Lemon Chicken Gnocchi Recipe
A vibrant and creamy one-pot Lemon Chicken Gnocchi recipe featuring tender pan-seared chicken breasts, pillowy gnocchi, sweet cherry tomatoes, and fresh baby spinach all brought together with a tangy lemon cream sauce. Perfect for a quick, flavorful dinner ready in just 30 minutes.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Total Time: 30 mins
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
Protein and Main Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts (cubed or sliced thin)
- 1 lb potato gnocchi (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 cups baby spinach
Aromatics and Seasonings
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Liquids and Dairy
- 1 cup chicken broth
- ½ cup heavy cream (or coconut cream for dairy-free)
- Zest and juice of 1 lemon
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Garnish
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the Ingredients: Slice the chicken breasts into cubes or thin slices. Halve the cherry tomatoes. Measure the chicken broth, heavy cream, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Have gnocchi and minced garlic ready to use.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Season the chicken with salt and black pepper. Cook the chicken in the skillet until golden brown and fully cooked through, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the cooked chicken and set aside.
- Sauté Garlic & Tomatoes: In the same skillet, add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the halved cherry tomatoes and cook for approximately 2 minutes until they start to soften.
- Build the Lemon Cream Sauce: Pour in the chicken broth and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the heavy cream, lemon zest, and lemon juice. To prevent the cream from curdling, briefly remove the skillet from heat while adding the lemon juice and zest.
- Add Gnocchi & Spinach: Stir in the gnocchi and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until the gnocchi become tender. Just before finishing, toss in the baby spinach, allowing it to wilt perfectly in the sauce.
- Final Touch: Return the seared chicken to the skillet and stir everything together. Season to taste with additional salt and pepper if needed. Garnish with freshly chopped basil or parsley before serving.
Notes
- For a dairy-free option, substitute heavy cream with coconut cream or oat milk.
- You can swap chicken breasts with turkey, tofu, or shredded rotisserie chicken for variety.
- Use whole wheat or gluten-free gnocchi if you prefer a gluten-free meal.
- Greens like arugula or kale can replace baby spinach as per your preference.
- To avoid cream curdling, always add lemon juice and zest off the direct heat and stir gently.
- This recipe works best cooked entirely in a large skillet for one-pot convenience.
Keywords: Lemon chicken gnocchi, creamy gnocchi recipe, quick dinner, one-pot meal, Italian comfort food, spinach gnocchi, chicken skillet dinner
Find it online: https://victoriablair.com/lemon-chicken-gnocchi-recipe/
