This gnocchi chicken pot pie is one of our favorite cozy dinners, all the creamy, savory comfort of chicken pot pie with pillowy gnocchi standing in for the crust, ready in about forty five minutes. For us that kind of warm, hearty comfort food is exactly what real food for real life is about. It is the kind of dinner that delivers all the cozy, creamy soul of chicken pot pie without any rolling or chilling of dough, since pillowy gnocchi step in for the crust right in the pot.
Carrots, mushrooms, celery, and shallot cook into a creamy sauce with poultry seasoning and thyme, then gnocchi simmers right in until tender alongside shredded chicken and peas. This gnocchi chicken pot pie is a one pot, crustless twist on a beloved classic. Letting the vegetables soften into a creamy sauce and then simmering the gnocchi right in until tender means every bite carries that classic pot pie flavor, all from one pot.
Pillowy gnocchi in a creamy chicken and vegetable sauce makes this gnocchi chicken pot pie a cozy, crustless pot pie.
Why You Will Love This Gnocchi Chicken Pot Pie
- One pot meal. Everything cooks in a single pot, gnocchi included, for easy cleanup.
- All the pot pie flavor. Creamy chicken, vegetables, and herbs taste like the classic.
- No crust needed. Tender gnocchi replaces the pastry for a hearty twist.
- Ready in about forty five minutes. A cozy dinner without the work of a pie crust.
- Comforting and hearty. Rich, creamy, and full of chicken and vegetables.
What Makes This Gnocchi Chicken Pot Pie So Good
A great gnocchi chicken pot pie starts by sauteing carrots, mushrooms, celery, and shallot, which build a savory, aromatic base seasoned with poultry seasoning and thyme for that classic pot pie flavor. Sauteing the carrots, mushrooms, celery, and shallot first and seasoning with poultry seasoning and thyme builds a savory, aromatic base that tastes like a true pot pie.
Sprinkling flour over the vegetables and slowly adding broth and milk creates a smooth, creamy sauce, the cozy backbone of the dish, without any lumps. Sprinkling flour over the vegetables and adding the broth and milk slowly is the trick to a smooth, lump free sauce, the creamy backbone the whole dish leans on.
The key to this gnocchi chicken pot pie is cooking the gnocchi right in the sauce. It turns tender and pillowy while soaking up flavor, then chicken and peas finish it into a complete, hearty meal. Cooking the gnocchi right in the sauce lets them turn tender and pillowy while soaking up flavor, and folding in the chicken and peas finishes it into a complete, hearty meal.
Optional Pro Tip: Stir While the Gnocchi Cooks
Stir frequently once the gnocchi goes in so it cooks evenly and does not stick to the bottom of the pot. For the best gnocchi chicken pot pie, add the gnocchi to the simmering sauce and cook just until tender, since overcooking makes it mushy. Stirring frequently once the gnocchi go in keeps them from sticking and helps them cook evenly, and pulling them as soon as they are tender keeps them pillowy rather than mushy.
Tips for the Best Gnocchi Chicken Pot Pie
Cook the gnocchi right in the sauce so the gnocchi chicken pot pie stays a true one pot meal, and stir often so nothing sticks. Cooking the gnocchi right in the sauce keeps this a true one pot meal and lets them absorb flavor, and stirring often ensures nothing catches on the bottom.
Add the broth slowly to keep the sauce smooth, and stir in the chicken and peas at the end just to warm through. Season to taste before serving. Adding the broth slowly keeps the sauce smooth, and stirring the chicken and peas in only at the end, just to warm through, keeps the chicken tender and the peas bright.
Variations and Add Ins
- Cheesy. Stir in parmesan or a handful of shredded cheese.
- Extra veggies. Add corn, green beans, or spinach.
- Herb forward. Add extra thyme, rosemary, or fresh parsley.
- Gluten free. Use gluten free gnocchi and flour.
- Smoky. Start with a little turkey bacon for a smoky base.
How to Store and Make Ahead
Store leftover gnocchi chicken pot pie in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. The gnocchi softens but stays delicious. Stored airtight, it keeps its cozy, creamy flavor for a few days, and while the gnocchi soften as they sit, they stay comforting and delicious when reheated.
Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave, adding a splash of broth or milk to loosen the sauce, which thickens as it sits. A splash of broth or milk stirred in while reheating loosens the sauce, which naturally thickens as it sits, bringing the dish right back to creamy.
Serving Suggestions for Gnocchi Chicken Pot Pie
Serve this warm in bowls, garnished with fresh parsley, with a simple green salad on the side. It is a complete, cozy meal on its own. A scattering of fresh parsley brightens the bowl, and a simple green salad alongside adds a crisp, fresh contrast to the rich, creamy gnocchi.
