Cozy Gnocchi Skillet With Chicken and Pesto Recipe for Family Nights

Gnocchi changes an ordinary meal into a culinary adventure bursting with flavor and comfort.

Soft potato dumplings create a delightful canvas for savory ingredients that dance across your palate.

These pillowy morsels carry rich, herbaceous notes that elevate simple proteins into something extraordinary.

Tender chicken mingles seamlessly with vibrant green pesto, creating a harmonious blend of textures and tastes.

Each forkful promises a satisfying experience that connects traditional cooking techniques with modern kitchen creativity.

Italian comfort food meets weeknight convenience in this delectable one-pan masterpiece.

You’ll appreciate how quickly this dish comes together without sacrificing depth of flavor.

Why This Gnocchi Skillet with Chicken and Pesto Works

• Speedy Gourmet Comfort: This one-skillet wonder transforms simple ingredients into a restaurant-quality meal in just minutes, perfect for busy home cooks craving delicious, hassle-free dining.
• Flavor Fusion Magic: Bright pesto, tender chicken, wilted spinach, and juicy cherry tomatoes create a harmonious blend of fresh, vibrant tastes that dance together in every single bite.
• Textural Delight Experience: Soft, pillowy gnocchi pairs beautifully with creamy goat cheese and crisp-edged chicken, offering a delightful contrast of textures that keeps each mouthful exciting and satisfying.
• Customizable Culinary Canvas: The recipe welcomes easy modifications like swapping proteins, adjusting herbs, or adding extra vegetables, making it a versatile dish that adapts to personal preferences and ingredient availability.

Ingredients to Make Gnocchi Skillet with Chicken and Pesto

• Gnocchi: Soft, pillowy potato dumplings that form the hearty foundation of the dish, preferably store-bought to save time.
• Olive Oil: Helps prevent gnocchi from sticking and adds a smooth, rich flavor.

• Chicken: Lean protein that provides substance and heartiness, choose pre-cooked or rotisserie chicken for convenience.
• Spinach: Fresh green that adds nutrition and vibrant color, baby spinach works best for quick wilting.

• Pesto: Herby, garlicky sauce that provides intense flavor and moisture, store-bought is fine but fresh is fantastic.
• Cherry Tomatoes: Sweet, juicy bursts of freshness that complement the other ingredients, look for ripe, firm tomatoes.
• Goat Cheese: Creamy, tangy topping that adds luxurious richness, soft variety recommended.
• Fresh Parsley or Basil: Optional garnish that brings brightness and extra herb notes, choose whichever is more appealing.

• Salt: Essential for enhancing overall dish flavor.
• Reserved Cooking Water: Helps create sauce consistency and bind ingredients together.

Cooking Gnocchi Skillet with Chicken and Pesto Step by Step

Step 1: Prepare Boiling Water

Grab a large pot and fill it with water. Bring the water to a rolling boil over high heat. Sprinkle some salt into the bubbling water.

Step 2: Cook Gnocchi Perfectly

Gently drop the gnocchi into the boiling water. Let them dance in the hot water for about 30 seconds. Use a slotted spoon to rescue the gnocchi and transfer them to a clean bowl.

Step 3: Season Gnocchi

• Pesto sauce
• Olive oil
• Gentle mixing technique

Step 4: Warm Chicken Base

Heat a skillet over medium flame. Slide the chicken into the pan and stir occasionally. Cook until the chicken is warm and slightly golden.

Step 5: Add Fresh Greens

Toss fresh spinach into the skillet. Stir the spinach around until it wilts and becomes vibrant green.

Step 6: Incorporate Tomatoes and Flavor

• Cherry tomatoes
• Additional pesto
• Reserved cooking water (if needed)

Gently fold everything together to create a delicious mixture.

Step 7: Combine All Ingredients

Carefully add the pesto-coated gnocchi to the skillet. Stir gently to heat everything evenly.

Step 8: Final Touches

Crumble goat cheese over the top of the dish. If desired, sprinkle fresh herbs like parsley or basil for extra flavor and color.

Serve immediately and enjoy your delicious gnocchi skillet meal!

Gnocchi Skillet Tips That Make It Great

• Parboil Precisely: Briefly cook gnocchi in boiling water for exactly 30 seconds to prevent overcooking and maintain a tender texture.
• Oil Tossing Technique: Gently coat gnocchi with olive oil to prevent sticking and add a subtle flavor before mixing with pesto.
• Liquid Balance: Use reserved cooking water sparingly to create a silky sauce that binds ingredients without making the dish too watery.
• Gentle Mixing Method: Stir gnocchi delicately to keep them intact and prevent breaking while ensuring even distribution of pesto and other ingredients.
• Cheese Melting Hack: Sprinkle goat cheese just before serving to create creamy pockets that add richness and enhance the overall flavor profile.

