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.
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.
Want more gnocchi recipes? You may also like:
- Creamy mushroom and spinach gnocchi (one of my most popular recipes)
- Gnocchi with sausage
- Creamy tomato gnocchi
- Gnocchi with a vodka cream sauce
- Spinach artichoke gnocchi
- Sun-dried tomato and basil gnocchi
- Sausage, kale, and gnocchi soup
Wow, I've typed the word "gnocchi" so many times now that it's starting to look like it's not a real word.
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!
Will you make this easy creamy chicken and gnocchi recipe?
Questions? Ask in the comments below.

Chicken Bacon Gnocchi
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.
Stephen says
So easy to make!! So delicious!! Very rich
Natasha says
I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Janita Vongphoumy says
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!
Natasha says
Wonderful! Thanks so much!
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.
Natasha says
I'm so glad it worked out! 🙂
Demi says
I’ve made this recipe 4x now and everyone LOVES it!
So easy to make and so delicious! Thank you
Natasha says
Love that!! 🙂 Thank you!
REBEKAH GREENAWALT says
Could this be made in a crockpot?
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.
Hester Richard says
Love this recipe
Natasha says
So glad to hear that! 🙂
Sara says
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.
Natasha says
Love your twist on this!!
Kate says
Love this recipe!! Question - could it be doubled to feed a larger group? Thanks!!
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.
Lauren says
This was AMAZING! I added a 1/4 cup of chopped onions with the garlic as well. Big hit, will definitely make this again
Natasha says
I'm so happy you liked it!! 🙂
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?
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.
Chef DuFresne says
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?
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.
Kimberly Roos says
Does it work well to make ahead and reheat?
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.
Steven says
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.
Natasha says
I'm so happy it went over well!
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 😊
Natasha says
You're very welcome!!
Sydney says
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
Natasha says
I am so happy to hear that! Thanks for letting me know! 🙂 XO!
Sarah says
Absolutely delicious! My family gobbled it up and I sent it to friends. Looking forward to trying another one your recipes.
Natasha says
Awesome!! So glad you liked it, Sarah! Thanks for taking the time to write me a comment. 😀
Patricia says
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.
Natasha says
I'm so happy you two enjoyed it! 🙂
Kate says
I absolutely love this recipe! Do you think there would be any issue with doubling it? Thanks!!
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!
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?
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.
Tara says
I used butter and olive oil and added kale instead if bacon. It was delicious.
Natasha says
Great!!
Daniel says
I made this recipe today. A few days ago I was looking for a quick and easy gnocchi recipe and came across your recipe. We ate this with Texas toast and the family enjoyed it. Thank You!
Natasha says
Excellent!! So happy it was a hit. I love Texas toast...
Stella says
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!
Natasha says
Wow that’s great!! I’m so happy you found me! ♥️☺️
Jo Gonzales says
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!!
Natasha says
Great!! So pleased you liked it! 🙂
Mary Beth says
This recipe is a keeper!! It is a cold rainy day in Mississippi and it tasted like comfort food!
Natasha says
Yay so glad you liked it!!
Helen Watson says
This recipe has been a hit in our home too here in Canberra, Australia. Thanks for sharing
Natasha says
That's wonderful! Hi from Canada! 🙂
Maureen says
SO easy! Thanks for the delicious recipe. Perfect meal after a snow day of sledding!
Natasha says
You're very welcome!
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
Natasha says
That's awesome! So glad it worked out!
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
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.
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.
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!
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😘
Natasha says
So pleased you liked it!! 🙂
Mimi Smiley says
Could frozen gnocchi be used without boiling first?
Natasha says
I think that should be fine! You may need to give it an extra minute or two.
Daniel says
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!!!
Natasha says
So pleased to hear it, Daniel! 😀
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 🤗!
Natasha says
You are very welcome! 🙂
Vickie says
Made it tonight very good just added green onions on top
Natasha says
Wonderful! So happy you liked it, Vickie!
Kris the Keto Sis says
Oh my gosh so good!!! Tweaked a few things to make it keto. So good!! 😋
Natasha says
Awesome! So glad it worked out XO
Jill says
How do you make gnocchi Keto?
P says
Get out now.
Sophie says
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!
Natasha says
Excellent! I am so happy to hear it. Thanks for taking the time to leave me a comment 🙂
Kathryn says
What do you serve with it?
Natasha says
It's pretty rich, so a salad would go nicely 🙂
Lindsay says
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!
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!
Megan Riley says
Is this recipe good for freezing?
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.
Allie says
Made it exactly as the recipe called for...was delicious! Even my picky eater boyfriend absolutely loved it!
Natasha says
Awesome!! So happy you guys liked it. 🙂
Julie says
It is so tasty, I love it as did my son will be making it again. I had never had gnocchi before and was looking for a recipe to give it a go I don't think I could have picked any better
Natasha says
I am so happy to hear that! 🙂
Hannah says
Would this be easy to add spinach too? If so would you need to change the recipe at all?
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!
Allysa says
Amazing, quick, easy weeknight meal!! I had all ingredients on hand and only needed one pan! Definitely made clean up a breeze! Thanks!
Natasha says
Excellent... I am so glad you liked it and it was easy for you to make, Allysa!!
NaTasha says
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!
Natasha says
Aww so glad you liked it!! 🙂 Thank you for letting me know! XO
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!!
Natasha says
That's great to hear, Leslianne! 🙂 I am so happy you liked this one too. 🙂
Diane says
Very good way to use gnocchi! I followed the recipe to a T but added red pepper flakes for a little heat! So good!!
Natasha says
Wonderful! Thanks for letting me know. 🙂
Luke Linnell says
I’m a “newbie” cook and this recipe looked great. Indeed it was. Made exactly per recipe. Wow, was it good!!
Natasha says
I am so happy you liked it, Luke! Thanks for leaving me a comment. 🙂
Scott Nardi says
I made this tonight and my family loved it! Thanks for sharing
Natasha says
Great!! 🙂
Jon says
Easy to make and delicious!
Natasha says
Thanks, Jon!
Andy says
Really excellent and easy to prepare. Thanks for making dinner delicious tonight!
Natasha says
So pleased you liked it, Andy 🙂 Thanks for leaving me a comment!
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.
Natasha says
You've very welcome, Erin! So glad it worked out. Let me know what else you make. 🙂
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...
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 🙂
Lindsay Cotter says
Talk about your ultimate comfort food! This is it!!
Natasha says
Thanks, Lindsay! 🙂
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!
Natasha says
Aww thanks, Sue!! 🙂
Teagan says
Made this for dinner and I loved it !! Absolutely filling and delicious ❤️
Natasha says
Wonderful!! Thanks for letting me know 🤗❤️
Wilma says
Can you use a different cheese like provolone
Natasha says
I think that would work just fine 🙂
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says
Comfort food doesn't get any better Natasha! Looks delicious!
Natasha says
Thank you!!
Leigh Ann says
The ultimate comfort food! Looks incredible!
Natasha says
Thanks!!
Matt Robinson says
All of my favorites in one amazing comfort dish!
Ashlyn @ F5 Method says
This looks amazing Natasha! Gnocchi, chicken, and bacon is such a hearty combination!