Creamy Crack Chicken Gnocchi (Printable version)
Rich and creamy chicken gnocchi loaded with crispy bacon, melted cheese, and spinach—a cozy 40-minute dinner the whole family will love.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken & Bacon
01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 lb 2 oz), cut into bite-sized pieces
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 5 slices bacon, chopped
→ Vegetables & Aromatics
04 - 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
05 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 2 cups baby spinach, roughly chopped
→ Gnocchi & Dairy
07 - 1 lb potato gnocchi, fresh or shelf-stable
08 - 1 cup heavy cream
09 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
10 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
11 - 4 oz cream cheese, softened
→ Seasonings
12 - 1 tablespoon ranch seasoning mix
13 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
14 - 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
15 - Salt, to taste
→ Garnish
16 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives (optional)
# How to Prepare:
01 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chopped bacon and cook until crispy. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving drippings in the pan.
02 - Add chicken pieces to the pan. Season with a pinch of salt and black pepper. Cook for 5–6 minutes, turning occasionally, until browned and cooked through. Remove chicken and set aside.
03 - In the same skillet, add diced onion and cook for 2–3 minutes until soft. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
04 - Lower heat to medium. Add cream cheese and heavy cream, stirring until cream cheese is melted and sauce is smooth.
05 - Stir in ranch seasoning, smoked paprika, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese. Mix well until cheese is melted and sauce is creamy.
06 - Add gnocchi (uncooked) directly to the sauce. Stir, cover, and cook for 3–4 minutes, or until gnocchi is tender. Add a splash of water or broth if sauce thickens too much.
07 - Return chicken and bacon to the pan. Add chopped spinach and stir until wilted and everything is well combined. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
08 - Serve hot, garnished with fresh chives if desired.
# Expert advice:
01 -
- Everything happens in one pan including cooking the gnocchi directly in that dreamy sauce
- The ranch and bacon combo hits that spot between creamy comfort food and something slightly indulgent
02 -
- The sauce will thicken dramatically as it sits so don't panic if it looks a little thin at first
- Gnocchi cooks faster in liquid than you'd expect so check it after three minutes to avoid mushy pieces
03 -
- Don't skip the step of cooking the bacon first because that rendered fat is what makes the sauce taste restaurant quality
- Room temperature cream cheese melts faster and prevents any lumps in your finished sauce