Bacon Gnocchi with Chicken

This gluten-free chicken bacon gnocchi is an easy, 30-minute meal that's made in one pan and loaded with deep, rich flavor. Diced chicken thighs, smokey bacon, and fluffy gnocchi are served up in a rich, creamy tomato sauce for a dish that's as easy as it is delicious.

I love rich, creamy chicken dishes like my Marry Me chicken pasta. Chicken has such a wonderful meaty and mild flavor that works with all kinds of other flavors, and it's just so perfect with any kind of rich sauce.

I took that idea to the next level with this recipe. It combines a rich, creamy tomato sauce, chicken, bacon, classic Italian seasonings, and equally classic gnocchi to create a hearty filling meal that's so super easy! I mean, you can't beat getting in and out of the kitchen in 30 minutes!

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Simple Ingredients: This recipe is made with simple ingredients found in your kitchen or at the grocery store.
• Super Easy: This recipe only takes one pan and 30 minutes to make!
• Perfect for Anyone: This is a gluten-free recipe, and with just one simple substitution, it becomes dairy-free.
• So Flavorful: The chicken, smoky bacon, fluffy gnocchi, and classic cream tomato sauce create a dish with layers of flavor.

Ingredients

See the recipe card at the end of the post for a full list of ingredients and their exact amounts.

For the Chicken

• Boneless Chicken Thighs: I prefer Springer Mountain Farms boneless chicken thighs for their quality, flavor, and commitment to no antibiotics, hormones, or animal by-products in their feed.
• Seasonings: A blend of smoked paprika, thyme, Italian seasoning, and sun-dried tomato powder gives the chicken a deep, rich, complex flavor.

For the Sauce

• Gnocchi: Gnocchi's mild flavor and fluffy texture works well with the chicken, bacon, and seasonings in the sauce.
• Bacon: Bacon adds a smoky, salty flavor to the sauce.
• Seasonings: A simple blend of Italian seasoning and garlic powder gives the sauce a classic flavor.
• Heavy Cream, Chicken Broth, and Tomato Paste: A mix of heavy cream, chicken broth, and tomato paste creates a rich base for the sauce that's not too thick or too thin.
• Sund-Dried Tomatoes: Thinly sliced sun-dried tomatoes add more deep flavor and texture to the dish.

Flavor Variations

• Chicken Thighs: You can make this recipe with chicken breasts, pork, or even seafood like shrimp.
• Gnocchi: Substitute the gnocchi with gluten-free pasta for a creamy pasta dish.
• Bacon: Bacon, prosciutto, ham, or any other salty, cured meat will work for this recipe. Each one adds a slightly different flavor.
• Dairy-Free: Use plant cream to make a dairy and gluten-free version of this dish.
• Add Vegetables: Try adding spinach, mushrooms, or your other favorite vegetables.

How to Make Chicken and Bacon Gnocchi

For the Chicken

1: Wash the chicken and pat it dry. Then, mix it with the chicken seasonings in a small bowl until evenly coated.

2: Cook the gnocchi according to the package directions while you preheat the oil in a skillet over medium heat. You can also cook the gnocchi in the pan first to make this an authentic one-pan meal.

3: Cook the chicken for 4 to 7 minutes until it's no longer pink, and the internal temperature is 165 degrees. Then, transfer the cooked chicken to a plate.

4: Add the diced bacon to the same pan and cook it until crispy.

5: Next, add the minced onion, sun-dried tomatoes, and chicken stock and cook for 5 minutes more.

6: Lower the heat to medium-low, add the heavy cream, Italian seasoning, and garlic, and cook until it begins to thicken.

7: When the sauce has thickened a bit, add the cooked chicken and gnocchi and stir well. Top with fresh basil and more crispy bacon.

Hint

Scrape the bottom of the pan when you add the liquid after cooking the chicken and bacon. This helps get up all the tasty little bits stuck to it.

Storage

Refrigerate this chicken bacon gnocchi for up to 3 days in an air-tight container. Freezing is not recommended, as cream sauces almost always break when reheated.

ssTo reheat the dish, place it in a skillet or sauce pan and cook over medium-low heat until heated through.

What to Serve with This Chicken Gnocchi Recipe with Bacon

Serve this hearty dish with a simple vegetable side like this squash and zucchini medley. A nice grinder salad also makes an excellent appetizer, too!

For dessert, enjoy an equally rich treat like Nutella brownie cheesecake or chocolate peanut butter cupcakes.

Expert Tips

• Dice the chicken thighs small, so they cook quickly, and they're easy to eat.
• Be sure to let the oil preheat before adding the chicken to get a nice sear on the cubes.
• Stir the dish thoroughly but gently after adding the chicken and gnocchi. You want everything thoroughly combined without smashing the gnocchi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related

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📖 Recipe

Chicken Bacon Gnocchi

1x2x3x

This chicken bacon gnocchi is full of tender, diced chicken thighs, smoky bacon, and soft gnocchi in a rich, creamy tomato sauce.

5 from 15 votes

Nicole Kendrick

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Video

1x2x3x

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course dinner

Cuisine Italian

Servings 4

Calories 559 kcal

Equipment

• ▢
  Measuring cups
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  Measuring spoons
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  Large pot
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  Large skillet
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  knife
• ▢
  cutting board

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

For the Gnocchi Chicken

• ▢ 4 boneless skinless chicken thighs
• ▢ 2 tablespoon olive oil
• ▢ 2 tablespoon minced onion
• ▢ 1 ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
• ▢ 1 teaspoon sun-dried tomato powder
• ▢ ½ teaspoon thyme
• ▢ 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ▢ 1 teaspoon salt

For the Sauce

• ▢ 6 pieces bacon diced small
• ▢ 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ▢ ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ▢ 1 cup heavy cream
• ▢ ½ cup chicken broth
• ▢ 3 large sun-dried tomatoes diced thin
• ▢ 2 tablespoon tomato paste
• ▢ 12 oz gnocchi

Instructions

 

For the Chicken

• Wash the chicken breasts, then pat them dry. Next, dice them into small cubes and toss them with the chicken seasonings in a bowl until evenly coated.
• Preheat the oil in a large skillet on medium heat.
• Boil the gnocchi according to the package directions while the oil is heating.
• Cook the chicken in the hot oil for 4 to 7 minutes until the chicken is no longer pink on the inside, and the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Transfer to a plate.

For the Sauce

• Cook the diced bacon for 5 to 7 minutes until crispy. Then, add the minced onion, tomato paste, sun-dried tomatoes, and chicken stock and cook for about 5 minutes.
• Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the heavy cream, Italian seasoning, and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce begins to thicken.
• Add the cooked chicken and gnocchi and stir well. Serve topped with fresh basil and more crispy bacon.

Notes

Storage

• Refrigerate for up to 3 days in an airtight container. 
• Freezing is not recommended. 
• Cook in a skillet or saucepan over medium-low until heated through or microwave individual portions at 1-minute intervals. 

Tips

• Hold your chicken as deeply in the sink as possible and use a gentle stream of water when rinsing to avoid splashing.
• Always wash the sink and counters after rinsing chicken. 
• The chicken thighs should be diced small for quick, even cooking and easy eating. 
• The gnocchi is done when it floats on top of the water - generally about 3 to 4 minutes. 
• Fold the gnocchi and chicken gently into the sauce. You don't want to smush them. 

Nutrition

Calories: 559kcalCarbohydrates: 36gProtein: 28gFat: 34gSaturated Fat: 16gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 175mgSodium: 1182mgPotassium: 466mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 1418IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 88mgIron: 5mg

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