Creamy Crack Chicken Gnocchi (Printable)

Rich, creamy chicken gnocchi with bacon, ranch flavors, and melted cheeses. A cozy, crowd-pleasing dinner ready in 40 minutes.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Chicken & Bacon

01 - 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts about 1 lb 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 Steps:

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 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 Advice:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one skillet so cleanup is practically nonexistent
  • The combination of bacon, ranch, and creamy cheese hits every comfort food craving
  • It comes together in under 40 minutes even on busy weeknights
02 -
  • The sauce will continue to thicken as it sits so dont panic if it looks a little thin at first
  • If using shelf-stable gnocchi, it might take an extra minute or two to become tender
  • Reserve a little pasta water or broth in case you need to loosen the sauce at the end
03 -
  • Cook your bacon first so those drippings become the foundation for everything else
  • Let the cream cheese soften at room temperature to avoid lumps in your sauce

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