Description
Luxurious chicken and gnocchi dance together in a velvety Italian-inspired sauce, creating comfort on a plate. Rich flavors and tender pasta pillows promise a delightful meal you’ll savor with each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound chicken breast, cut into 3–4 1-inch pieces
- 16 ounces gnocchi
- 2 cups baby spinach leaves
Seasonings and Spices:
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
Liquid and Additional Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or sundried tomato oil from the can
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/3 cup sundried tomatoes, chopped
Instructions
- Sear chicken in a sizzling skillet over medium-high heat, coating with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper until golden and internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C), approximately 4-5 minutes. Transfer cooked chicken to a separate plate.
- Using the same skillet, melt butter and quickly sauté minced garlic until aromatic, about 30 seconds. Pour chicken stock to deglaze, scraping accumulated browned bits from pan surface.
- Introduce heavy cream and bring mixture to a gentle simmer. Add gnocchi and allow sauce to reduce while pasta becomes tender, cooking for approximately 5 minutes.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and incorporate smoked paprika, sundried tomatoes, and grated parmesan cheese, stirring thoroughly to integrate flavors.
- Fold fresh spinach into the sauce, allowing leaves to wilt completely. If sauce appears too dense, introduce a small splash of water to achieve desired consistency.
- Return reserved chicken to skillet, gently mixing to ensure even distribution of sauce and ingredients.
- Remove skillet from heat and serve immediately, ensuring each portion receives an equal blend of sauce, gnocchi, and chicken.
Notes
- Achieve perfectly tender chicken by using a meat thermometer to ensure it reaches 165F (74C) without overcooking.
- Customize the heat level by adjusting smoked paprika quantity or adding red pepper flakes for extra kick.
- Transform this dish into a gluten-free version by selecting gluten-free gnocchi and verifying all ingredient labels.
- Make it vegetarian by replacing chicken with firm tofu or roasted cauliflower florets, maintaining the creamy sauce’s richness.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 592 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 540 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 19 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 43 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg