Description
Creamy Crack Chicken Gnocchi is a rich and comforting dish combining tender chicken, pillowy gnocchi, creamy cheese sauce, fresh spinach, and crispy bacon. This savory recipe is quick to prepare and delivers a delightful blend of flavors and textures, perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 3–4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 lb), chopped into bite-sized pieces
Main Ingredients
- 16 oz fresh or frozen gnocchi
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 4 cups fresh spinach
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup crispy bacon bits
Seasonings
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Chop the boneless, skinless chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces to ensure even cooking and easy eating.
- Cook the chicken: Heat a tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces and cook until they turn golden brown and are cooked through, approximately 5-7 minutes.
- Create the creamy sauce: Lower the heat to medium-low and add the cream cheese and low-sodium chicken broth to the skillet. Stir continuously until the cream cheese melts smoothly to form a rich sauce.
- Add gnocchi and spinach: Toss in the fresh or frozen gnocchi along with the fresh spinach. Cover the skillet and let it simmer for 5-7 minutes, until the gnocchi are tender and the spinach has wilted.
- Finish with cheese and bacon: Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese and crispy bacon bits until the cheese melts thoroughly and the mixture is evenly combined.
- Serve and garnish: Serve the creamy crack chicken gnocchi hot in bowls. Optionally, garnish with extra shredded cheese or bacon bits for added flavor and presentation.
Notes
- You can substitute fresh spinach with kale or Swiss chard for a different texture.
- For extra heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes when cooking the chicken.
- If fresh gnocchi is unavailable, thaw frozen gnocchi before use for best results.
- Use reduced-fat cream cheese and cheese to lower the fat content if desired.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stove or microwave.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Sautéing, Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (300g)
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 890mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
Keywords: Creamy Crack Chicken Gnocchi, chicken gnocchi recipe, creamy chicken dinner, cheesy chicken gnocchi, bacon chicken gnocchi
