Description
Homemade creamy chicken gnocchi slow cooker recipe brings Italian comfort straight to dinner tables. Parmesan-infused sauce and tender chicken create a hearty meal you’ll crave all week long.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1.5 pounds (680 grams) boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
- 1 pound (454 grams) potato gnocchi
Vegetables:
- 3–4 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
- 1–2 stalks celery, chopped
- 0.5 medium yellow or white onion, chopped
- 4–5 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 cups baby spinach
Seasonings & Liquids:
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon Better than Bouillon chicken base (optional)
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes (optional)
- 4 cups (960 milliliters) low-sodium chicken stock
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) cream or half and half
- 1–2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 4 slices cooked bacon, crumbled (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the slow cooker by layering raw chicken pieces, diced carrots, chopped celery, and minced onions. Sprinkle fresh parsley, minced garlic, and selected seasonings throughout the base. Add chicken bouillon and optional red pepper flakes for enhanced flavor complexity.
- Pour chicken stock carefully into the slow cooker, gently stirring ingredients to distribute evenly. Cover and cook on low temperature for 6-8 hours or high temperature for 4 hours, allowing flavors to meld and chicken to become tender.
- After cooking duration, use two forks to carefully shred chicken directly within the slow cooker, ensuring meat is uniformly pulled apart and mixed with vegetables.
- Whisk cream with cornstarch until smooth, creating a thickening agent. Pour mixture into slow cooker, then add uncooked gnocchi and fresh spinach leaves. Continue cooking on high heat for 30-45 minutes until gnocchi becomes soft and sauce thickens.
- If additional thickening is desired, create a quick slurry by mixing cornstarch with cold water. Stir into the mixture and taste, adjusting seasonings as needed for optimal flavor profile.
- Carefully ladle the creamy chicken gnocchi into serving bowls. Optional: Garnish with crispy crumbled bacon for added texture and richness.
Notes
- Choose boneless, skinless chicken breasts for even cooking and easy shredding in the slow cooker.
- Substitute regular gnocchi with gluten-free versions for those with wheat sensitivities or celiac disease.
- Cut vegetables into uniform sizes to ensure consistent cooking and prevent some pieces from becoming mushy.
- Use fresh spinach instead of frozen for a brighter color and fresher taste in the final dish.
- If you’re watching sodium intake, opt for low-sodium chicken broth and reduce additional salt added to the recipe.
- Customize heat levels by adjusting red pepper flakes or adding a dash of hot sauce for extra kick.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days, reheating gently to maintain gnocchi’s soft texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours (on Low) or 4 hours (on High)
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 70mg