Cheesy Bacon Gnocchi Bake Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

Cheesy Bacon Gnocchi Bake Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (1)

By: Becky Hardin

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This Cheesy Bacon Gnocchi Bake is the ultimate comfort food! It’s easy, full of everything I love (gnocchi, bacon, and CHEESE), and it can be made in minutes. We are obsessed with this baked gnocchi casserole recipe. The entire family will love it!

Cheesy Bacon Gnocchi Bake Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2)

Table of Contents

Gnocchi Bake with Cheese and Bacon

Cheesy Bacon Gnocchi Bake for the win win win! Sometimes you just need an easy cheesy recipe that you can pop in the oven, let everything melt and bake together, and take it out and enjoy. This baked gnocchi recipe is the perfect cheesy dinner.

This is not the blog for making gnocchi by hand…so don’t you worry about that. This is the kind of blog where we take little shortcuts to get cooked meals on the table for your family, and this gnocchi bake is one of my recent favorites!

I love the flavor combination, I love the ease of the recipe, and I love the hearty comfort food feeling. Everyone loved it from my husband to my 10 month old…so it’s a winner for us! Are you ready to enjoy?

Cheesy Bacon Gnocchi Bake Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (3)

Cheesy Bacon Gnocchi Bake Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (4)

Baked Gnocchi Recipe

I’ve only ever eaten gnocchi one other time and I loved it that time as well. It’s such a thick and delicious pasta. All the flavor soaks right in.

Gnocchi bakes are a great alternative to traditional pastas. You can even think of this as a baked gnocchi casserole, the way the ingredients and flavors all bake together in perfect harmony.

You guys…the flavor is insane!

If you’ve loved some of my other recipes, like Chicken Parmesan Pasta or Baked Mexican Macaroni and Cheese, I believe you’ll love this recipe as well. Those are both so simple and tasty as well, and if you love those, you really get me.

Variations: Be sure to try our Chicken Alfredo Gnocchi Bake or Pepperoni Pizza Gnocchi Bake versions too!

Is Gnocchi considered a pasta?

In this gnocchi bake, we’re using gnocchi the same way we might use a pasta. Gnocchi is considered a dumpling, as it’s traditionally made out of dough or potatoes. While technically gnocchi is not pasta, it is used and eaten in the same manner. So often gnocchi is lumped in with pastas.

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What to serve with gnocchi

Gnocchi is best served with sauces, cheese, and vegetables in the same way you would serve pasta. I can be served simply by pouring a fresh tomato sauce over the dumplings, or you can get more creative and serve them in a gnocchi bake or casserole.

This cheesy bacon gnocchi bake contains the most delicious ingredients

  • Fresh, melted mozzarella cheese
  • Fragrant basil
  • Savory bits of bacon
  • Grated Parmesan cheese

If that’s got your mouth watering, then you absolutely need to try out this baked gnocchi recipe!

I cannot wait for you to try this amazing gnocchi bake. This would be an awesome romantic meal to make for your honey for Valentine’s Day! We can keep it between us that it was SO DARN EASY to put together. No one needs to know that. Our little secret.

How do you cook gnocchi?

Gnocchi can be cooked in several ways. It really is so versatile! Making a gnocchi bake is just one of many ways to cook it.

You can also boil gnocchi the same way you boil pasta:

  • Bring salted water to a boil on high heat
  • Drop the gnocchi in and stir
  • Cook the gnocchi for just a few minutes (they don’t take as long as pasta)
  • Gnocchi will float to the top when they’re cooked
  • Don’t overcook the gnocchi–make sure you keep an eye on them!

Cheesy Bacon Gnocchi Bake Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (6)

I hope you love this cheesy bacon gnocchi bake as much as we do! This baked gnocchi recipe is a great alternative to traditional casserole dish.

See recipe card for details on how to make this Cheesy Bacon Gnocchi Bake. Enjoy!

Try these other dinner recipes while you’re here:

  • One Pan Chicken Parmesan Pasta
  • Easy Chicken Pot Pie Casserole
  • Beef Ragu
  • Baked Pasta Primavera with Cream Cheese Alfredo
  • Stovetop Caprese Pasta Bake
  • Easy Chicken Cordon Bleu Recipe
  • Oven Baked Risotto

Recipe

Cheesy Bacon Baked Gnocchi

4.86 from 7 votes

Author: Becky Hardin | The Cookie Rookie

Prep: 15 minutes minutes

Cook: 20 minutes minutes

Total: 35 minutes minutes

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Serves4

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This CHEESY BACON GNOCCHI BAKE is the ultimate comfort food! It's easy, full of everything I love (pasta, bacon, and CHEESE), and it can be made in minutes. We are obsessed with this baked gnocchi recipe. The entire family will love it!

Cheesy Bacon Gnocchi Bake Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (8)

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Ingredients

  • 2 packages prepared gnocchi 13 ounces each
  • 8 strips bacon bacon cut into ½ inch strips across the bacon
  • 2 tablespoons fresh basil chopped
  • cups half-and-half
  • ½ lemon juice only
  • ½ teaspoon garlic salt
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese

Topping:

  • ¼ cup breadcrumbs
  • 2 tablespoon Parmesan cheese grated
  • 1 tablespoon butter

Optional Toppings

  • .5 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • .25 cup fresh basil chopped

Instructions

  • Heat oven to 375°F and butter, or spray, a 2 quart baking dish.

