Creamy Chicken and Gnocchi is a one-pot wonder that’s decadent enough to make for a special occasion but also a simple recipe we fall back on for weeknight dinners. The cheesy, garlicky, herb-infused cream sauce is divine! This is a low-effort recipe that turns out tasty every time.
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This recipe has it all: satisfying protein from the seasoned chicken, color and nutrition from the broccoli, rich and flavorful gnocchi, and a silky creamy parmesan sauce that brings everything together. Try this creamy gnocchi and chicken and let us know how you like it!
If you love easy Italian pasta recipes, be sure to try our easy one-pot Chicken Parmesan Pasta, this creamy Sausage Pasta, and everyone's favorite in the summertime, Italian Pasta Salad.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple and Easy to Make: You can have dinner on the table in 30 minutes with this chicken and gnocchi dish. If you want easy and fast gnocchi recipe ideas, this is a great one to try.
- Flavorful and Creamy: There is something irresistible about the combination of flavors and rich creaminess of the sauce for this creamy chicken gnocchi recipe.
- Budget-Friendly Meal: This chicken with gnocchi feels decadent, like a fancy restaurant meal, but it’s made with simple, affordable ingredients and you can cook it from home in very little time!
Ingredients
- Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts: Cubed chicken breast pieces work great for this recipe. You could also use boneless, skinless thighs, but you might need to adjust the cooking time slightly.
- Seasonings for the Chicken: We used paprika, onion powder, black pepper, and salt. You could also use smoked paprika instead of regular.
- Seasonings for the Sauce: We used Italian seasoning, paprika, dried thyme, black pepper, and salt.
- Butter and Heavy Cream: These add richness and creaminess to the sauce. You could substitute half and half for the cream if you want.
- Minced Garlic: The garlic gives essential flavor to the sauce. Mince it finely and add extra if you want!
- Low Sodium Chicken Broth: Broth gives the flavorful base for the sauce. You can use homemade broth or a carton from the soup aisle. We prefer broth over bouillon cubes.
- Gnocchi: Soft, pillowy Italian potato dumplings can be found in the refrigerated deli section or the pasta aisle. The fresh ones have the best texture, if you ask us.
- Broccoli Florets: Fresh or frozen broccoli florets add color, nutrition, and texture that balances the richness of the sauce. If you are using frozen broccoli, thaw and drain the package well so you don't make the sauce watery.
- Shredded Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated parmesan is so good in this sauce! Grab your cheese grater and go to town! If you do need to buy pre-grated, grab the kind that’s refrigerated in the deli section, not the shelf-stable kind.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Add Veggies: Want more textures and flavors? Throw in veggies like bell peppers, sugar snap peas, mushrooms, asparagus, peas, spinach, and kale.
- Tuscan Gnocchi Version: Add ¼ or ½ cup of chopped sun-dried tomatoes that have been drained. You could also add spinach at the end to wilt it.
- Make It Spicy: Add red pepper flakes or a drizzle of chili oil for more heat.
How to Make Creamy Chicken Gnocchi
Here are the steps to make one pan creamy chicken and gnocchi.
- Step 1: Season the Chicken. Use the black pepper, salt, paprika, and onion powder to coat the cut-up chicken on all sides.
- Step 2: Cook the Chicken. Once your oil is heated in a large skillet, throw in the chicken and cook it for around 4-5 minutes on each side or until golden brown.
- Step 3: Make the Sauce. Melt the butter and saute the garlic for 30 seconds. Then add the chicken broth, heavy cream, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, paprika, and thyme. Whisk continuously until the sauce starts to bubble. Careful not to heat it too high or the cream could split.
- Step 4: Cook the Gnocchi and Broccoli. Lower the heat to medium and add in the gnocchi pasta and broccoli florets. Cook for 5-7 minutes.
- Step 5: Add Parmesan Cheese and Chicken. Add them to the sauce until the cheese has melted and the chicken is warmed through. Serve hot and enjoy!
