Creamy Crack Chicken Gnocchi (Printable)
Rich and creamy chicken gnocchi with crispy bacon, spinach, and three-cheese ranch sauce.
# What You'll 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
# How To Make It:
01 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chopped bacon and cook until crispy. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving drippings in the pan.
02 - Season chicken pieces with a pinch of salt and black pepper. Add to the pan and 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.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- It comes together in one pan so you spend less time washing dishes and more time eating
- The combination of ranch bacon and melted cheese hits every comfort button at once
- Even people who claim they dont like spinach end up asking for seconds
02 -
- If the sauce gets too thick while the gnocchi cooks add a splash of water or broth
- Resist the urge to crank up the heat when adding cream or it might separate on you
03 -
- Prep everything before you start cooking because once the sauce is happening you need to stir constantly
- Room temperature cream cheese melts better so take it out of the fridge while you prep the other ingredients