The pillowy dumplings here are gnocchi, soft Italian dumplings often made from potato and flour, as described in this overview of gnocchi. Simmered in the creamy sauce, they give this gnocchi chicken pot pie its comforting, hearty texture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I cook the gnocchi separately?
No. Cook it right in the sauce until tender, which keeps this a true one pot meal and adds flavor. Cooking the gnocchi right in the sauce keeps this a true one pot meal and lets them soak up flavor, so there is no need to boil them separately.
How do I keep the gnocchi from getting mushy?
Add it to the simmering sauce and cook just until tender, stirring often. Avoid overcooking. Adding the gnocchi to the simmering sauce and pulling them as soon as they are tender keeps them pillowy, since overcooking is what turns them soft and mushy.
Can I use rotisserie chicken?
Yes. Pre cooked or rotisserie chicken is perfect and makes the dish come together quickly. Pre cooked or rotisserie chicken keeps this weeknight friendly, letting you focus on the creamy sauce and tender gnocchi rather than cooking the meat from scratch.
What is poultry seasoning?
It is a blend of herbs like sage and thyme that gives the dish its classic pot pie flavor. Poultry seasoning is a blend of herbs like sage and thyme, and it is what gives this dish its classic, comforting pot pie flavor.
Can I make it gluten free?
Yes. Use gluten free gnocchi and a gluten free flour to thicken the sauce. Reaching for gluten free gnocchi and using a gluten free flour to thicken the sauce keeps all the creamy comfort while making the dish fully gluten free.
How do I thicken the sauce?
The flour and starchy gnocchi thicken it as it cooks. Simmer a little longer for a thicker sauce. The flour and the starchy gnocchi do the thickening as they cook, so if you want a thicker sauce, simply let it simmer a little longer before serving.
Can I add more vegetables?
Yes. Corn, green beans, or spinach all work well stirred in. Corn, green beans, or a handful of spinach all stir in nicely, so you can add color and extra vegetables to make the pot even heartier.
Can I make it ahead?
Yes. It keeps for up to three days and reheats well with a splash of broth or milk. Because it reheats so well, it makes a great make ahead meal, returning to its creamy self with just a splash of broth or milk.
Can I freeze it?
Cream and gnocchi can change texture when frozen, but it is doable. Thaw and reheat gently. It freezes reasonably well, though cream and gnocchi can shift in texture, so thaw it gently and warm it slowly while stirring to bring it back together.
What can I serve with it?
It is a complete meal, but a green salad or crusty bread pairs nicely. It is hearty enough to be a complete meal, though a green salad or a slice of crusty bread rounds it out nicely.
A Crustless, Cozy Pot Pie
This gnocchi chicken pot pie delivers everything you love about chicken pot pie, creamy sauce, tender chicken, and vegetables, with pillowy gnocchi instead of a crust. It is comfort food made simple. It captures everything beloved about chicken pot pie, creamy sauce, tender chicken, and vegetables, with pillowy gnocchi instead of a crust, comfort food made simple.
Make it in one pot, stir in cheese or extra vegetables, and serve it warm with parsley on top. It is a hearty, crowd pleasing dinner perfect for cozy nights. Make it in one pot, stir in cheese or extra vegetables, and serve it warm with parsley for a hearty, crowd pleasing dinner on cozy nights.
If you love creamy, comforting dishes like this, you will also enjoy our cheesy gnocchi bake, another favorite from our kitchen.
Results vary by ingredients, equipment, and cooking conditions. Always taste and adjust seasoning as you go.
Gnocchi Chicken Pot Pie
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Heat a Dutch oven or large soup pot over medium-high heat.
- Melt butter in pan then add carrots, mushrooms, celery, and shallots or onions. Saute until the mushrooms release their liquid and the liquid has evaporated, 3 to 4 minutes.
- Season with homemade seasoning salt and pepper then continue to saute, turning the heat down slightly if necessary, until vegetables are tender, another 6 to 7 minutes.
- Add garlic, poultry seasoning, and dried thyme then saute until garlic is very fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes.
- Sprinkle flour over vegetables then stir to coat and cook for 1 minute.
- Slowly pour in chicken broth while stirring to avoid lumps then add milk and turn heat up to medium-high.
- Bring mixture to a simmer, stirring occasionally, then add gnocchi and stir to combine.
- Turn heat down to medium then simmer, stirring frequently, until gnocchi are tender, 5 to 6 minutes.
- Stir in chicken and peas then taste and add seasoned salt and or pepper if necessary.
- Ladle into bowls then serve.
Nutrition
Notes
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