Marry Me Chicken Gnocchi
This creamy Marry Me Chicken Gnocchi is an easy family dinner everyone will love! This one-pan skillet meal is ready in 30 minutes, perfect when you need some quick comfort food.
Forget dirtying all your pots and pans and make this hearty chicken and gnocchi skillet instead! This juicy chicken dish is covered in an ultra creamy sauce with shallots, garlic, sun dried tomatoes, and basil for a flavorful, Italian-inspired dinner. You can have this comfort food meal on the table with just one pan and 30 minutes!
Love these flavors but want a twist? Try this Marry Me Chicken for a keto version or this Marry Me Chicken Soup Recipe if you prefer a creamy broth instead of a sauce.
Ingredients
Here is a quick overview of what you will need for this skillet dinner. Find exact measurements in the printable recipe card.
- Chicken – Cut into 1-inch cubes. I used boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Feel free to use chicken thighs or chicken tenderloins if you prefer.
- Shallots, garlic, and sundried tomatoes – Mince your vegetables and chop your tomatoes for easy eating. If you aren’t a fan of sundried tomatoes, replace with roasted red peppers. If you do not have a shallot, use yellow onion instead.
- Extra virgin olive oil – Your chicken and vegetables cook in this. You can replace this with avocado oil, coconut oil, butter, or your preferred cooking oil.
- Dry white wine, heavy cream, and parmesan cheese – These create your creamy sauce. Swap the wine with a good quality chicken broth if you prefer. Freshly grated cheese will melt easier and smoother than the pre-grated version from the store.
- Seasonings: Garlic powder, Italian seasoning, Crushed red pepper flakes, Kosher salt, and Black pepper
- Gnocchi – I used shelf-stable gluten-free gnocchi.
- Fresh basil – Adds loads of flavor! You could substitute other fresh herbs like thyme, parsley, oregano, etc.
- More optional garnishes: Chopped fresh herbs, grated or shredded parmesan, sliced green onions, additional red pepper flakes, or a dash of paprika for color.
Get the Recipe: Marry Me Chicken Gnocchi
Ingredients
- 2 large chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch cubes
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, (divided)
- 1 shallot, minced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 1 cup dry white wine, or chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 16-ounce package shelf stable gnocchi
- 2 tablespoons basil leaves, finely chopped
Equipment
Instructions
- Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Season the chicken with salt and pepper on both sides.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken to the pan in a single layer and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden. (it doesn’t have to be cooked though yet)
- Remove the chicken from the skillet and transfer to a plate.
- Add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and the shallot to the skillet. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until the shallots have softened. Add the garlic and sun-dried tomatoes to the pan and saute for 30 seconds.
- Add the white wine to the pan and deglaze the skillet. Be sure to scrape the bottom of the pan to pick up any bits that might have stuck to the skillet.
- Allow the wine to simmer for 6-8 minutes or until it has reduced by half.
- Stir in the spices, heavy cream, and parmesan. Cook the sauce, stirring occasionally, for 4-5 more minutes. Once the sauce has reached your desired consistency, reduce the heat to low and add the chicken and gnocchi to the skillet, covering it until the chicken is cooked through.
- Garnish with finely chopped basil. Serve immediately
How to Make Marry Me Chicken Gnocchi
All you need for this easy chicken pasta recipe is a large skillet or large Dutch oven. Here is a step-by-step guide to making this family dinner in just 30 minutes.
Prep and brown chicken
Start by cutting your chicken into bite-sized pieces. Season chicken with salt and pepper on all sides, mixing to coat well. Heat half of your oil to a large pan over medium heat.
Once warm, add the chicken to the pan in a single layer and cook until golden (3-4 minutes). You are just looking to get a nice color; you do not need to cook the chicken all the way through yet. Once golden, remove from the skillet, transfer to a plate, and set it aside for now.
Create your sauce
Add the rest of the oil, then pour in the minced shallots. Sauté for 2-3 minutes or until they have softened. Stir in the garlic and sun dried tomatoes and continue sauteing for 30 seconds or until nice and fragrant.
Add the white wine to the pan and deglaze the skillet, scraping the bottom of the pan to pick up any bits that might have gotten stuck (yum, flavor!). Allow wine to simmer 6-8 minutes. Once it has reduced by half, stir in your spices, heavy cream, and grated parmesan. Let the sauce cook for 4-5 more minutes, stirring occasionally.
Combine to finish
Once the sauce has reached your desired consistency, reduce the heat to low and stir in your chicken and gnocchi. Ensure each piece is coated in the saucy mixture, then cover the skillet with a lid until the chicken is cooked through. Finally, garnish with finely chopped basil and serve immediately!
What to serve with creamy chicken gnocchi
We love this meal on its own, but it is easy to add a couple appetizers and sides to stretch it further. Serve Crispy Smashed Brussels Sprouts with Lemon Aioli or Spinach Stuffed Mushrooms as the perfect apps for a crowd. This Tomato and Avocado Salad is perfect on the side, as are these Crispy Eggplant Bites.
More easy sides:
Chicken and Gnocchi FAQs
Depending on who you ask, gnocchi can be categorized as both pasta and a dumpling! It is made out of potato, flour, and eggs. You can often find gluten-free gnocchi that is made with gluten-free flour.
You can! Stir in fresh spinach or kale for more greens. Sauté diced carrots and celery with your shallot if you want more fiber. You can make many different types of variations depending on your preferred taste!
Yes, you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. When ready to eat, microwave individual servings in 60-second increments on 50% power, stirring between each blast. If you are reheating the entire dish, reheat over medium low in a skillet or pot, stirring frequently to help prevent the sauce from separating. Feel free to add extra heavy cream a tablespoon at a time if the sauce is seeming too thick.
While I have not used any alternatives in this recipe, I do think you could use full fat coconut milk instead of heavy cream and a dairy-free parmesan style cheese.
