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Creamy Bacon Parmesan Gnocchi

7 min read
Black skillet filled with crispy gnocchi, cooked baby spinach, and bacon in a creamy parmesan sauce.
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Creamy Bacon Parmesan Gnocchi – makes for the yummiest, easiest weeknight dish ever! Super tender and crispy potato gnocchi in a creamy garlic parmesan sauce that is loaded with crispy bacon and spinach. Restaurant-style flavors made at home and on your table in 20 minutes.

Add chicken, shrimp or salmon to make this a complete meal. And don’t forget to toss your favorite baked rolls in the oven because you’re going to want to soak up any leftover sauce!

White bowl filled with creamy gnocchi, cooked baby spinach, and bacon. Served with a baked roll.

CREAMY BACON PARMESAN GNOCCHI

If you’re like me and you’ve had a bag of gnocchi in the freezer or a box in the pantry for far too long and you’re looking for a super simple recipe that won’t require much time or effort to make, then keep reading! Because this Creamy Bacon Parmesan Gnocchi dish is the recipe for you.

This recipe makes for the perfect side dish, but if you’re looking for a complete meal – then simply add sautéed shrimp or chicken. I promise the addition will not disappoint! We have also served this with baked and seared salmon without much for leftovers.

And it’s just the two of us in this house. IT’S THAT GOOD.

The potato gnocchi is super tender on the inside while being perfectly crisp on the outside. It continues to cook in a creamy garlic parmesan cheese sauce with bacon and spinach. What’s not to love about that?

White bowls filled with creamy gnocchi, cooked baby spinach, and bacon. Served with a baked roll.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED FOR THIS RECIPE

Full recipe with directions for this Creamy Bacon Parmesan Gnocchi dish can be found in the printable recipe card below. Simply scroll down! 🙂

  • Bacon
  • Potato gnocchi
  • Unsalted butter
  • Shallot – or sweet onion, red onion
  • Half & half – or heavy cream, milk of choice
  • Vegetable broth – can sub with chicken broth or vegetable/chicken stock
  • Seasonings: Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, garlic powder
  • Fresh baby spinach
  • Freshly grated parmesan cheese

Just a handful of simple ingredients that I bet you already have in your kitchen! Best part? Potato gnocchi cooks in just a few minutes. So you’re basically crisping bacon, boiling water, and melting cheese. And then everything comes together to melt in your mouth with each bite.

Photo of crispy potato gnocchi in a garlic parmesan cream sauce, loaded with bacon and spinach.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND SWAPS:

This recipe is one of those gems of a recipe that can be altered to fit your dietary needs, as well as work with what you have on hand in your kitchen.

  • Bacon: Although the best option, you can absolutely swap this out for ham or chunks of pepperoni.
  • Parmesan cheese: a great swap would be mozzarella or pepper-jack cheese. Remember: freshly grated cheeses melt better than pre-shredded.
  • Half & Half: this is a combination of equal parts milk and cream. You can use heavy cream or milk of choice. Just keep in mind that the time to cook down may be less or more.
  • Broth: This recipe calls for vegetable broth, but you can also use chicken broth. For even more flavor, vegetable or chicken stock can be used.

Black skillet filled with crispy gnocchi, cooked baby spinach, and bacon in a creamy parmesan sauce.

WHAT TO DO WITH LEFTOVER BACON GREASE:

You can use two tablespoons of the leftover bacon grease to sauté the onions and gnocchi if you’re a fan of the taste. It’s not my thing, so I generally discard the bacon grease and opt for unsalted butter. 

If discarding the grease, I generally pour into a glass container and leave it until it solidifies and I can spoon it into the trash. It’s not good to pour hot bacon grease directly down your sink!

CAN THIS BE MADE INTO A MEAL?

Of course! You can add chicken or shrimp for an easy and delicious protein option. Simply cook the chicken or shrimp prior to sautéing the onions and gnocchi. Then remove it from the pan and set aside before adding the onions. OR make it super simple on yourself by adding pre-cooked rotisserie chicken at the end to warm! 

WHY ISN’T MY SAUCE THICKENING UP?

