Quick and Simple Baked Bacon Gnocchi

There are days when I spend hours in the kitchen making everything from scratch and then there are days when convenience wins. Gnocchi is one of those little treasures I happily buy from the shop – it’s affordable, tastes great and saves me a lot of time. Today’s dinner was a quick and simple Baked Bacon Gnocchi. It was creamy, cheesy, smoky from the bacon and the sort of dish that makes you feel instantly cosy on a wet autumn evening. The whole family loved it and it’s definitely going into the “make again” list.

This recipe is also perfect for using up bits and pieces left in the fridge before a weekly shop. That’s exactly what I did today and it worked beautifully.

What is Gnocchi?

Gnocchi is often thought of as a type of Italian pasta, but it’s actually dumplings made with potato, flour and egg. They’re light, pillowy and delicious with all sorts of sauces, just imagine pairing them the way you would with pasta and suddenly dinner becomes much easier.

I’ve made gnocchi from scratch before and while it’s fun, it’s also fiddly and time-consuming. On busy evenings, a packet of shop-bought gnocchi does the job perfectly. When baked with bacon, tomato and plenty of cheese, the result is a comforting Baked Bacon Gnocchi that feels just as indulgent as anything homemade.

Ingredients I used today

Here’s what I found in my fridge and cupboard, proof that you can make a delicious dinner with simple, everyday ingredients.

• Bacon – chopped into small squares.
• Garlic – finely minced.
• Chopped tomatoes – I used canned, but fresh tomatoes would work too.
• Double cream – for richness.
• Mozzarella cheese – ideally grated mozzarella for that stretchy pull but today I used mozzarella balls as they were what I had in the fridge. Sliced into smaller pieces, they melted just as nicely.
• Parsley – a fresh garnish to finish.
• Gnocchi – the star of the dish.
• Seasoning – olive oil, salt, pepper and a pinch of paprika.

How to cook Baked Bacon Gnocchi in 30 minutes

Cook the gnocchi

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the gnocchi and cook for 2-3 minutes or follow the instructions on the packet. Drain and set aside.

Make the sauce

Preheat the oven to 200°C (fan).

Heat a pan over high heat and add the bacon. Stir until it begins to release its juices then drain off any excess liquid. Continue cooking until the bacon turns golden and slightly caramelised. Add the minced garlic and fry for another minute until fragrant.

Next, add the chopped tomatoes and stir until bubbling. Season with salt, pepper and paprika. Pour in the double cream and let the sauce simmer for 2-3 minutes. Fold the cooked gnocchi into the sauce and turn off the heat.

Bake with cheese

Transfer the gnocchi mixture into a casserole dish. Sprinkle generously with mozarella cheese and bake in the oven for 15 minutes until golden and bubbly.

Garnish and serve

Remove from the oven and scatter with fresh parsley. Serve hot, either on its own or with crusty bread (garlic bread is especially good) to mop up the creamy, smoky sauce.

Why you’ll love this recipe

This Baked Bacon Gnocchi is:

• Quick – on the table in 30 minutes.
• Comforting – cheesy, creamy and perfect for cold evenings.
• Family-friendly – loved by both kids and adults.
• Flexible – swap ingredients for what you have at home (ham, leftover roast chicken, or even mushroom instead of bacon).

It’s the kind of recipe you’ll want to make when autumn evenings call for warm, hearty meals.

Final thoughts

Sometimes the simplest dishes are the most satisfying. Using shop-bought gnocchi makes life easier without sacrificing flavour and with bacon, cream and cheese, you can’t really go wrong. This Baked Bacon Gnocchi is comfort food at its best – rich, tasty and guaranteed to bring a little warmth to a damp autumn day.

If you love Italian-inspired recipes like this, have a look at my other pasta recipes on my blog for more easy dinner ideas:

Vietnam Chicken Pasta Soup

Creamy Prawn Pasta

Creamy Chicken Spaghetti