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Chicken Bacon Gnocchi

Published: / Updated: / 201 Comments

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This one pan chicken bacon gnocchi recipe is the ultimate comfort food! You will love the pillowy gnocchi, crispy bacon, and tender chicken all slathered in a creamy garlic sauce.

close-up of a white bowl with chicken, gnocchi, bacon, and a cream sauce

I have plenty of one pan gnocchi recipes on here, but I don't yet have one with everyone's favorite white meat. 😛 It's time. I used my usual one pan cooking method, and this one does not disappoint. Ok, so I have a chicken gnocchi soup... but that's different.

This particular one pan gnocchi recipe is slightly more involved than the others because you need to cook the chicken and bacon, but I'd still consider this a quick and easy dinner recipe. It also only contains a handful of ingredients, which makes it simple overall.

This chicken and gnocchi recipe is pretty rich, so I'd serve it with a salad. 

metal skillet with easy chicken bacon gnocchi with a cream sauce

Want more gnocchi recipes? You may also like:

Wow, I've typed the word "gnocchi" so many times now that it's starting to look like it's not a real word. 

creamy chicken gnocchi with bacon in two white bowls with grated parmesan

A few notes on the recipe:

  • The gnocchi cooks right in the sauce - no need to pre-cook it.
  • I buy the "shelf stable" gnocchi that's found in the dry pasta aisle. For this particular recipe, I used the Scarpone's brand. I live in Canada, and I tend to buy whatever brand my local grocery store has in stock. Brands may vary in other countries.
  • Yes, you can use pre-cooked or rotisserie chicken. Just skip the step where you cook the chicken. 
  • I tested it with specific liquid measurements and ingredients (chicken broth and heavy cream), so substitute at your own risk. I think half-and-half could definitely work instead of cream, but the sauce is likely to have a slightly different consistency. 

You can also give my chicken bacon mushroom pasta or my creamy chicken bacon spinach pasta a try if you like these flavors!

bowl of creamy bacon chicken gnocchi in a white bowl with a fork

Will you make this easy creamy chicken and gnocchi recipe?

Questions? Ask in the comments below.

This chicken and gnocchi recipe is sure to be a new favorite! Plenty of bacon, tender chicken, and a creamy sauce make this recipe irresistible.

Chicken Bacon Gnocchi

This one pan chicken bacon gnocchi recipe is the ultimate comfort food! You will love the pillowy gnocchi, crispy bacon, and tender chicken all slathered in a creamy garlic sauce.
4.94 from 58 votes
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Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Total Time 30 mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 713 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 6 slices bacon cut into small pieces
  • 2 chicken breasts cut into bite-size pieces
  • 1 large clove garlic minced
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy/whipping cream
  • 1 dash Italian seasoning
  • 1 pound uncooked potato gnocchi
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
  • Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • In a deep skillet, over medium-high heat, fry the bacon until it's crispy (about 10 mins.). I use kitchen shears to make cutting the bacon up quick & hassle-free.
  • Meanwhile, prep your chicken.
  • Once the bacon is done, take it out of the pan, and leave about a tablespoon of the bacon fat in the pan. Discard the rest of the fat or save it for another use.
  • Add the chicken to the pan and cook it for 2-3 minutes, stirring often, or until the chicken turns white on the outside. If the chicken is sticking when you try to stir it, give it a little more time to release naturally.
  • Add the garlic to the pan and give it a good stir.
  • Reduce the heat to medium and then add the chicken broth, cream, Italian seasoning, gnocchi, and bacon back into the pan (stir well). Cover the pan and cook for 4 minutes.
  • Continue cooking the gnocchi, uncovered, for a few more minutes until the sauce reduces/thickens to your liking (stir every so often). 
  • Stir in the parmesan cheese and season with salt & pepper as needed. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • I use the shelf stable gnocchi found in the pasta aisle. No need to pre-cook the gnocchi (it cooks right in the sauce).
  • Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

Nutrition

Calories: 713kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 39gFat: 43gSaturated Fat: 21gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 187mgSodium: 1055mgPotassium: 573mgFiber: 3gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 1034IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 214mgIron: 5mg
Keyword chicken and gnocchi, chicken bacon gnocchi
Author Natasha Bull
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  2. Janita Vongphoumy says

    5 stars
    I love this recipe! I was looking for a quick and easy gnocchi recipe. So glad I found it. I cook it multiple times and it never gets old. I recommend you try it!

    Reply

  3. Catherine Bermudez says

    This was a hit at our place. I've never made gnocci before and came a cross your recipe. I didn't have half and half and substituted evaporated milk and worked just fine. I also added a little bit of sun dried tomatoes and it was a huge hit. There so many varieties you could use with your base.... like adding mushrooms and maybe zucchini ... at the very end of course so it doesn't make it watery.

    Reply

    • Natasha says

      I don't recommend it. You'd have to cook the bacon and chicken separately anyway. I think the slow cooking would destroy/separate the cream sauce, and you'd end up with a gloopy mess from the all starch released from the gnocchi unfortunately.

