Creamy Crack Chicken Gnocchi (Printable Version)

Crispy bacon, tender chicken, and soft gnocchi swim in a rich cheese sauce with spinach for the ultimate comfort dish.

# What You Need:

→ Chicken & Bacon

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.1 lbs), 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:

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. Serve hot, garnished with fresh chives if desired.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The combination of crispy bacon, tender chicken, and pillowy gnocchi creates incredible texture in every bite
  • The ranch infused cream sauce ties everything together into pure comfort food magic
02 -
  • The sauce will continue thickening as it sits off the heat, so do not reduce it too much during cooking
  • If your gnocchi is not tender after 4 minutes, add a splash of water and cover for another minute
03 -
  • Cook your bacon a little extra crispy since it softens when added back to the creamy sauce
  • Let your cream cheese soften completely at room temperature to prevent lumps in your sauce

Go Back