Ingredients
- For the Chicken:
- 4 thinly sliced chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Remaining Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 6 ounces pesto
- 3 cups spinach, chopped
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 16 ounces shelf-stable gnocchi
Instructions
- Season both sides of the chicken with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken in a single layer and cook for 3–4 minutes on each side until golden. The chicken doesn’t need to be fully cooked at this stage. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
- Add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to the skillet. Sauté minced garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in the chicken stock to deglaze the pan, scraping any browned bits from the bottom. Simmer for 5–6 minutes until slightly reduced.
- Stir in the heavy cream, pesto, and parmesan cheese. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 4–5 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Reduce heat to low and stir in the chopped spinach until wilted.
- Add the gnocchi and stir to coat in the sauce. Nestle the seared chicken on top.
- Cover and simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is fully cooked (internal temperature of 160°F) and gnocchi is tender.
- Garnish with chopped basil and fresh tomatoes if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Use pre-cooked rotisserie chicken for an even quicker version.
- For extra flavor, add sun-dried tomatoes or red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- Make it vegetarian by omitting the chicken and using vegetable broth.
- This dish pairs well with a simple green salad or crusty bread.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Halal
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 140mg
