Description
Tender chicken meatballs cooked in a creamy Tuscan-inspired sauce, served with pillowy gnocchi for a comforting and flavorful meal.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- For the meatballs:
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- For the sauce:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 cup spinach, chopped
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- For the gnocchi:
- 1 lb potato gnocchi (fresh or frozen)
- Fresh basil, for garnish
- Grated Parmesan cheese, for garnish
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the ground chicken, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, egg, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined.
- Form the mixture into 20-24 meatballs and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic, cooking until softened, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add the diced tomatoes, chicken broth, heavy cream, basil, oregano, and red pepper flakes to the skillet. Stir to combine and bring to a simmer.
- Transfer the sauce to the slow cooker and add the meatballs. Stir to coat the meatballs in the sauce. Cook on low for 4-5 hours or high for 2-3 hours, until the meatballs are cooked through and tender.
- During the last 30 minutes of cooking, add the chopped spinach and sun-dried tomatoes to the slow cooker.
- Cook the gnocchi according to package instructions, then add it to the slow cooker in the last 10 minutes of cooking, stirring to combine.
- Serve the meatballs and gnocchi with the creamy sauce, garnished with fresh basil and grated Parmesan cheese.
Notes
- You can substitute the chicken with ground turkey or beef for a different flavor.
- If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can reduce the chicken broth or add a little more Parmesan cheese.
- For extra flavor, drizzle with a bit of balsamic glaze just before serving.
- This dish can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 120mg