Chicken Gnocchi Bake

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This recipe for chicken gnocchi bake is affectionately known as cheats Italian baked chicken in my house because it's a one-pan, minimal prep dish with Italian flavours.

Two chicken berasts with crispy skin in a casserole dish with gnocchi and vegetables.

Why This Recipe Works

  • One pan recipe - not many dishes
  • Family favourite with minimal prep
  • Delicious Italian-inspired flavours

Ingredients you will need

To make my one-pan chicken and gnocchi bake you will need

  • Olive oil
  • Chicken breast (skin on)
  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Zucchini
  • Cherry tomatoes (canned)
  • Dried Italian herbs
  • Balsamic vinegar
  • Gnocchi
The ingredients to make chicken gnocchi bake laid out on a bench top.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutes

  • Zucchini: Can be substituted for green beans, broccoli, or broccolini depending on the season.
  • Cherry Tomatoes: I like to use canned cherry tomatoes although canned whole peeled tomatoes in juice will work too, or a jar of pasta sauce.
  • Dried Italian herbs; Are dried mixed herbs.


How to make a Gnocchi Bake with Chicken

Below are illustrated step-by-step instructions to make my Baked Gnocchi Recipe, if you prefer just the written instructions then head straight to the printable recipe card below.

Prep: Heat your oven to 180 degrees Celsius. (360 F)

Slice your zucchini

Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel

Step one: Heat one tablespoon of oil in a large oven-proof fry pan, or stove-proof casserole dish. Place the chicken in the pan skin side down, and cook until the skin is golden.

Two chicken breasts skin side down in a large white casserole dish.

Step two: Flip the chicken and seal the other side, it doesn't need to be cooked all the way through as it will finish cooking in the oven. Remove the chicken and set aside.

Two chicken breasts with golden cooked skin in a large white casserole dish.

Step three: Add the second tablespoon of oil, and sauté the onion and garlic until softened and fragrant.

Onion and garlic cooking in the bottom of a large white casserole dish on a stove top.

Step four: Add the sliced zucchini, and cook for a few minutes until lightly golden.

Slices of zucchini being pan fried in a large white casserole dish with a wooden spoon.

Step five: Add the canned cherry tomatoes, balsamic vinegar and 1 ½ Tablespoons of Italian herbs. Stir until simmering and combined.

A tomato and vegetable sauce simmering in a white casserole dish.

Step six: Stir through the gnocchi

Gnocchi in a tomato and vegetable sauce in a large white casserole dish.

Step seven: Place the browned chicken breasts on top of the gnocchi, sprinkle with the remaining Italian herbs then bake in the oven uncovered for 20 minutes or until the juices of the chicken run clear when pierced with a skewer.

Two chicken breasts on a bed of gnocchi and vegetable tomato sauce ready to go in to the oven.

Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes then slice the chicken

Enjoy!


A top down image of chicken and gnoccih bake.

Top Tips

Here is how you can make these chicken gnocchi bake perfectly every time!

  • Take the time to brown the chicken, it enhances the flavour of the final meal!
  • Slice the chicken and serve slices on top of the delicious gnocchi and vegetable bake.

Cooked in a tomato and vegetable sauce in a white casserole dish.

FAQs

Can you bake gnocchi?

Yes, gnocchi covered in the sauce will bake in the oven to a soft pillowy consistency.

Do I have to boil gnocchi before baking it?

No, gnocchi will cook in the oven without the need to pre-boil it.

Other Family Meals You Might likfe

I am a huge fan of quick family meals, that are on the table without too much effort, here are some others you might like

Slices of chicken sitting on a bed of gnocchi in a tomato based sauce, pieces of zucchini visible.

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Two chicken berasts with crispy skin in a casserole dish with gnocchi and vegetables.

Chicken and Gnocchi Bake

This chicken gnocchi bake is affectionately known as cheats Italian baked chicken in my house because it's a one-pan, minimal prep dish with Italian flavours.
Print Pin Rate
Course: Family Dinner Ideas
Cuisine: New Zealand
Keyword: Chicken gnocchi bake, gnocchi bake, italian chicken bake, baked italian chicken, baked gnocchi
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 534kcal

RATE THIS RECIPE

4.60 from 5 votes

Ingredients

  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 600 grams chicken (skin on)
  • ½ onion (diced)
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 2 medium zucchini
  • 400 grams cherry tomatoes (canned)
  • 1 Tablespoon Italian herbs
  • 1 Tablespoon Balsamic vinegar
  • 500 grams Gnocchi

Instructions

  • Heat your oven to 180 degrees Celsius. (360 F )
  • Slice your zucchini
  • Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel
  • Heat one tablespoon of oil in a large oven-proof fry pan, or stove-proof casserole dish.
  • Place the chicken in the pan skin side down, and cook until the skin is golden.
  • Flip the chicken and seal the other side, it doesn't need to be cooked all the way through as it will finish cooking in the oven.
  • Remove the chicken and set aside.
  • Add the second tablespoon of oil, sauté the onion and garlic until softened and fragrant.
  • Add the sliced zucchini, and cook for a few minutes until lightly golden.
  • Add the canned cherry tomatoes, balsamic vinegar and 1 ½ Tablespoons of Italian herbs. Stir until simmering and combined.
  • Stir though the gnocchi
  • Place the browned chicken breasts on top of the gnocchi, sprinkle with the remaining Italian herbs then bake in the oven uncovered for 20 minutes or until the juices of the chicken run clear when pierced with a skewer.

Notes

  • Take the time to brown the chicken, it enhances the flavour of the final meal!
  • Slice the chicken and serve slices on top of the delicious gnocchi and vegetable bake.
  • You do not need to pre-boil the gnocchi it cooks in the oven in the tomato and vegetable sauce.
  • Zucchini: Can be substituted for green beans, broccoli, or broccolini depending on the season.
  • Cherry Tomatoes: I like to use canned cherry tomatoes although canned whole peeled tomatoes in juice will work too, or a jar of pasta sauce.
  • Dried Italian herbs; Are dried mixed herbs.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serve | Calories: 534kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 77mg | Sodium: 641mg | Potassium: 859mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 532IU | Vitamin C: 28mg | Calcium: 115mg | Iron: 8mg

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