Crack Chicken Gnocchi

Creamy Crack Chicken Gnocchi is an easy 20-minute dinner made with seasoned chicken, tender gnocchi, bacon, ranch seasoning, and a cheesy cream sauce.

A Creamy One Pan Dinner

Crack Chicken Gnocchi is pure creamy, comfort food. I love that it comes together quickly, making it perfect for nights that are super busy during dinner hours. This pasta dish is hearty and very filling and simple to customize or add to. I know kids and adults both love it and the leftovers are just as good, if not even better, the next day.

Frequently Asked Questions: 

Ingredients Needed: (See Recipe Card Below For The Full Recipe)

• chicken – for the chicken, I like using leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken in the recipe. I think about a cup and a half or so of diced chicken would work. If you cook the chicken for the recipe, I prefer chicken tenderloin as it’s easy to cut into cubes, but you can use chicken breast or thighs. Make some quick Air Fryer Chicken or Instant Pot Chicken.
• shallot – if you don’t have a shallot, you can omit this or use ½ a small yellow onion.
• garlic cloves – if you do not have fresh garlic, you can use jarred garlic but I prefer fresh when possible.
• all-purpose flour – the flour will help create the roux to make your sauce thick
• chicken broth + heavy cream – the combination of the broth and the heavy cream will create a rich creamy sauce. If you’re worried about sodium intake, using Homemade Chicken Broth is a great option. Using low sodium or no sodium versions are always some good alternatives too. Stick to heavy cream as you need it for the sauce thickness. Milk could be an option if you’re okay with a thinner sauce.
• Colby Jack cheese – you can use any cheese, but I prefer the Colby Jack cheese as it’s neutral in flavor and in color. If you go with a cheddar cheese, it will turn your sauce very yellow.
• cream cheese – the cream cheese adds that extra layer of creaminess, but make sure you use the full-fat cream cheese. To make blending this in to the sauce easier, I like to use room temperature cream cheese so it’s nice and soft and simple to mix. Use these Tips to Soften Cream Cheese Fast if you need them.
• bacon – I like to buy the premade bacon and pop it in the air fryer for 2-3 minutes until crispy if I am in a time crunch. You can omit the bacon if you are not a fan. I think microwaveable bacon or the bacon pieces that come in the bag both work just fine for this. 
• ranch dressing mix – you can use a packet of your favorite brand or grab some of your Homemade Ranch Seasoning. If you don’t love ranch seasoning, start with just a little bit and add more to taste. I suppose you could omit it, but between that and the cream cheese, those are the classic “crack chicken” flavors, so you’d be missing part of the iconic flavor of this dish. Using homemade seasonings is a great idea if you’re worried about sodium intake.
• gnocchi – for this, you can use any brand. You can find it in the pasta section.

How To Make Crack Chicken Gnocchi

Add the butter and oil to a skillet over medium heat. Once melted, add the shallot. Stir for 3-4 minutes, or until it just begins to take on a little color. 

Add the minced garlic and stir for 1 minute (or until fragrant). Add the flour and stir for 1 minute. 

Add the broth, heavy cream, and 1/2 cup of cheese, cream cheese, half of the bacon, garlic powder, and the ranch dressing mix. Mix until combined. Add the gnocchi to the skillet. Stir for 3-5 minutes or until the gnocchi is soft. 

Transfer the chicken to the skillet. Stir until the chicken is coated in the sauce. Top with the remaining bacon and cheese. Cover and allow the cheese to melt.

Optional: top with chopped fresh parsley. 

Craving More Recipes? 

• Crock Pot Crack Chicken
• Crack Chicken Cups
• Marry Me Chicken Gnocchi
• Sheet Pan Sausage and Gnocchi
• Italian Gnocchi Soup
• Crock Pot Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup
• Gnocchi Carbonara