Storing Gnocchi Skillet with Chicken and Pesto Correctly

• Refrigerate: Transfer cooled gnocchi skillet to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Reheat Stovetop: Warm gently in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding a splash of water or chicken broth to prevent drying out. Stir occasionally until heated through.
• Microwave Option: Place portion in a microwave-safe dish, cover loosely, and heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval to ensure even warming.

What Complements Gnocchi Skillet with Chicken and Pesto

• Pair with Crisp White Wine: Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio complement the fresh pesto and light chicken flavors perfectly, cutting through the richness of goat cheese.
• Serve Alongside Fresh Salad: Create a zesty arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette to balance the creamy gnocchi and add bright, peppery notes to the meal.
• Match with Crusty Bread: Grab a rustic sourdough or ciabatta to soak up the delicious pesto sauce and provide a satisfying textural contrast to the soft gnocchi.
• Enhance with Herb-Infused Sparkling Water: Add fresh mint or basil sprigs to sparkling water for a light, refreshing non-alcoholic option that echoes the dish's herbal pesto undertones.

Flavor Variations on Gnocchi Skillet with Chicken and Pesto

• Mediterranean Gnocchi Delight: Swap chicken for grilled shrimp and replace pesto with sundried tomato sauce, adding kalamata olives and crumbled feta cheese for a Mediterranean-inspired meal.
• Vegetarian Green Gnocchi: Use roasted zucchini and eggplant instead of chicken, incorporate kale instead of spinach, and mix in green herb pesto for a vibrant vegetarian version.
• Spicy Southwest Gnocchi: Replace chicken with chorizo, add black beans and corn, use chipotle pesto, and top with pepper jack cheese for a bold southwestern flavor profile.
• Winter Comfort Gnocchi: Substitute chicken with crispy pancetta, add roasted butternut squash, use sage pesto, and sprinkle with toasted pine nuts for a cozy cold-weather adaptation.

Gnocchi Skillet With Chicken and Pesto Recipe

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4.8 from 37 reviews

• Total Time: 20 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Creamy Italian-inspired gnocchi skillet blends tender chicken and homemade pesto in one comforting pan. Quick weeknight dinner delivers rich flavors and satisfying textures you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 1 pound potato or cauliflower gnocchi
• 2 (9 ounces / 255 grams) Perdue Short Cuts Original Roasted Carved Chicken Breast
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
• 6 ounces (170 grams) fresh baby spinach leaves
• 4 ounces (113 grams) goat cheese, crumbled

Seasoning and Flavoring:

• 6 tablespoons store-bought pesto
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons olive oil

Garnish (Optional):

• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley and/or basil

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Instructions

1. Create a bubbling cauldron of water in a large pot, ensuring it reaches a rolling boil.
2. Delicately submerge the gnocchi into the skillet, cascading boiling water to completely envelop them, then sprinkle salt and allow them to bathe for half a minute.
3. Rescue the gnocchi using a perforated utensil, transferring them to a separate vessel and gently coating with olive oil, letting them rest momentarily before introducing an additional layer of pesto.
4. Carefully extract a half-cup of the aromatic cooking liquid, then discard the remaining water.
5. Position the skillet over medium flame and introduce the chicken, stirring until it reaches a warm temperature.
6. Incorporate fresh spinach, gently wilting the leaves until they become tender and vibrant.
7. Fold in juicy cherry tomatoes and remaining pesto, creating a harmonious blend of flavors.
8. If the mixture appears parched, introduce reserved cooking water to maintain moisture.
9. Tenderly fold the pesto-coated gnocchi into the skillet, ensuring each morsel is heated through.
10. Artfully scatter crumbled goat cheese across the surface of the dish.
11. Optional: Embellish with delicate herbs like parsley or basil for a final touch of freshness.

Notes

• Quick par-cooking softens gnocchi without making them mushy, ensuring perfect texture in the final dish.
• Reserved cooking water acts as a secret weapon to control sauce consistency and add subtle starchy depth to the skillet.
• Gently tossing gnocchi with pesto before combining creates a luxurious pre-coating that enhances overall flavor distribution.
• Wilting spinach briefly maintains its vibrant color and prevents becoming soggy or losing nutritional value.
• Warming chicken first ensures even heat throughout the skillet and prevents cooling down other ingredients.
• Goat cheese adds a creamy, tangy finish that beautifully complements the rich pesto and bright tomatoes.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 485
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 22 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 50 g
• Fiber: 4 g
• Protein: 28 g
• Cholesterol: 55 mg