Description
Creamy Crac Chicken Gnocchi is a comforting Italian-inspired dish featuring tender, seasoned chicken breast simmered in a rich, creamy sauce made from heavy cream, cream cheese, and Parmesan. The dish is elevated by pillowy gnocchi, fresh spinach for a hint of green freshness, and sun-dried tomatoes adding a subtle tangy sweetness. Perfect for a cozy dinner, this skillet-cooked meal is both flavorful and easy to prepare.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein and Dairy
- 1 pound chicken breast, cubed
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon butter
Vegetables & Herbs
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 1/4 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
Spices & Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Pantry Essentials
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
- 1 pound gnocchi
Instructions
- Heat the oil: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat to prepare for cooking the chicken.
- Cook the chicken: Add cubed chicken breast to the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, for 6-8 minutes until the pieces are lightly browned and no longer pink in the center.
- Season the chicken: Sprinkle garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, dried thyme, salt, and black pepper evenly over the chicken and stir well to coat all pieces thoroughly.
- Deglaze with broth: Pour chicken broth into the skillet, stirring to combine and scraping any browned bits from the pan’s bottom to enrich the sauce.
- Add cream and cheeses: Reduce heat to medium-low, then stir in heavy cream, softened cream cheese, and grated Parmesan cheese.
- Simmer the sauce: Stir continuously for 3-4 minutes until the cream cheese melts completely and the sauce becomes smooth and creamy.
- Add butter: Incorporate butter into the sauce by stirring until fully melted and blended.
- Cook gnocchi: While the sauce simmers, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Boil gnocchi: Add gnocchi to boiling water and cook for 2-3 minutes or until the gnocchi float to the surface, indicating doneness.
- Drain gnocchi: Use a slotted spoon to remove gnocchi from water and transfer directly into the skillet with chicken and sauce.
- Add spinach: Stir fresh spinach into the skillet and cook for 1-2 minutes until wilted and integrated into the sauce.
- Incorporate sun-dried tomatoes: Mix in chopped sun-dried tomatoes and heat through for 1 additional minute.
- Finish and garnish: Remove skillet from heat and sprinkle chopped fresh parsley evenly over the dish.
- Serve immediately: Plate the creamy Crac chicken gnocchi while hot, making sure to drizzle generous amounts of sauce over the chicken and gnocchi for full flavor.
Notes
- You can substitute chicken breast with chicken thighs for a juicier texture.
- For a lighter version, replace heavy cream and cream cheese with half-and-half or Greek yogurt, adjusting cooking time accordingly.
- If sun-dried tomatoes are not available, roasted red peppers work well as an alternative.
- Fresh spinach can be swapped with kale or Swiss chard if preferred.
- Use gluten-free gnocchi to adapt this recipe for gluten-free diets.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and gently reheated on the stovetop.
