Chicken & Gnocchi Bake

I have a gnocchi confession… I am secretly obsessed with it!  I like it all sorts of ways, with all sorts of things but this bake is a perfect option for a yummy, comforting weeknight dinner. 

A LITTLE CHICKEN TALK

I have recently become a BIG, BIG fan of chicken thighs.  I am literally using them every week.  Sometimes I just roast them up and pair them with a quick salad and veggie and sometimes I use them in a  casserole… LIEK THIS ONE!

I always sear them in a pan.  This not only adds some great color to the dish but also a TON of flavor.  I also make sure and season it really well.  The more the merrier honestly.

I also use more skin on, boneless thighs.  I love how the skin crisps up and it also adds another layer of flavor.  You can definately use chicken breast in this recipe, but I would definately use skin on to help ensure it does not dry out.

OH… THE SAUCE Y’ALL!

Ok… lets get super real, this parmesan cream sauce is just AMAZING!  This sauce may make another appearance very soon, on its own, not in a casserole.  So check back.

To start the sauce you melt butter and add in onion and garlic.  It is already good in my opinion.  

Next comes the liquid and then the cheese.  For the casserole I used both cream cheese and parmesan cheese.  The cream cheese adds a bit more body to the sauce and bakes down into a velvety smooth consistency, if you don’t have it or don’t like it you can leave it out for sure.

Oh and it is made in the same skillet as your seared the chicken and then the spinach, just adding more and more layers of flavor.

CHICKEN & GNOCCHI COMING TOGETHER 

Once you have the chicken seared, the spinach cooked quickly, the gnocchi boiled and the sauce made it is time to bring everything together.  

The chicken goes in first and then the gnocchi goes all around it.  I then added in the spinach and then the sauce.  The sauce just covers everything bringing everything all together into one happy casserole.  And a super delicious casserole this is.

IS IT GNOCCHI TIME YET?

6 servings

Chicken & Gnocchi Bake

Chicken & Gnocchi Bake is the perfect quick weeknight dinner. It comes together quickly and is loaded with tons of flavor and tons of comfort.

20 minPrep Time

20 minCook Time

1 hrTotal Time

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Ingredients

1 package gnocchi (17.6 oz)6 skin on, boneless chicken thighs
1-2 tablespoons all purpose seasoning, I use a course house seasoning
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 cups baby spinach, roughly chopped
Garlic Parmesan Cheese Sauce
2 tablespoons butter
1 small onion, chopped finely
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon all purpose seasoning (same as you used for the chicken)
1 cup chicken stock
3/4 cup half & half
4 oz cream cheese
1 cup grated parmesan, divided
Fresh chopped parsley, for garnish

Directions

Preheat oven to 400
Spray a large casserole dish with nonstick spray, set aside
Cook gnocchi as according to package instructions, draining when just cooked
In a large skillet melt butter and olive oil over medium high heat
Season chicken liberally with all purpose seasoning and salt
Place chicken, skin side down, into skillet and cook for 4-5 minutes or until nicely browned
Flip chicken and cook for another 3-4 minutes
Remove to a plate to rest
In the same skillet add in spinach and cook until it just starts to wilt, if you need to add in a splash of olive oil you can
Remove spinach to plate
In skillet add in remaining butter and melt
Stir in onions and cook until almost translucent
Add in garlic and seasoning cooking for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly
Stir in chicken stock & half & half
Bring mixture to a boil and let reduce a couple of minutes
Stir in cream cheese and 3/4 cup parmesan cheese until sauce is very smooth and thick
In casserole dish place chicken with room in-between each thigh
Spread cooked gnocchi around chicken
Place spinach all around chicken and gnocchi
Pour cream sauce over everything
Sprinkle remaining cheese over the top
Bake for 20-25 minutes or until sauce is bubbly and top is browned
Remove and let stand for 10-15 minutes to allow sauce to to set up and chicken to rest
Serve with fresh chopped parsley
ENJOY!!

Notes

You can use bone in, skin on chicken breast if you would like

Nutrition

Calories

1897 cal

Fat

135 g

Carbs

35 g

Protein

138 g
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