made in one pan! This dish is a hit with my kids, so it always wins in my book. You can prepare this quick food for your family and yourself in approximately half an hour.

What You'll Require

Pots and pans and a ton of time will be minimally required, I promise. In less than thirty minutes, everything for this smooth and lovely dish may be prepared in a single skillet! The following ingredients are needed to create Creamy Chicken with Gnocchi:

• You can buy frozen or fresh gnocchi, but I like the dried kind because they're less expensive and take up less space in my pantry than in my freezer. They are located in the pasta department of your local supermarket.

• Chicken Thighs: If you prefer juicy chicken to dry, flavorless cotton balls, use chicken breasts instead of overcooking them. When in a hurry, replace the thighs with Italian sausage and omit the spice.

• This is a cream sauce, therefore it contains a lot of butter and cream. To make the silky sauce that ties everything together, you need the fat included in these components. You may use full-fat coconut cream in place of the heavy cream and vegan butter in place of the butter.

• Parmesan cheese serves two purposes in the sauce: it thickens it and imparts a delicious, salty flavor. Feta or asparagus are excellent substitutes. Use a few tablespoons of nutritional yeast if you are unable to consume dairy, but be aware that the consistency of your sauce will be considerably thinner.

• In addition to helping to produce the foundation of our cream sauce, vegetable broth is utilized to moisten the dried gnocchi. Replace it with chicken broth, or if you're really desperate, a cup of water combined with a spoonful of tomato sauce.

• Garlic and onion are aromatics that add flavor to the gnocchi when they are cooked in the oil from the chicken thighs. You may use 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder and one tablespoon of onion powder in place of the onions and garlic, respectively.

• Adds earthiness and a lovely color to the meal with spinach. Kale may be used in place of spinach, although it will take a bit longer to soften.

• Italian seasoning — establishes a simple taste foundation. One teaspoon each of dried oregano, dried thyme, and dried rosemary can be used in place of Italian seasoning if you don't have any.

• It's optional to add smoked paprika, but I do so to balance out the sharpness of the Italian seasoning by adding a dank, smokey aroma. It also gives the sauce a golden color.

What To Serve With Gnocchi And Creamy Chicken

Because this meal is substantial, serve it with panzanella or a simple side salad. Alternatively, embrace the richness by preparing Garlic Bread to mop up all of the rich sauce. (Served with garlic bread, it is AMAZING. And garlic is a vegetable, right?

Reheating And Storing

This dish is made with a cream-based sauce, so it thaws the cream and becomes gritty, therefore I wouldn't suggest storing it. Remaining food can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days if it is sealed tightly. Use a microwave to reheat until steaming.

Changes And Add Ons

• Substitute chicken thighs in place of chicken breasts, or omit the searing stage and substitute rotisserie chicken.

• Add more vegetables: Combine garlic, onion, and baby bella mushrooms. A wonderful alternative to baby spinach is Tuscan kale.

• Use vegan butter, nutritional yeast, and coconut cream if you're gluten- or dairy-free. Using Delallo gluten-free gnocchi, I tested this.

Quick Tips

• To ensure equal cooking, cut the chicken in half lengthwise or pound it to a uniform thickness.

• If the chicken in the skillet starts to burn before it's cooked all the way through, add a few tablespoons of water.

• Pull the chicken at just about 165°F using an instant-read thermometer (it will continue to cook a little as it rests).

• Make use of premium chicken broth or stock. The sauce will be thicker and more tasty the higher the quality.

Read Also: Spicy Sausage Pasta Recipes You Must Try

Creamy Chicken And Gnocchi Recipe – Step By Step

• Chop 4 to 5 chicken thighs, or 1.25 pounds, into 2-inch chunks. Place the chicken in a bowl and garnish with 1/4 teaspoon pepper, 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning. Stir until well blended.

• Grease a big, deep pan with two teaspoons of frying oil and place it over medium heat. Add the chicken and heat, uncovered, for 3 minutes or until nicely browned, or until the oil is shimmering. After about three minutes, stir and brown the other side. When the chicken is cooked through and the internal temperature reaches 160°F, remove it from the pan. Remain in the pan with the rendered fat.

• To the skillet, add one chopped onion and two minced garlic cloves. Saute for approximately 2 minutes, or until the garlic is aromatic and the onions have softened.

• To the skillet, add one pound of dry potato gnocchi and one tablespoon of salted butter. Give the gnocchi two minutes to brown.

• To the skillet, add one cup of vegetable broth and two cups of spinach. Put a lid on the pan. Simmer for one to two minutes, or until the gnocchi are moistened and the spinach has wilted.

• To the skillet, add one tablespoon of salted butter and half a cup of heavy cream. Stir until the cream is scorching hot but not boiling, and the butter has melted. Make sure the sauce isn't boiling before adding the cheese since cheese curdles at high heat.

• Turn off the heat for the pan. A silky sauce is created when 1/4 cup of parmesan is added to the skillet and stirred until it melts.

• Lastly, add the cooked, chopped chicken back to the skillet. Gently stir into the cream sauce and gnocchi. Add parsley as a garnish if you'd like. After serving this dish hot out of the oven, take a seat and enjoy what took you less than 30 minutes to prepare!