  • Cook the gnocchi according to package directions. Drain and set aside.

  • In a large skillet over medium heat, fry the bacon pieces until cooked and just shy of crispy.

  • Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate.

  • Pour the rendered fat into a heat-proof bowl for later use.

  • In the prepared casserole dish, add 1-tablespoon bacon fat, cooked bacon, basil, half-and-half, lemon juice, garlic salt, kosher salt, black pepper, cheese and cooked gnocchi. Stir well.

  • For the topping, melt the butter and mix in the breadcrumbs and Parmesan.

  • Sprinkle the gnocchi with the buttered breadcrumbs.

  • Bake at 375°F for 20 minutes or until lightly browned and bubbly.

  • Enjoy!

Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!

Nutrition Information

Calories: 536kcal (27%) Carbohydrates: 12g (4%) Protein: 22g (44%) Fat: 44g (68%) Saturated Fat: 22g (138%) Cholesterol: 116mg (39%) Sodium: 1377mg (60%) Potassium: 279mg (8%) Sugar: 1g (1%) Vitamin A: 875IU (18%) Vitamin C: 8mg (10%) Calcium: 424mg (42%) Iron: 0.9mg (5%)

Did You Make This?I want to see! Be sure to upload an image below & tag @thecookierookie on social media!

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Cheesy Bacon Gnocchi Bake Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

FAQs

Do you have to boil gnocchi before baking? ›

You DO NOT need to pre boil the gnocchi as it will cook in the sauce. Allow everything to soften slightly, then top with the mozzarella and bake until crispy and golden.

Can you freeze cooked gnocchi with sauce? ›

This dish can be frozen for up to a month. Just defrost and bake in a medium oven for 20 - 30 minutes until piping hot.

How do you know when gnocchi is done in the oven? ›

Roast, stirring once or twice, until gnocchi are golden and starting to crisp, most of the tomatoes have burst, and onion is golden, 25–30 minutes.

Is gnocchi good or bad for you? ›

Similar to pasta, gnocchi is high in carbohydrates and low in protein. Although both are carbohydrate-heavy foods, it has been shown that regular pasta may have less of an effect on blood sugar levels. One publication points to the fact that pasta doesn't raise blood sugar after a meal to the level that potatoes do.

Is gnocchi better or worse for you than pasta? ›

Nutritional Value

Believe it or not, regular pasta is actually more carb-heavy than gnocchi, coming in at around 2 times the amount of carbs per serving. Gnocchi is also notorious for having a lot more sodium, with over 200 grams of it per serving. Regular pasta doesn't have nearly as high of a sodium content.

Is gnocchi healthy than pasta? ›

Gnocchi and pasta can be part of a balanced diet. Gnocchi, made from potatoes, may offer slightly more nutritional value than traditional pasta. However, portion control and overall dietary choices matter most for weight loss. Whole-grain options and pairing with vegetables enhance the nutritional profile.

What are the best potatoes for gnocchi? ›

I find baking potatoes to be dry and floury. My favorite potatoes for gnocchi are Yukon gold or other yellow potatoes. They have a rich, buttery flavor and a creamy, fluffy texture. Flour: A judicious amount of unbleached all-purpose flour helps to turn the potatoes into dough.

How long does gnocchi last in the fridge? ›

To store: Keep fresh gnocchi in the fridge for up to 1 month, once opened use within 48 hours. Vacuum packed gnocchi can be stored in a dark, dry cupboard for up to 3 months. Once opened store in the fridge and used within 3 days.

Why did my homemade gnocchi turned to mush? ›

Your gnocchi may be mushy because of any or all of the following reasons: boiled the potatoes instead of baked them. used waxy new potatoes with too much moisture in them. not used eggs to help texture.

Do you have to boil store-bought gnocchi? ›

Are there alternative methods to boiling store-bought gnocchi? Yes, there are alternative cooking methods for store-bought gnocchi. You can sauté them in a pan with a little olive oil or butter until they turn golden brown on the outside. This method creates a slightly crispy texture while keeping the inside soft.

Can you cook gnocchi in sauce instead of boiling? ›

A perfect quick and easy weeknight dinner recipe, the mini gnocchi is cooked directly in the vodka sauce, no pre-boiling necessary (which means less dishes for you!)

Is gnocchi already cooked? ›

The basic ingredient of store-bought gnocchi is, of course, potatoes, which in this case are precooked. But in addition there are various raw flours and/or starches, such as rice, wheat, corn, and potato. These latter are inedible when uncooked from the standpoint of both digestibility and safety.

Do you boil gnocchi? ›

Cook them as soon as possible in boiling salted water. (For every 5 quarts of water add 2 tablespoons of kosher salt.) Add the gnocchi to the boiling water. When they rise to the top, let them cook for a minute or two and then remove them with a slotted spoon.

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