Pesto Chicken Gnocchi
Creamy pesto chicken tossed with pillowy gnocchi, tomatoes, and spinach for a fast, comforting skillet dinner. Ready in about 30 minutes.
Pin This Recipe For Later!
Share The Yum On Facebook
Print
Servings:
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb potato gnocchi shelf-stable or refrigerated
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 0.25 tsp crushed red pepper flakes adjust to taste
- 0.75 tsp kosher salt divided, to taste
- 0.5 tsp black pepper freshly ground
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 0.5 cup heavy cream
- 0.33 cup basil pesto
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 3 cup baby spinach lightly packed
- 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese plus more for serving
- 1 tsp lemon juice optional, to brighten
- 2 tbsp toasted pine nuts optional garnish
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh basil optional garnish
Instructions
Preparation Steps
- Pat chicken dry and season with half the salt and the black pepper.
- Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high. Sear chicken until lightly browned, 4–5 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
- Lower heat to medium. Sauté garlic and red pepper flakes in the skillet until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Pour in chicken broth and heavy cream. Scrape up browned bits and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Stir in gnocchi. Cover and cook, stirring once or twice, until tender and slightly thickened, 4–5 minutes.
- Return chicken and any juices to the pan. Fold in pesto and tomatoes. Simmer 2 minutes to warm through.
- Add spinach and the remaining salt. Stir until wilted. Mix in Parmesan and lemon juice. Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Serve hot, topped with extra Parmesan, toasted pine nuts, and fresh basil.
Notes
Swap the heavy cream with half-and-half for a lighter sauce, or use rotisserie chicken and stir it in at the end. For extra veggies, add sautéed mushrooms or peas. Leftovers keep well refrigerated up to 3 days; reheat gently with a splash of broth to loosen the sauce.
This recipe is an original creation inspired by classic Pesto Chicken Gnocchi flavors. All ingredient ratios and instructions are independently developed.