Creamy Pesto Gnocchi with Chicken (Printable)

Pan-crisped gnocchi in rich pesto cream sauce with tender chicken bites—a satisfying Italian-style comfort meal ready in 35 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 14 ounces), 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 ounces 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

# How To Make It:

01 - Season the chicken cubes evenly with 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken and sauté for 5–7 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside.
03 - In the same skillet, add the butter. Once melted and bubbling, add the gnocchi. Sauté for 5–6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the gnocchi are golden and crisp on the outside.
04 - Add minced garlic to the skillet and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
05 - Pour in the heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer, stirring to deglaze the pan and incorporate any browned bits from the bottom.
06 - Stir in the pesto and grated Parmesan cheese. Mix continuously until the sauce is smooth, creamy, and well combined.
07 - Return the cooked chicken to the skillet, tossing everything to coat evenly in the sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed. Serve hot, garnished with fresh basil leaves and extra grated Parmesan.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 35 minutes but tastes like a restaurant dish
  • The contrast of crispy gnocchi edges against silky cream sauce is addictive
  • Leftovers reheat beautifully for lunch the next day
02 -
  • Do not crowd the pan when searing chicken or it will steam instead of brown
  • Let the gnocchi sit undisturbed between flips so they actually crisp up
  • The sauce will thicken as it stands off the heat
03 -
  • Room temperature cream prevents curdling when you add it to the hot pan
  • Grate your own Parmesan, pre-shredded cheese has anti-caking agents that affect melting
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