Creamy Herb Chicken Gnocchi (Printable)

One-pan creamy chicken and gnocchi with fresh herbs, spinach, and tomatoes in a rich Parmesan sauce.

# What You Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 14 oz), cut into bite-sized pieces

→ Vegetables & Aromatics

02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 cup baby spinach, chopped
06 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
07 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
08 - 1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped
09 - 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves

→ Gnocchi

10 - 1 package (17.6 oz) potato gnocchi

→ Sauce & Dairy

11 - 1 cup heavy cream
12 - 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
13 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
14 - 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
15 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
16 - Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)

# How To Make It:

01 - Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper, then sauté until golden brown and cooked through, about 5 to 6 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
02 - In the same skillet, add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Sauté the onion for 2 to 3 minutes until translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
03 - Add the gnocchi to the skillet and sear for 2 to 3 minutes, turning occasionally, until lightly golden on the edges.
04 - Pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream, stirring well to combine. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat.
05 - Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Add the spinach, cherry tomatoes, parsley, basil, and thyme. Simmer for 4 to 5 minutes until the spinach has wilted and the gnocchi is tender.
06 - Stir in the Parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes if using. Simmer for an additional 2 to 3 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken and coat the gnocchi evenly.
07 - Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately, garnished with additional fresh herbs and grated Parmesan if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one pan, which means you get all the comfort with almost none of the cleanup.
  • The cream sauce clings to every ridge of the gnocchi like it was always meant to be there.
  • It reheats beautifully the next day, if you happen to have any left over.
  • Fresh herbs make it taste like you spent far longer than forty minutes on dinner.
02 -
  • Do not skip searing the gnocchi before adding liquid because that step gives them texture that boiling alone never will.
  • The sauce will continue to thicken as it sits off the heat, so pull it from the stove when it still looks slightly looser than you want.
03 -
  • Pat the chicken pieces completely dry before they hit the pan because moisture is the enemy of a good sear.
  • Fresh herbs truly matter here since the dried versions will not give you the same bright, fragrant payoff.

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