Creamy Bacon Gnocchi is an easy weeknight dinner that will leave you full and satisfied. Made with soft potato gnocchi, crispy bacon, fresh spinach and the best creamy garlic parmesan sauce, this dish is decadent and delicious in all the best ways!
Creamy Bacon Gnocchi
Pasta is always a go to when frantically searching the cabinets for something to get on the table quickly. Boil some noodles, heat up a jar of sauce, combine, and serve. But even our favorite dishes can become routine over time… Try elevating your go-to with this creamy bacon gnocchi recipe! Gnocchi is just as easy to find as pasta and just as easy to cook while still giving a slight twist of texture. The crispy bacon adds crunch and salty flavor while the spinach keeps things green. The rich homemade parmesan sauce may be simple, but it’s much better than the jar variety and still keeps this dish at a nice 30 minute cook time. Who says dinner can’t be easy AND restaurant worthy? The best of both worlds!
Going nuts for gnocchi? Try my mouth watering Chicken Gnocchi Soup or this bright, Creamy Pesto Gnocchi for your next comfort meal!
What is gnocchi?
Gnocchi is a type of pasta made with mashed potatoes, flour, and eggs. It originated in Northern Italy and actually translates to “lumps” in Italian because of their shape.It has such a unique texture and mouthfeel when you bite into it but is often used similarly to traditional pasta dishes. Think of them as small dumplings that are perfect for all your soup or saucy dishes!
How To Make Creamy Bacon Gnocchi
- Boil. Prepare your gnocchi according to its package instructions. Drain, rinse, and set aside.
- Cook. Fry up the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until nice and crispy. Remove the bacon from the pan and drain excess fat, leaving about 2 tablespoons in the pan.
- Saute. Return the skillet to heat and melt the butter. Saute the minced garlic for about 30 seconds, until fragrant.
- Whisk. Whisk the flour into the butter and garlic. Pour in the chicken broth, add the Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix to combine, then simmer for about 5 minutes until the sauce thickens.
- Pour. Pour in the heavy cream. Continue to whisk together until it just starts to thicken back up. Fold in the spinach and continue cooking for 3 minutes.
- Sprinkle. Remove the sauce from heat, sprinkle in the parmesan cheese, and stir until melted.
- Combine. Return the pan to the stove, add back in the bacon and gnocchi and heat for about 5 minutes until everything is warmed through. Serve with an extra sprinkle of parmesan and a garnish of fresh basil. Enjoy!
Storing Creamy Bacon Gnocchi
While this dish is best enjoyed while the bacon is still crispy, you can store leftover gnocchi in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave until warmed through. You may want to add a splash of heavy cream and extra parmesan to refresh the sauce.
Ingredients Notes for Creamy Bacon Gnocchi
- Gnocchi – Store bought from your favorite brand or homemade work in this recipe.
- Bacon – You can use your favorite type of bacon. Thick, thin, peppercorn, turkey, whatever you like. For more protein options you can make this dish with chicken, chunks of ham, or even sauteed shrimp!
- Chicken broth – I enjoy the flavor the chicken broth gives, but you can swap it out for vegetable broth.
- Parmesan – Freshly grated will melt into the sauce so much better than pre shredded. It leaves you with a much creamier consistency.
- Spinach – Broccoli would go well with this pasta too!
- Heavy Cream – You could substitute half and half or whole milk but you may need to cook the sauce longer so that it thickens adequately. Adding more flour helps too.
- Seasoning – Feel free to customize the seasoning blend. Italian is a great easy option for an all in one but you can always add more or make it your own!
Enjoy!
~Nichole
Creamy Bacon Gnocchi
Ingredients
- 16 Ounces Gnocchi
- 1 Pound Bacon roughly chopped
- 2 Tablespoons Salted Butter
- 3 Cloves Garlic finely minced
- 2 Tablespoons All Purpose Flour
- 1 Cup Chicken Broth
- 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 1/2 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
- 1 Cup Heavy Cream
- 1 Cup Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese
- 4 Cups Baby Spinach trimmed
Instructions
- Boil the gnocchi according to the package instructions then drain, rinse, and set aside.
- Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crispy then remove the bacon and drain the fat from the pan but leave about 2 tablespoons in the pan.
- Return the skillet to the stove and melt the butter then sauté the garlic until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Whisk in the flour until it turns golden then whisk in the chicken broth, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper and simmer until it thickens, about 5 minutes.
- Whisk in the heavy cream and continue stirring until it just starts to thicken then fold in the spinach and cook it down for about 3 minutes.
- Remove the pan from the heat and sprinkle the parmesan around on top then stir until the cheese is fully melted.
- Stir in the cooked bacon and gnocchi and return the pan to the heat for 5 more minutes or until everything is heated through.
- Serve with freshly grated parmesan and fresh basil if desired.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This was very good! Yummo! Our substituted half-and-half for the cream because I didn’t have any turned out great!