Description
Comforting Italian gnocchi skillet with chicken and pesto brings classic Mediterranean flavors to home kitchens. Creamy sauce, tender potatoes, and savory chicken combine for a satisfying meal you’ll want to savor repeatedly.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 (9 oz/255 g) Perdue Short Cuts Original Roasted Carved Chicken Breast
- 4 oz (113 g) goat cheese, crumbled
- 1 lb (454 g) shelf-stable potato or cauliflower gnocchi
- 1 pint (473 ml) cherry tomatoes, halved
- 6 oz (170 g) fresh baby spinach leaves
- 6 tbsps (90 ml) store-bought pesto
- 2 tsps (10 ml) olive oil
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 tbsps chopped parsley and/or basil, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Gnocchi Preparation: Cook packaged gnocchi according to package instructions until tender, then drain and set aside.
- Chicken Searing: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, season chicken with salt and pepper, and sauté until golden brown and fully cooked to 165°F (74°C).
- Chicken Rest: Remove chicken from skillet and keep warm, preserving its moisture and temperature.
- Pesto Integration: Reduce skillet heat and introduce pesto sauce, creating an aromatic base across the cooking surface.
- Final Combination: Fold cooked gnocchi and chicken into the pesto, ensuring complete sauce coverage and even distribution.
- Cheese Finalization: Sprinkle crumbled goat cheese over the skillet contents, allowing gentle melting to create a creamy texture.
- Garnish and Serve: Optional herb garnish with parsley or basil, then plate immediately while the dish remains hot and flavorful.
Notes
- Gnocchi Cooking Tip: Always follow package instructions precisely to prevent gnocchi from becoming mushy or falling apart during preparation.
- Chicken Temperature Check: Use a meat thermometer to verify chicken reaches 165°F (74°C), ensuring food safety and perfect doneness.
- Pesto Distribution Technique: Stir pesto thoroughly to coat every ingredient evenly, preventing clumping and creating balanced flavor in each bite.
- Cheese Melting Hack: Add crumbled goat cheese off direct heat to achieve a creamy, slightly melted texture without completely breaking down the cheese.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 660 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg