Description
Homemade creamy chicken gnocchi delivers comfort on a plate, blending Italian tradition with hearty home cooking. Rich potato dumplings nestled with tender chicken promise a satisfying meal that warms souls and delights palates.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 2 small chicken breasts (360g / 12.7 ounces)
- 75g (2.6 ounces) lean smoked back bacon, diced
Pasta and Liquids:
- 500g (17.6 ounces) potato gnocchi (vacuum packed)
- 3 1/2 cups low sodium chicken stock
- 1/2 cup 2% milk
- 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
Herbs, Spices, and Cheese:
- 1 shallot, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 175g (6.2 ounces) Laughing Cow light cheese
- 60g (2.1 ounces) fresh grated cheddar
- 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried chives
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried dill
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Poach chicken in stock for 10-12 minutes at medium heat until fully cooked, then slice into tender strips.
- Render bacon in a light spray of oil until crisp and golden brown, creating crunchy texture.
- In the same pan, sauté shallots until translucent, then quickly add minced garlic and briefly toast.
- Create sauce by combining remaining stock, creamy milk, tangy lemon juice, seasonings, and cheese, whisking cornstarch to thicken smoothly.
- Incorporate sliced chicken and pillowy gnocchi into sauce, bringing mixture to gentle boil and simmering for 5 minutes until sauce reaches desired consistency.
- Transfer creamy mixture to baking dish, sprinkle additional cheese on top, and broil at high temperature until cheese melts and becomes bubbly and golden.
- Garnish with crispy bacon crumbles and fresh chopped herbs for final burst of flavor and texture.
Notes
- Poaching chicken in stock ensures juicy, flavorful meat without drying out.
- Cooking bacon first creates a delicious base flavor and renders fat for additional sautéing.
- Whisking cornstarch prevents lumps and helps thicken sauce smoothly.
- Broiling adds a golden, crispy cheese topping that elevates the dish’s texture and appearance.
- Use reduced-sodium stock and skip added salt to control sodium intake.
- Replace regular gnocchi with gluten-free potato gnocchi.
- Swap chicken with roasted cauliflower or plant-based chicken alternative.
- Prepare components separately and assemble just before baking to maintain optimal texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 525
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 64g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 95mg