      Reply

  7. Sara says

    5 stars
    Wonderful recipe! I was out of parmesan so I used half smoked gouda, half gruyère, sauteed some garlic and sweet onion in the bacon fat and used parsley and a tiny bit of nutmeg in place of the italian seasoning. SO GOOD! Will make again with other cheeses and spice combinations.

    Reply

    • Natasha says

      So glad you like it, Kate! Sure, but the only issue is you may need to cook things in batches or use two pans/a really large one depending on whether you think what you have will fit.

      Reply

  9. Lauren says

    5 stars
    This was AMAZING! I added a 1/4 cup of chopped onions with the garlic as well. Big hit, will definitely make this again

    Reply

  10. Dennette says

    I was planning to make this for my hubby who is big gnocchi fan but plan to make the gnocchi from scratch. Do you think i would treat it the same as the shelf gnocchi in the recipe?

    Reply

    • Natasha says

      Hi! I would make the sauce separate. I've had people try the one pan method and homemade gnocchi tends to be very delicate and disintegrate unfortunately.

      Reply

      • Chef DuFresne says

        5 stars
        Hey, the sauce isn't that delicate at all and I wonder if perhaps the heavy cream and fat content aren't working for you. I've made this several times now and the sauce turns out thick, and then adding the cheese really puts it over the top.

        I've also found that using chicken thighs turns out a little more tender (trim the fat) and it gives a deeper flavor.

        Have you modified it in any way, such as trying to reduce the fat?

        Reply

        • Natasha says

          I'm so glad you like it! I'm a bit confused by your comment since you replied to my reply to another reader. I didn't say that this sauce was delicate... I said that homemade gnocchi the reader wanted to make is delicate and that I don't recommend making it with the one pot method in this recipe. 🙂 (I'd make it separately). I have not tried modifying this sauce in any way.

          Reply

    • Natasha says

      In my experience, cream sauces don't reheat so great, and chicken can dry out as well. You could try reheating it on a really low heat, and you may need to add a little more liquid (like cream or chicken broth perhaps) to get it back to its saucy consistency.

      Reply

  12. Steven says

    5 stars
    Made this for my family tonight and it was a hit! Was a bit long to prep, but worth it. Didn’t have whipping cream so substituted for half/half and it seemed to turn out OK. Other cheeses may also work.

    Reply

  13. Cynthia Deeds says

    Absolutely Delicious!! Thank you! I added fresh organic broccoli and fresh organic spinach to get some good for you greens 😉 I also used frozen cauliflower gnocchi 😊

    Reply

  14. Sydney says

    5 stars
    This was absolutely delicious and super easy to make! It has all of the things that I love. Will definitely make again and it’s also so filling! Very yummy

    Reply

  15. Sarah says

    5 stars
    Absolutely delicious! My family gobbled it up and I sent it to friends. Looking forward to trying another one your recipes.

    Reply

  16. Patricia says

    5 stars
    My husband and I generally eat low carb, but decided with the social isolation we would give ourselves a treat on St. Patrick's Day. Delicious! Thank you for the perfect recipe.

    Reply

    • Natasha says

      So glad to hear it! ♥️🤗 I think doubling it should be fine as long as it fits into your pan. Let me know how it goes!

      Reply

  18. Pav says

    I made your creamy tomato gnocchi and it was the best dinner I have made. I am going to make this dish but was looking for an alternative to the bacon bits. Do you have any suggestions?

    Reply

    • Natasha says

      I’m so happy you enjoyed the other one - that’s great!! Hmm this one is a bit of a toughie since the bacon is quite a large component. You could use pancetta, but that’s fairly similar. Not sure if you don’t want pork at all? You could leave it out, and I’d sub olive oil or butter for the bacon fat that the chicken is cooked in.

      Reply

  19. Stella says

    5 stars
    This was amazing. I was out of cream and being lazy so swapped with 1/4c sour cream and 1/4c milk. Also tried adding fresh basil and some sun dried tomatoes. So lovely. Even my husband who normally is not a huge gnocchi or pasta guy (I know- I couldn't believe it either. Who doesn't love it?) said it was amazing and he would love it again.
    I stumbled across this and will definitely be visiting this page more often. Thanks!

    Reply

  20. Jo Gonzales says

    5 stars
    Woke up this morning for work and first thought is, what am I going to make for dinner? I went to an app and put in Chicken, bacon and cheese, then this amazing recipe popped up and I've always wanted to try Gnocchi, I bought a cpl ingredients, made this recipe and OMG! IT WAS A HIT!!
    THANK YOU!!

