Chicken Alfredo Gnocchi is an easy dish that can be made in under 30 minutes! Soft potato gnocchi and chicken paired with a rich, creamy Alfredo sauce makes a comforting dish. It's sure to be a hit with everyone!
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Chicken Alfredo gnocchi is a delicious twist on two classic dishes that will have everyone asking for more. The final dinner tastes like a loaded baked potato casserole.
If you are new to gnocchi, get excited because this gnocchi bake is creamy, cheesy, and so delicious. Plus, it's easy to make and can be on the dinner table in under 30 minutes.
What are Gnocchi
Gnocchi are small, soft, and pillowy dumplings made from potatoes, flour, and sometimes eggs. They originated in Italy and have become a popular dish worldwide. Gnocchi can be served with a variety of sauces, such as tomato, pesto, or Alfredo.
Why You Will Love Gnocchi Alfredo
You want a delicious, easy to make meal that the whole family will love without spending hours in the kitchen. Our gnocchi Alfredo is the perfect comfort food solution.
- Ready in Minutes - There is no reason to spend that much time in the kitchen. This easy meal comes together in 30 minutes.
- Simple Ingredients - Using store bought ingredients helps you save time in the kitchen. All you need are simple things like gnocchi, chicken, broccoli, and Alfredo sauce.
- Lots of Flavor - Combining broccoli chicken Alfredo with extra cheese and gnocchi creates a delicious meal. Everyone at your table will love it!
- Customizing is easy! Choose your favorite cheese, vegetables, and protein to make a cheesy dinner to your liking.
Love Alfredo sauce? You may like this chicken Alfredo ravioli, these Alfredo stuffed shells, or this chicken Alfredo calzone.
Key Ingredients
This creamy chicken gnocchi bake comes together in minutes with just a few simple ingredients. I like to use pre-packaged items to keep meal prep super simple.
- Gnocchi - You will need one package of shelf stable gnocchi. You can find it in the pasta aisle of most stores. You can also find it in the freezer or refrigerated section.
- Chicken - Use any type of cooked chicken you have on hand. We have used Rotisserie chicken, grilled chicken, and canned chicken with great results.
- Bacon - Cooked crumbled bacon gives a great loaded baked potato flavor to this gnocchi bake.
- Garlic - Minced garlic gives it a good flavor.
- Broccoli - You can use fresh or frozen broccoli in this casserole. Other veggies that work well are mushrooms, peppers, tomatoes, or peas.
- Cheese - A mixture of mozzarella and Monterey Jack cheese gives it a great cheesy topping.
- Alfredo Sauce - Use your favorite jarred sauce to keep things simple.
- Optional Toppings - Top the baked gnocchi Alfredo with grated Parmesan cheese, green onions, and more bacon.
How To Make Chicken Alfredo Gnocchi
Since gnocchi is a potato based pasta, we are going to load this chicken gnocchi bake just like a baked potato. Melty cheese goodness and bacon makes this gnocchi recipe a winner, winner, chicken dinner.
- Cook the gnocchi. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the gnocchi and cook according to the package instructions.
- Stir together ingredients. Gently stir together the drained gnocchi, broccoli, chicken, bacon, garlic, and Alfredo sauce in a large bowl.
- Top with cheese. Spoon the mixture into a greased casserole dish.
- Bake and serve. Sprinkle shredded cheese on top and bake until hot and melted. Broil a few minutes to brown the cheese, then serve immediately.
How to Serve Baked Gnocchi with Chicken
These cheesy gnocchi Alfredo is completely delicious and a full meal on its own. But if you want to stretch the meal further, try adding a few side dishes to the dinner.
- Bread - A few good options would be breadsticks, garlic bread, or cheesy biscuits.
- Veggies - Add a side of roasted veggies, glazed carrots, or grilled corn.
- Salad - A simple spinach salad with honey balsamic vinaigrette or a fresh tomato cucumber mozzarella salad is a great choice.
- Dessert - Finish up dinner with a pan of easy tiramisu or espresso brownies.
Storing Leftovers
In the Refrigerator - Store the cooled gnocchi casserole in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Reheat leftovers in the microwave.
In the Freezer - You can freeze leftovers in a freezer safe container for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator 24 hours before reheating in the oven or microwave.
Tips and Tricks
- Use rotisserie chicken. Buy and shred a Rotisserie chicken 1-2 days ahead of time. Keep it in the fridge or freezer for quick and easy meal prep.
- Save time with Alfredo sauce from a jar. Buy your favorite jar of sauce to use in this recipe or make a homemade sauce if you prefer that instead.
- Change up the veggies. Use your favorite vegetable in place of the broccoli. Peas, asparagus, spinach, or peppers would also be great.
- Shred your own cheese. Store-bought shredded cheese has a coating that keeps it from sticking together. Unfortunately it also hinders it from melting as well. Use a grater to shred blocks of cheese for best results.
FAQ
Yes, you can put the entire dish together ahead of time. Mix it all together, top with cheese, then cover and place in the refrigerator.
Cook it whenever you are ready to make dinner. Remove the dish from the fridge about 20-30 minutes ahead of time. Add a few additional minutes to the cook time because it will be cold.
It is a shelf stable ingredient, so you can find it in the dry pasta aisle in most grocery stores. Potato gnocchi can also be found in the frozen food section.
