Published 2/7/2021
We Love One Pot Meals!
There is something so deeply satisfying about cooking something super delicious and only using ONE dish. This creamy tuscan chicken and gnocchi is just that! You prepare the chicken and veggies in a skillet on the stovetop, and then combine everything together and bake to perfection in the oven — in the same skillet. And just like that, your one pot delicious dinner is served!
Why Make This Chicken and Gnocchi?
There are so many delicious chicken + gnocchi recipes on the internet, but we’re here to tell you YOU NEED THIS RECIPE IN YOUR TUMMY! Here’s why: Flavor: the flavor of this dish is on point. We used a combination of chicken broth, spices, garlic, butter, sun-dried tomatoes, and a dash of heavy cream in the sauce to get that ultra savory flavor. One-Pot: there truly is nothing better than not having to clean a million pots and pans after you cook dinner. Clean one pot and done with this recipe! Leftovers: If you are serving 1 or 2 people, you’re going to get multiple meals out of this creamy chicken and gnocchi. Balanced Meal: Protein + Veggies + starch = perfect balanced meal for any night.
Ingredients – What You Need
Chicken
For this recipe, we used boneless, skinless chicken thighs, but if you’re hoping to use bone-in thighs or boneless breasts, we have some recommendations on how to do so below!
Seasonings & Sauce
Salt & pepperOlive oilButterChicken brothHeavy creamItalian seasoningShredded parmesan
Veggies
White onionGarlic clovesChopped kaleSun-dried tomatoesPotato gnocchi
Chicken Thighs vs. Chicken Breasts
CHICKEN THIGHS –> We used boneless chicken thighs in this recipe because chicken thighs tend to have a bit more fat in them compared to chicken breasts. We wanted this dish to be rich and savory. Chicken thighs helped us accomplish that goal. If you only have bone-in thighs, they will absolutely work for this recipe as well! Just know your cook time will be more than with boneless thighs in order to reach an internal temperature of 165°F. CHICKEN BREASTS –> If you only have chicken breasts on hand, feel free to use ’em! Just make sure if your breasts are larger than boneless thighs that you are cooking to an internal temperature of 165°F, which may increase the cook time a bit.
Do I Need a Cast Iron Skillet?
Because you’d placing this entire recipe into the oven to bake, you’ll need an oven safe vessel to do so! We love making this recipe in our cast iron skillet because it allows for searing and sautéing on the stovetop, and then using that same skillet to go directly into the oven. One pot meal! Don’t have a cast iron skillet? We recommend a dutch oven that is safe for both the stove top and the oven. Don’t have a dutch oven? Do your searing and sautéing in a frying pan and then transfer everything into a casserole dish for the baking portion.
How to Make Creamy Tuscan Chicken and Gnocchi
So, how do you make this creamy tuscan chicken and gnocchi? It’s SO easy! Remember, scroll all the way down to our recipe card for the full ingredients + instructions.
Step by Step
Preheat & Prep
First, preheat the oven to 375ºF, and season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper.
Sear Chicken Thighs
Heat olive oil in a deep cast-iron skillet or Dutch oven over medium/high heat. When the olive oil is fragrant, sear the chicken thighs on both sides for 2 minutes to brown. Then, remove the chicken thighs from the skillet and set aside.
Sauté Veggies
Add butter to the skillet and melt over medium/high heat. Once melted, sauté the onion and garlic for about 3 minutes or until onions are translucent. Add chopped kale and cook for 2 minutes. It will appear to be a TON of kale, but will quickly cook down! Then, add in chicken broth and heavy cream and continue to cook for 2-3 more minutes or until the kale is wilted.
Add Gnocchi & Seared Thighs
Add Italian seasoning, uncooked gnocchi (that’s right, you don’t have to precook the gnocchi because it will cook in the sauce while in the oven!), and shredded parmesan cheese, and mix everything together. Then, submerge the chicken thighs in the sauce and veggies.
Bake!
Bake everything in the skillet at 375ºF for around 15 minutes, or until your chicken thighs reach an internal temperature of 165ºF.
Let Rest & Enjoy
Once the thighs are fully cooked, let rest for 5 minutes. Then, toss everything together and make sure the thighs are nice and coated in the sauce. Serve with fresh cracked black pepper and more parmesan cheese.
How Many Does This Recipe Serve?
This recipe serves 4-6, making it great for serving the whole family, or saving half for leftovers throughout the week.
Storage Instructions
Let the chicken and gnocchi cool completely. Then, transfer it into a large, glass container. Cover and refrigerate for up to 3-5 days.
Recipes with Chicken Thighs
There are so many ways to cook chicken thighs! And the great news? We have recipes for each method of cooking here on Fit Foodie Finds:
Sous Vide: You’ll LOVE our Crispy Sous Vide Chicken ThighsInstant Pot: Try these Instant Pot Chicken Thighs with Sticky Honey Garlic SauceBaked: Have you tried our Sheet Pan Chicken and Veggies or these Crispy Chicken Thighs?Grilled: These Grilled Chicken Thighs have amazing flavor!Stove Top: This Skillet Chicken and Potatoes truly is a one-pot meal
