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One-pan creamy sun-dried tomato chicken and gnocchi in a cast iron skillet with wilted spinach and melted Parmesan

One-Pan Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken and Gnocchi

Golden seared chicken thighs and pillowy gnocchi baked together in a rich creamy sun-dried tomato sauce with baby spinach and Parmesan. All in one skillet and ready in 45 minutes.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 5 portions
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian-Inspired
Calories: 575

Ingredients
  

  • 6 bone-in skin-on chicken thighs (about 5 oz. each) Choose smaller thighs for even cooking with the gnocchi
  • 1.5 tsp dried Italian seasoning
  • 1 tsp sweet paprika
  • 2 tsp kosher salt divided -- use 1.5 tsp for chicken and 0.5 tsp for sauce. Adjust at the end.
  • 0.25 tsp freshly ground black pepper plus more to taste at the end
  • 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 0.5 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes thinly sliced and drained
  • 1 tbsp oil reserved from sun-dried tomato jar
  • 4 cloves garlic finely chopped
  • 0.5 cup dry white wine Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc recommended
  • 1.75 cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • 0.5 cup heavy cream
  • 17 oz package gnocchi shelf-stable preferred; fresh gnocchi also works
  • 5 oz package baby spinach
  • 0.5 cup finely grated Parmesan freshly grated from a block for best melting

Equipment

  • Large oven-safe skillet
  • Instant-read thermometer

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Season chicken thighs on both sides with Italian seasoning, paprika, 1.5 tsp. salt, and 0.25 tsp. pepper. Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken skin-side down and cook until deep golden brown, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate.
  2. Return skillet to medium-high heat and add the reserved sun-dried tomato oil. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add wine and stir, scraping up any brown bits from the pan, until reduced by half, about 1 minute. Add chicken broth then slowly stir in heavy cream. Bring to a gentle simmer and stir in gnocchi, sun-dried tomatoes, and 0.5 tsp. salt. Nestle chicken back into the pan skin-side up.
  3. Transfer skillet to the oven and bake until chicken is cooked through and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 175 degrees F, 14 to 16 minutes.
  4. Carefully remove skillet from oven. Transfer chicken to a plate. Add baby spinach and Parmesan to skillet. Cook over medium heat, stirring, until spinach wilts, about 2 minutes. Return chicken to skillet. Taste and adjust salt and pepper before serving.

Notes

Go easy on salt during cooking and season at the end -- Parmesan adds significant saltiness. For chicken breasts, reduce baking time and pull at 165 degrees F. No wine substitute: use equal amount of chicken broth plus a squeeze of lemon juice. Leftovers keep in the fridge up to 3 days. Reheat in a skillet with a splash of broth or cream.
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