Place the gnocchi in a pot of boiling water. The cooked gnocchi will float to the top when they are done. Strain and serve them immediately with sauce.
If you are pan frying the gnocchi, you do not need to boil them first. Fry them in butter until they are golden brown and lightly crisp on the outside. Make sure to flip them as they cook.
More Easy Chicken Dinners
- Chicken Pasta Bake recipe
- Chipotle Chicken Pasta - great Cheesecake Factory Copycat
- Buffalo Chicken Pasta
- Cheesy Chicken Pasta
- Easy Chicken Enchiladas
- Spinach Artichoke Pasta
- BLT Chicken Alfredo Ravioli
- Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole
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Recipe
Chicken Gnocchi Alfredo Bake
Chicken Alfredo Gnocchi is an easy dish that can be made in under 30 minutes! Soft potato gnocchi and chicken paired with a rich, creamy Alfredo sauce makes a comforting dish. It's sure to be a hit with everyone!
Ingredients
- 1 package shelf stable gnocchi
- 2 cups frozen broccoli
- 2 cups shredded/chopped cooked chicken
- ½ cup crumbled cooked bacon
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 - 15 ounce jar Alfredo sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup shredded Monterey jack cheese
- freshly grated parmesan cheese, green onions, and extra bacon, optional garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Spray a casserole dish with non-stick baking spray.
- Cook the gnocchi according to the package directions. Drain.
- Gently stir together the cooked gnocchi, broccoli, chicken, bacon, garlic, and Alfredo sauce.
- Spoon into the prepared casserole dish and sprinkle with shredded cheeses. Bake for 20 minutes.
- Broil for 1-2 minutes or until the cheese starts to brown. Make sure you keep an eye on it because it will brown quickly.
- Top with freshly grated parmesan cheese, green onions and extra bacon, if desired, and serve immediately.
Notes
- Use rotisserie chicken. Buy and shred a Rotisserie chicken 1-2 days ahead of time. Keep it in the fridge or freezer for quick and easy meal prep.
- Save time with Alfredo sauce from a jar. Buy your favorite jar of sauce to use in this recipe or make a homemade sauce if you prefer that instead.
- Change up the veggies. Use your favorite vegetable in place of the broccoli. Peas, asparagus, spinach, or peppers would also be great.
- Shred your own cheese. Store-bought shredded cheese has a coating that keeps it from sticking together. Unfortunately it also hinders it from melting as well. Use a grater to shred blocks of cheese for best results.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 478Total Fat: 36gSaturated Fat: 20gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 129mgSodium: 883mgCarbohydrates: 14gFiber: 2gSugar: 2gProtein: 25g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
*This Loaded Chicken Alfredo Gnocchi Bake was first published on April 2014. The photos and post were updated April 2023.
Corinne
It crazy over bacon. Can I leave out without sacrificing flavor?
Any substitutes would you recommend?
Jocelyn
You can leave it out completely or substitute ham or more veggies in place of the bacon. I hope you enjoy it!
Mary
Could I bake the dish instead of broiling? For how long?
Jocelyn
This pasta dish does bake for 20 minutes to get hot and gooey. You only broil for a few minutes to brown the cheese if desired. I hope you enjoy the dish!
Mandy
I happened upon this recipe and oh boy let me tell you my family absolutely loves it! I make it at least once every two weeks and I never have leftovers! It's so easy to throw together for a quick weekend meal.
Faith
Would canned chicken work?
Jocelyn
Yes, canned chicken would work just fine. I hope you enjoy the dinner!
Loretta
I'm going to try. What size baking dish? Looks like 8 x 8. Thank you.
Jocelyn
A 2 quart casserole dish would be perfect. The 8x8 might be a little small. I hope you enjoy the gnocchi!
Cheyenne
We substituted chicken for Italian sausage and YUM. Love the recipe, big hit with a picky hubby and toddler!
Leanna
Wanting to make this as a freezer meal. Do you think it would work by cooking the chicken and then adding everything else not cooked then thawing and putting in the oven to cook/ warm up? Has anyone tried this?
Jocelyn
I haven't tried freezing this particular one because it comes together so quickly. I think to do it as a freezer meal, you would boil the gnocchi first, then mix everything together and freeze it. Before cooking thaw it overnight in the refrigerator, and pull it out 30 minutes before baking. I hope this helps and you enjoy it.
Ashley Murphy
This recipe! I’ve made it now about 4 or 5 times for my family, and it’s always a hit. My brother, the pickiest eater at 36 said “this is the best thing you’ve ever made”. High praise! Today, I was craving this recipe, but we were fresh out of chicken, so I gambled and subbed in Italian sausage. Let me tell you! It’s sooooooo good! I’m pretty sure this recipe can’t go wrong. Thank you for sharing <3
Juliene
This sounds so yummy! AND I have most ingredients on hand...bonus! Would love to take this to work for a pot lock. Do you think this could be placed in a crock pot instead of baking as we do not have an oven at work. Maybe just place on simmer-low for a few hours. Appreciate your input!
Jocelyn
I have never tried it in a crock pot, but I think that would work just fine. Make everything the same, but instead of putting in the baking dish, spoon it into the crockpot. And I think you are right on target with doing it on low for a couple of hours. Keep me posted on how it turns out!!!