    Reply

  23. Dawn Hedgepeth says

    I was browsing recipes for something to make for dinner as I am not the cook, my husband is but he was working and I was home. When I stumbled across this recipe I thought this seems easy and wow it was ... but did it taste good?? My husband was like OMG this is good and I agree only thing I did different was add mushrooms

    Reply

  24. Megan says

    Hi could you swap the heavy cream for a low fat yoghurt instead? Love the look of this but wanted a healthier alternative

    Reply

    • Natasha says

      Hi! Hmmm really not sure yogurt would work. It would be quite tangy, and I really don’t know what the texture will be like.

      Reply

      • Marcia L Sawatzky says

        An alternative to using heavy cream could be yogurt, but it would definitely influence the flavor profile. Another alternative that I have used quite successfully is to take cottage cheese and put it through the blender until very smooth. Then add a tad bit of milk until the mixture is the consistency of heavy cream.

        Reply

    • Stella says

      I did a 1/4 cup sour cream and 1/4 cup milk and it was lovely. To make sure it thickened up, I added a small bit of flour before stirring in the liquid and made sure it lightly coated the chicken. Also added sundried tomatoes and fresh basil. Heaven!

      Reply

  25. Nance says

    GREAT flavor!! Needed maybe 1/4c more liquid. I added a half of sliced red pepper with the garlic and it was a nice pop of color. Family definitely loved it. Served w a side of steamed broccoli and it was a perfect-quick-weeknight-after-a-busy-day kind of meal👍🏻 Thanks S&L😘

    Reply

  27. Daniel says

    5 stars
    Just made this recipe for my fiancé and she loved it, I added broccoli, red pepper flakes and some fresh basil because I’m extra and was delicious. We will be making this again. Well done!!!

    Reply

  28. Karen says

    This recipe!!! It's a win for so many reasons... It made for a delicious supper last night. Thanks so much for sharing this bit of epicurian genius 🤗!

    Reply

  31. Sophie says

    5 stars
    Stumbled upon your recipe on Instagram and the dish looked very good. Tried the recipe and the family loved it. We ate it with (boiled) snow peas on the side. Thank you!

    Reply

  33. Lindsay says

    5 stars
    As a busy mom of 2, this is my go to meal for something easy and quick! I cook the bacon and chicken before hand to speed up the process a bit when actual dinner time comes around. I’ll also make a batch and freeze half to save for later.

    Highly, highly recommend. It is such a tasty dish!

    Reply

    • Natasha says

      Thanks so much, Lindsay!! I am so pleased you like this recipe. That's a good idea to cook the chicken and bacon ahead of time!

      Reply

    • Natasha says

      Hi! I find that cream sauces can separate a bit when re-heating. You could definitely give it a try and warm it up on low heat.

      Reply

  35. Allie says

    Made it exactly as the recipe called for...was delicious! Even my picky eater boyfriend absolutely loved it!

    Reply

    • Natasha says

      Hi Hannah! I'd add it in towards the end. I can't really speculate exactly how it'll work without testing, but I imagine it would be fine if you just let it wilt for a few minutes. Hope you like the recipe!

      Reply

  37. Allysa says

    5 stars
    Amazing, quick, easy weeknight meal!! I had all ingredients on hand and only needed one pan! Definitely made clean up a breeze! Thanks!

    Reply

    • NaTasha says

      5 stars
      Quick, easy, simple and so delicious. This will surely go into heavy rotation on my weeknight meals. I used some leftover Calabrese and half the amount of bacon. It gave it just a little spicy flavor. Other then, that I followed the recipe exactly. I have been trying to find some great recipes for gnocchi and you have a whole collection. Thank you!

      Reply

  38. Leslianne Carbary says

    Your recipes have become a staple for weeknight dinners in our house!

    I added blue cheese (1/4 cup stirred in as the last step) to this recipe to make it extra decadent.

    Thanks for the amazing inspiration!!

    Reply

  39. Luke Linnell says

    5 stars
    I’m a “newbie” cook and this recipe looked great. Indeed it was. Made exactly per recipe. Wow, was it good!!

    Reply

      • Erin says

        I found your recipe while searching for a recipe to use the cauliflower gnocchi from Trader Joe's. I had a few slices of prosciutto so I crisis that up instead of the bacon, and threw a few sun-dried tomatoes in for extra yummy-news. This was big hit with the Mr. and I really enjoyed the simple comfort food. Thanks so much, I've stocked up on the cauliflower gnocchi so I look forward to trying more of your recipes.

        Reply

  43. Geeni says

    This looks delicious, ty for posting!

    Do you have a weight estimate for the amount of chicken you used? Breasts can vary so much in size...

    Reply

    • Natasha says

      Hi Geeni! Thank you! Hmmmm honestly I don't worry too much about the weight in recipes like this. I just grab what looks good at the grocery store. Usually the chicken breasts I buy are quite large or they put 3 smaller ones in a pack. I'd say about 1-1.5 pounds. It'll work with less or more chicken, though. Whatever you're comfortable with 🙂

      Reply

  45. sue | the view from great island says

    This kinda made my heart skip a beat as I scrolled through the post, omg does it look tempting!

    Reply