Description
To understand why this dish is such a crowd-pleaser, it helps to break down exactly what goes into it. At its core, this recipe is a harmonious blend of textures and tastes. You start with high-quality halal chicken, which is diced into bite-sized pieces and seared until golden brown. This ensures every piece of meat stays juicy while developing a beautiful crust that locks in flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 500 g halal chicken breast or thigh, cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream (or cooking cream)
- 500 g potato gnocchi
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional; use a halal-certified version if needed)
- 2 cups baby spinach (optional)
- ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped
- Extra basil and lemon wedges for serving
Instructions
- Cook the chicken
- Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Season chicken with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Cook for 5–6 minutes until golden and cooked through.
- Transfer to a plate.
- Build the sauce
- In the same skillet, add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Stir in lemon zest and lemon juice.
- Pour in chicken broth and scrape up any browned bits from the pan.
- Add cream and gnocchi
- Stir in the heavy cream.
- Add the gnocchi directly to the skillet.
- Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 4–5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Finish the dish
- Stir in Parmesan cheese until melted.
- Add spinach (if using) and cook until wilted.
- Return the chicken to the skillet.
- Stir in fresh basil and simmer for 1–2 minutes.
- Serve
- Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Garnish with extra basil, Parmesan, and lemon wedges.
Notes
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: American-Italian Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 620 kcal
Keywords: creamy halal lemon chicken gnocchi, one pan halal lemon chicken skillet, lemon basil chicken gnocchi recipe