1-Get Everything Ready First: Before you turn on the stove, set out every ingredient for your one pan creamy gnocchi shrimp and spinach dinner. This recipe moves quickly, and having the shrimp thawed, the onion chopped, the garlic minced, and the Parmesan ready to go will make the cooking feel much easier. Preheat the oven to 425°F, or 220°C. Since this dish finishes in the oven, that first step matters more than it might seem. Use a large oven safe skillet so you can move from stovetop to oven without switching pans.

2-Cook the Vegetables and Shrimp: Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in the skillet over medium high heat. Add the sliced mushrooms and chopped yellow onion, then cook while stirring until the onion turns translucent and the mushrooms start to brown, about 5 minutes. This step builds the savory base for your creamy gnocchi. Next, stir in the minced garlic, optional chili flakes, and the frozen uncooked shrimp that has been peeled and deveined. Cook for about 2 minutes, stirring often, until the shrimp turn pink and are almost cooked through. Be careful not to leave them on the heat too long, since they will finish cooking later in the oven. Remove the shrimp mixture to a bowl and wipe out the skillet. This helps the sauce stay smooth and keeps any browned bits from darkening the base too much.

3-Build the Cream Sauce: Melt 4 tablespoons butter in the same skillet over medium heat. Whisk in 1/4 cup white flour until the mixture looks smooth. Cook it for 1 to 2 minutes while whisking. This quick step removes the raw flour taste and gives the sauce a better texture. Slowly whisk in 2 cups milk and 1 1/4 cups chicken broth. Keep whisking until the sauce becomes smooth and starts to thicken, which usually takes about 5 minutes. Once the sauce is thick enough to coat a spoon, stir in half of the Parmesan cheese. The sauce should look creamy and glossy, with enough body to cling to the gnocchi.

4-Add the Gnocchi, Spinach, and Shrimp Mixture: Now add the gnocchi, the cooked mushroom-shrimp mixture, and the spinach to the skillet. Stir gently so everything gets coated in the sauce. The spinach will look like a lot at first, but it wilts quickly and blends beautifully into the pan. Sprinkle the remaining Parmesan over the top. That layer of cheese helps create a golden, bubbly finish in the oven. If you like a little extra warmth, this is a good moment to add a few more chili flakes.

5-Bake Until Bubbling: Place the skillet on the top oven rack and bake for 15 minutes, or until the dish is bubbling and thick. If you want a little color on top, broil it for 1 to 2 minutes at the end. Watch it closely so the cheese does not burn. When it comes out of the oven, the sauce should be rich and creamy, the gnocchi should be tender, and the shrimp should be fully cooked. Serve immediately with salt, pepper, parsley, and extra Parmesan cheese.