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Some caregiving days leave very little energy for dinner.
On those nights, I like meals that need one pan, very little chopping, and almost no planning.
This creamy pesto gnocchi is one of those dinners: warm, filling, flexible, and ready in about 15 minutes.
Creamy Pesto Gnocchi
Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 2–3
You’ll need: 1 large skillet
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp butter or olive oil
- 2–3 cloves garlic, minced, or 1 tsp garlic powder
- 16 oz (450 g) shelf-stable potato gnocchi
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) chicken or vegetable broth
- 1/3 cup (80 ml) cream or half-and-half
- 3–4 tbsp pesto
- 2 cups baby spinach, optional
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan, optional
- salt and black pepper
Optional: chili flakes, lemon zest, frozen peas, leftover chicken, white beans, or a fried egg.
Instructions
- Heat the butter in a large skillet and cook the garlic for about 30 seconds.
- Add the gnocchi and broth. Cover and cook for 3–4 minutes, stirring once.
- Lower the heat and stir in the cream and pesto.
- Add spinach and Parmesan, if using, and cook until the spinach wilts.
- Season with salt and pepper and serve.
Make It Even Easier
No fresh garlic? Use garlic powder.
No spinach? Add frozen peas or leave the greens out.
Need more protein? Stir in white beans or leftover chicken.
This is not a dinner that needs to be perfect. It just needs to make a tired evening a little easier.
One Pan Is Enough
For meals like this, I like using one roomy skillet that can go from cooking to serving without creating a pile of dishes.
See a large nonstick skillet with lid on Amazon
You do not need a special pan for this recipe, of course. Any large skillet you already have will work.
Final Thought
Some nights self-care is not a long bath or a quiet evening.
Sometimes it is simply getting a warm dinner on the table in 15 minutes and only having one pan to wash.
That counts too.