Hint: Cutting the Chicken
Be sure the chicken breast pieces are evenly-sized so they cook evenly. This will help ensure all sides are evenly browned and none of the pieces are over or undercooked.
Expert Tips
- Choosing Gnocchi: We suggest using shelf stable or fresh gnocchi for this dish, not frozen. The texture holds together better.
- If the Sauce is Too Thin: Create a slurry with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons of cold water. Stir this mixture into the simmering sauce and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until it thickens. Alternatively, you can add more grated Parmesan cheese, which will also help thicken the sauce as it melts.
- Time Saving Tip: Use leftover rotisserie chicken rather than cooking the chicken yourself.
Storage Directions
- Storing: Leftover gnocchi with chicken will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. If the sauce has thickened up, you can add a splash of water or broth to thin it out. We recommend making this dish fresh rather than freezing it.
- Reheating: Reheat the dish in the microwave on medium heat for 30-60 second intervals until it is heated through.
Serving Suggestions
Creamy chicken gnocchi is a great weeknight family dinner when you want a comforting meal in less than 30 minutes. It's also great as a cozy Sunday dinner or date night in! Here are some ideas for how to serve one pan chicken and gnocchi.
- Be sure to scoop on plenty of the buttery cream sauce, then garnish with fresh chopped basil. Serve with garlic knots or sloppy joe garlic bread and Caesar salad.
- Have gnocchi with a side salad like creamy cucumber salad, cucumber tomato salad, or strawberry spinach salad. If you’re extra hungry, have a starter of beef vegetable soup or a cold pasta salad like pea pasta salad along with it.
- For dessert, make red velvet cookies or raspberry lemonade cookies.
Recipe FAQs
Make sure to lower the heat before you add the heavy cream and avoid boiling the sauce. A gentle simmer works best. Add the parmesan cheese gradually and make sure the pan isn't too hot when you add it.
This dish is best served fresh, as the gnocchi can become too soft if left in the sauce for too long. However, you can prep components ahead of time: cut and season the chicken, chop the broccoli, and measure out other ingredients.
More Easy Pasta Recipes
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Creamy Chicken and Gnocchi
Equipment
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts Cut into bite-sized pieces
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 teaspoons garlic minced
- ¾ cup low-sodium chicken broth drained and sliced thin
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- 16 ounces gnocchi
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1 cup parmesan cheese shredded
Instructions
- Season chicken with paprika, black pepper, salt, and onion powder.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook for 4-5 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Remove and set aside.
- Melt butter in the skillet and saute garlic for 30 seconds. Then add chicken broth, heavy cream, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, paprika, and thyme. Whisk continuously until the sauce starts to bubble.
- Lower heat to medium and add gnocchi and broccoli. Cook for 5-7 minutes or until broccoli is tender.
- Add parmesan cheese and chicken to the sauce. Mix until coated and the cheese is melted. Cook until chicken is warmed through
- Serve while hot, and enjoy!
Notes
- Cut the chicken into uniform pieces so they cook evenly.
- Keep the heat at medium-low when adding the cream and cheese to prevent the sauce from breaking.
- Shelf-stable or refrigerated gnocchi works better than frozen for this recipe.
- If using frozen broccoli, make sure to thaw and pat it completely dry before adding to prevent excess water from diluting the creamy sauce.
- If your sauce seems too thin, whisk 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 2 tablespoons cold water and stir it in while the sauce is simmering for the perfect consistency.
- Skip the pre-shredded varieties and grate Parmesan yourself for the best flavor and melting.
Nutrition
*All nutrition information provided is automatically calculated and is an estimate and will vary based on ingredients, brands, and changes in cooking methods listed in the recipe. If you need exact numbers on your ingredients, I would recommend calculating them with your prefered nutrition calculator.
Ryan Allen
If you love creamy and hearty dishes this one is for you.