Creamy Pesto Gnocchi with Chicken (Printable)

Tender gnocchi tossed in creamy pesto sauce with pan-crisped chicken. An easy Italian comfort dish ready in just 35 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 14 oz), cut into 1-inch cubes
02 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
03 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
04 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

→ Gnocchi

05 - 18 oz store-bought potato gnocchi

→ Sauce

06 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
07 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 1 cup heavy cream
09 - 1/2 cup basil pesto
10 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
11 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Garnish

12 - Fresh basil leaves
13 - Extra grated Parmesan cheese

# How-To Steps:

01 - Season chicken cubes evenly with kosher salt and black pepper.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and sauté for 5-7 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
03 - Add butter to the same skillet over medium heat. Once melted, add gnocchi and sauté for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden and crisp on the exterior.
04 - Add minced garlic to the skillet and cook for 1 minute until aromatic.
05 - Pour heavy cream into the skillet and bring to a gentle simmer, stirring to deglaze any browned bits from the bottom.
06 - Stir in basil pesto and Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
07 - Return the reserved chicken to the skillet and toss all components until evenly coated in the sauce. Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed.
08 - Transfer to serving plates and garnish with fresh basil leaves and additional Parmesan cheese.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The contrast between crispy pan-fried gnocchi and that velvety pesto cream sauce creates this incredible texture that keeps you going back for just one more bite
  • Everything happens in one skillet, so you get maximum flavor with minimum cleanup, which is basically a weeknight miracle
02 -
  • Resist the urge to stir the gnocchi constantly while they're crisping, or they'll steam instead of fry and you'll miss that whole point of this dish
  • The sauce will continue thickening off the heat, so remove it from the burner when it still looks slightly thinner than you want
03 -
  • If your sauce seems too thick, add a splash of pasta water or even a little more cream to loosen it up before serving
  • Leftovers actually reheat surprisingly well in the microwave, though the gnocchi will lose some of its crisp texture
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