Lemon Chicken Gnocchi

If Lemon Chicken Gnocchi sounds like something you’d order at a cozy little restaurant and then try to recreate at home “someday,” hi—today is someday. This is the kind of dinner that feels fancy (creamy sauce! golden chicken! pillowy gnocchi!) but behaves like a weeknight hero. And if you’re juggling work, kids, laundry, and a brain that’s running 37 tabs at once… same. That’s exactly why I love recipes like this.

This Lemon Chicken Gnocchi is bright, comforting, and comes together in one skillet—so you can spend less time scrubbing pans and more time living your life (or, let’s be real, finding the missing sock).

Why You’ll Love This Lemon Chicken Gnocchi

• It’s fast: thin chicken cutlets cook quicker than your group chat can blow up.
• One-pan wonder: fewer dishes = instant peace.
• Creamy but not heavy-tasting: lemon keeps everything fresh and lively.
• Family-friendly: picky eaters usually fall for gnocchi—those little potato pillows don’t argue back.
• Restaurant vibes at home: Parmesan + garlic + cream is basically a warm hug in sauce form.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s what you’ll grab (and why each one matters):

• Chicken breasts (2), cut into 4 cutlets – thinner cutlets cook faster and stay tender.
• Lemon pepper seasoning – the shortcut to big brightness. (McCormick is a great choice.)
• Garlic powder – adds savory depth right on the chicken.
• Olive oil + butter – for searing and flavor-building (butter makes everything taste like you tried harder).
• Garlic (fresh) – because the heart wants what it wants.
• Chicken broth – adds richness and helps lift those tasty browned bits.
• Fresh lemon juice – please squeeze fresh if you can; it’s the sparkle.
• Heavy cream – the silky base of the sauce.
• Shelf-stable potato gnocchi – quick-cooking and perfect here.
• Parmesan cheese (freshly grated) – melts smoother and tastes bolder.
• Spinach – brings a pop of green and makes us feel like thriving adults.

Refer to the recipe card below for exact ingredient measurements and full nutritional information.

How to Make Lemon Chicken Gnocchi (Step-by-Step)

1) Prep the chicken

Cut the chicken breasts in half lengthwise so you have 4 thinner cutlets. Season both sides with garlic powder and lemon pepper.

Quick note: If your lemon pepper seasoning doesn’t include salt, add a little salt to the chicken now. (Nobody wants bland chicken. Not on my watch.)

2) Sear the chicken

Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add olive oil and butter, and let the pan warm up for a couple minutes.

Sear the chicken for 5–6 minutes per side, until golden and cooked through. Move it to a plate. (Tent with foil if you want it extra warm—totally optional.)

3) Sauté the garlic

Reduce heat to medium. Add the fresh garlic to the skillet and cook about 30 seconds, just until fragrant.

Try not to wander off and scroll your phone here—garlic goes from “amazing” to “why does it smell like regret?” pretty fast.

4) Build the lemony sauce base

Pour in the chicken broth and lemon juice. Scrape up all the browned bits from the bottom of the pan.

Those bits are flavor gold. We do not leave gold behind.

5) Add cream + gnocchi (no pre-cooking!)

Stir in the heavy cream, then add the gnocchi. Give it a good stir so the gnocchi is submerged.

Let it gently bubble uncovered for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the gnocchi is tender and the sauce thickens.

Important: Don’t pre-cook the gnocchi. As it cooks in the sauce, it releases starch, and that’s what creates the dreamy thickness.

If the sauce gets too thick, add a splash more broth. Also remember: it thickens more as it cools, so stop when it’s luscious—not cement.

6) Finish with parmesan and spinach

Take the pan off the heat. Stir in Parmesan, then toss in the spinach. Mix until the spinach wilts and everything looks creamy and happy.

7) Bring the chicken back

Add the chicken back into the skillet (and any juices on the plate—those juices are basically free sauce). Spoon sauce over the chicken, taste, and adjust with salt and pepper if needed.

Serve immediately while it’s at its best: creamy, lemony, and a little bit magical.

Tips for the Best Creamy Lemon Chicken Gnocchi

• Thin cutlets = tender chicken. If your cutlets are uneven, you can lightly pound them so they cook evenly.
• Fresh parmesan melts better. The pre-shredded kind can be a little stubborn because of anti-caking agents.
• Keep the simmer gentle. A hard boil can reduce the sauce too fast and make it thicker than you want.
• Want it extra lemony? Add a little lemon zest at the end for more citrus punch.
• Sauce looking a bit lumpy? Don’t panic. Parmesan sometimes clumps if the heat is too high. Pull the pan off the heat, stir slowly, and it usually smooths right out—like me after coffee.

A Little Story From My Kitchen

This Lemon Chicken Gnocchi became one of my go-to dinners after one of those days where everything felt like a lot—work, life, and the kind of tired that sits in your bones. I wanted comfort food, but I didn’t want anything heavy that would make me want to crawl into bed at 7 p.m.

The lemon did the trick. It brightened the whole dish, and suddenly the kitchen smelled like something wonderful was happening—even if the rest of the house looked like a toy tornado had been through. When my family went back for seconds, I knew it was a keeper.

FAQs About Lemon Chicken Gnocchi

Bring a Little Sunshine to Dinner Tonight

If your weeknight meals have been feeling a little “same old,” Lemon Chicken Gnocchi is the refresh you didn’t know you needed. It’s creamy, cozy, and bright in the best way—like comfort food that remembered to open a window.

Make it once and I’m willing to bet it’ll earn a spot in your regular rotation. And when you do, picture me in my kitchen cheering you on—because there really is magic in chicken… especially when it’s swimming in lemony cream sauce with gnocchi.

Keep the Chicken Magic Going

If you loved this cozy skillet of Lemon Chicken Gnocchi, you’ve got options for what to make next—whether you’re staying in that bright lemon lane or riding the gnocchi-and-creamy-sauce wave a little longer:

• Craving more citrusy comfort? Try garlic lemon chicken quinoa for a fresh, feel-good dinner that’s light but still totally satisfying.
• Want another lemony chicken moment (with a slightly fancy vibe)? You’ll adore lemon shallot chicken with a buttery, zippy pan sauce.
• If you’re here for the gnocchi life (same), don’t miss chicken parmesan gnocchi for a cheesy, cozy weeknight win.
• Need a warm, creamy bowl situation for busy nights? This one’s a hug in a spoon: creamy boursin chicken soup that tastes like pure comfort.

And if you make this Lemon Chicken Gnocchi, I’d love to hear how it went! 💛 Leave a quick review and tap your star rating—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️—it helps other readers (and makes my chicken-loving heart very happy).

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