Creamy Pesto Gnocchi with Chicken (Printable Version)

Pan-crisped gnocchi and chicken in creamy pesto sauce. An easy, flavorful Italian main dish perfect for weeknight dinners.

# Ingredient List:

→ 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 - Coat chicken cubes evenly with kosher salt and black pepper.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add seasoned chicken and sauté for 5-7 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
03 - In the same skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. 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 fragrant.
05 - Pour heavy cream into the skillet and bring to a gentle simmer, stirring to deglaze the pan and incorporate flavorful browned bits.
06 - Stir in basil pesto and grated Parmesan cheese, mixing until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
07 - Return cooked chicken to the skillet and toss all ingredients to coat evenly in the pesto cream sauce. Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed.
08 - Transfer to serving bowls and garnish with fresh basil leaves and extra Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The way the pan-fried gnocchi gets those golden crispy edges while staying pillowy inside will change how you cook it forever
  • Everything happens in one skillet, which means maximum flavor and minimum cleanup on busy weeknights
02 -
  • Dont be tempted to boil the gnocchi first, pan-frying gives you that incredible texture contrast
  • The sauce will thicken as it sits off the heat, so remove it from the flame while it still looks slightly thinner than you want
03 -
  • Use a large skillet to give everything room to crisp rather than steam
  • Let your pan get properly hot before adding ingredients to achieve that golden sear
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