Description
Succulent chicken gnocchi dancing in a rich garlic asiago cream sauce brings Italian comfort straight to kitchen tables. Cheesy, creamy goodness melts into pillowy potato dumplings, creating a luxurious meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 6 chicken thighs (bone-in, skin-on)
- 17.6 ounces (500 grams) gnocchi
Herbs and Seasonings:
- 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
- Kosher salt (to taste)
- Freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- Chopped fresh parsley leaves
Dairy and Liquid Ingredients:
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) chicken broth
- 1/2 cup (125 milliliters) half and half
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Asiago cheese
- 2 cups baby spinach (roughly chopped)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F and lightly grease a baking dish with oil, ensuring even coverage.
- Season chicken thighs thoroughly with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper, creating a robust flavor profile.
- Prepare gnocchi according to package instructions, then drain completely in a colander and set aside.
- Heat a skillet over medium heat and sear chicken thighs until golden brown, approximately 2-3 minutes per side, ensuring a crispy exterior.
- In the same skillet, sauté chopped spinach until it wilts and becomes tender, releasing its vibrant green color.
- Create the garlic Asiago cream sauce by melting butter and sautéing minced garlic until fragrant, approximately 1-2 minutes.
- Gradually whisk chicken broth and Italian seasoning into the garlic mixture, stirring consistently to develop depth of flavor.
- Incorporate half and half and grated Asiago cheese, whisking until the sauce thickens and becomes smooth.
- Carefully arrange seared chicken thighs in the prepared baking dish, creating a neat layout.
- Top chicken with cooked gnocchi and wilted spinach, then generously pour the Asiago cream sauce over the entire dish.
- Roast in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, ensuring chicken is completely cooked through and sauce is bubbling.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately while hot and aromatic.
Notes
- Swap chicken thighs with chicken breasts for a leaner protein option that cooks faster and has less fat.
- Use store-bought gnocchi or make homemade potato gnocchi for a more authentic texture and flavor profile.
- Create a gluten-free version by using gluten-free gnocchi and ensuring all other ingredients are certified gluten-free.
- For a vegetarian twist, replace chicken with roasted portobello mushrooms or plant-based chicken alternatives that provide similar hearty texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 415 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 320 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg