I often joke that Crispy Chicken, Bacon and Pesto Gnocchi Skillet is my hyperfixation meal, except it’s not a joke and I think about this super satisfying dinner that take just 20 minutes, 1 skillet, and 5 ingredients to make ALL the time. Make it once and you’ll know exactly what I mean!
Watch How to Make It
What’s Inside
Packaged gnocchi is crisped up in a mixture of olive oil and bacon drippings until tender on the inside and crispy on the outside, then tossed with fresh pesto, cooked bacon, and chicken. Easy as that, and yes – just as good as it sounds!
Crispy Gnocchi vs Boiled Gnocchi
You may have seen crispy gnocchi recipes that require you to boil gnocchi before pan-frying, but it’s completely unnecessary. True, it will feel strange pouring dry, hard gnocchi into a skillet, but I promise that in 5-6 minutes the gnocchi will totally transform. Honestly I could forgo the bacon, chicken, and pesto portion of this recipe and eat an entire pan of crispy gnocchi with a little salt all on its own. Maybe a fried egg on top? That is to say, once you try pan-fried crispy gnocchi, the second half of your life begins! Feel free to add vegetables to this skillet dinner if you please – halved cherry tomatoes added at the end to warm through is tasty, and a truckload of chopped baby spinach wilted in at the end is delicious, too. As written though, this is an absolute home run, 5 star meal. Serve with a side salad (or that egg!) and you’re set.
How to Make This Recipe
Start by adding chopped bacon to a cold, 12″ nonstick skillet then place the skillet over medium heat and cook until browned. Scoop the bacon into a bowl, reserving the fat in the skillet.
Turn the heat up slightly then add chopped chicken breasts and season with homemade seasoned salt and pepper. Saute until cooked through then scoop into another bowl and set aside.
Add enough extra virgin olive oil into the skillet to equal 2 Tablespoons fat total, then add a 12oz package gluten-free gnocchi and arrange into an even layer in the bottom. Let the gnocchi sizzle until the bottoms are golden brown, 2-3 minutes, then stir and continue to saute until the gnocchi are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, 2-3 more minutes. Use a fork to pierce a gnocchi to test for doneness.
I use Delallo Gluten Free Gnocchi for all my gnocchi dishes — love the quality, texture, and flavor.
Last step is to add prepared pesto, plus the cooked chicken and bacon, then stir until everything is heated through. I’m including a small batch basil pesto recipe in the recipe card below, or you can use my simple vegan pesto if you need to ditch the dairy. When it comes to store bought pesto, you can’t beat Gotham Green’s pesto!
Scoop the Crispy Chicken, Bacon and Pesto Gnocchi Skillet into bowls then dig in. Like I said, you could add any kind of sauted or roasted vegetable into the mix, but this dish is 100% devourable all on its own. Enjoy, enjoy!
More Gnocchi Dishes to Devour
One Pot Gnocchi Chicken Pot Pie Cheesy Gnocchi Florentine Gnocchi and Chicken Sausage Vegetable Skillet Cheesy Bacon Butternut Squash Gnocchi Skillet Gnocchi with Spinach, Mushrooms, and Crispy Prosciutto
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