The amount of time, as well as the thickness of your sauce, will vary depending on what you use. Heavy cream will not take as long to cook down and thicken up as half and half or even as long as regular cows milk will. If, after cooking down, you still find that your sauce isn’t thickening up to your liking, use a thickener such as cornstarch. Start by mixing 1 teaspoon of cornstarch with 2-3 teaspoons of water. Pour in and whisk the sauce until it thickens. Continue adding the cornstarch slurry until desired consistency is reached.

MORE SIDE DISHES TO TRY:

  1. Cheesy Loaded Cauliflower Casserole
  2. Creamy Pepper Jack Broccoli with Bacon
  3. Cheesy Bacon Ranch Potato Foil Packets
  4. Crispy Garlic Parmesan Brussels Sprouts
  5. Roasted Dill Pickle Potato Wedges



 
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White bowl filled with creamy gnocchi, cooked baby spinach, and bacon. Served with a baked roll.

Creamy Bacon Parmesan Gnocchi

4.88 from 8 votes
Creamy Bacon Parmesan Gnocchi - the BEST weeknight side dish or meal! Super tender & crisp gnocchi cooked in a creamy parmesan sauce with loads of flavor! Add chicken or shrimp for a complete meal! Ready in 20 minutes!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Creamy Bacon Parmesan Gnocchi, Creamy Gnocchi, Creamy Parmsesan Gnocchi, Gnocchi
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4 servings (as a side)
Calories: 466kcal
Author: Samantha Buckner

Ingredients:

  • 4 strips bacon, (chopped)
  • 16 ounces potato gnocchi, (frozen or boxed)
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 medium shallot, (can sub with sweet onion)
  • 1 cup half and half, (or heavy cream, milk of choice)
  • 1/2 cup vegetable broth, (or chicken broth/stock)
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, (more or less, to taste)
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, (more or less, to taste)
  • 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, (freshly grated)
  • 2 cups baby spinach, (roughly chopped)

Garnishments:

  • black pepper
  • red pepper flakes
  • freshly grated parmesan cheese

Instructions:

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
  • While you're waiting for the water to come to a boil, place a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped bacon and cook until crisp, approximately 8-10 minutes.
  • Using a slotted spoon, remove bacon to a paper towel-lined plate and set aside. Remove all bacon fat from skillet and place back over medium heat, leaving brown bits in the skillet.
  • Add gnocchi to the water and cook for 2-3 monutes, or until the gnocchi floats to the top. Follow directions on the package.
  • Add butter to skillet. Once melted and bubbling, add the chopped onions and allow to saute 2-3 minutes, or until translucent.
  • Drain gnocchi and add it to the pan. Brown both sides 3-5 minutes or until browned and crisp. Season with Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
  • Pour in the half and half and broth. Bring to a low boil for 1-2 minutes, allowing it to cook down. Lower to a simmer and cook 3-4 minutes or until the sauce reduces/thickens to your preference.
    If the sauce is too thick, pour in a splash or two of broth until the sauce thins out.
  • Add in the parmesan cheese, stirring continuously until the cheese has melted and the sauce is creamy. Add the chopped spinach and cook 1-2 minutes, or until wilted.
  • Serve garnished with black pepper and freshly grated parmesan cheese with your favorite baked bread!
Notes:
 
Bacon: I find it easier to cook the bacon pre-chopped, as it helps to not only cook it faster, but crisper than by cooking it in slices.
Half & Half: Can be substituted with heavy cream or milk of choice.
Vegetable Broth: Can be substituted with chicken broth or vegetable/chicken stock for an extra punch of flavor.
 
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NUTRITION:
Serving:1serving || Calories:466kcal || Carbohydrates:46g || Protein:14g || Fat:26g || Saturated Fat:13g || Trans Fat:1g || Cholesterol:60mg || Sodium:1177mg || Potassium:252mg || Fiber:3g || Sugar:1g || Vitamin A:1973IU || Vitamin C:5mg || Calcium:263mg || Iron:5mg
Disclaimer:The nutritional information provided on each recipe on With Peanut Butter on Top is given as a courtesy and as approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site. Nutritional information varies per brand/product. We recommend using an app to calculate full and accurate nutrition based on your ingredients used per recipe. Thank you! 🙂
White bowl filled with creamy gnocchi, cooked baby spinach, and bacon. Served with a baked roll.
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4.88 from 8 votes (8 ratings without comment)
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