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One-Pan Creamy Crack Chicken Gnocchi with Bacon and Ranch

Close-up of a white bowl filled with creamy crack chicken gnocchi, topped with crispy bacon bits and parsley.
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Announce some good news at your table with this incredibly rich and satisfying Creamy Crack Chicken Gnocchi. This one-pan recipe delivers maximum addictive flavor using chicken, bacon, and a creamy ranch sauce, making it the perfect easy weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
  • 1 (16 ounce) package potato gnocchi
  • 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 (10 ounce) can cream of chicken soup
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, cubed
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1 packet (1 ounce) dry ranch seasoning mix
  • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup water (if needed for thinning)
  • 2 cups fresh spinach (optional)

Instructions

  1. Season the chicken pieces lightly with salt and pepper. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.
  2. Add the crumbled bacon to the skillet and cook briefly until crisp. Remove the bacon and set it aside with the chicken.
  3. Add the gnocchi and chicken broth to the same skillet. Bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring occasionally, until the gnocchi begins to soften, about 3 to 5 minutes.
  4. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Stir in the cream of chicken soup, cream cheese cubes, heavy cream, and dry ranch seasoning mix. Stir constantly until the cream cheese melts and the sauce is smooth and creamy.
  5. Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese and Parmesan cheese until melted into the sauce. If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash of water until you reach your desired consistency for this rich pasta dish.
  6. Stir in the fresh spinach, if using, and cook just until wilted, about 1 minute.
  7. Serve immediately topped with the reserved crispy bacon. Turn up the music and enjoy your ultimate comfort food!

Notes

  • For an extra layer of flavor that defines ‘crack chicken recipe,’ you can add 1 teaspoon of garlic powder when you add the ranch seasoning.
  • If you prefer using shredded rotisserie chicken instead of raw chicken breasts, skip step 1 and add the shredded chicken during step 4 when you add the cheese. This makes it an even quicker meal.
  • This dish is fantastic served over a bed of rice or alongside crusty bread if you want to stretch the yield for family dinner ideas.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://hungryhearld.com/creamycrackchickengnocchi/