Cheesy Gnocchi Bake

This Cheesy Gnocchi Bake couldn’t be any easier! Made with a simple but flavorful tomato and bacon sauce and topped with melty mozzarella cheese. It’s a satisfying and scrumptious meal fit for a busy weeknight or entertaining guests.

There’s nothing in this world I love more than bacon, pasta, and cheese. In that order, as well. Sometimes when I’m trying to brainstorm a recipe to post I just need to satisfy my own cravings! I think you’ll all be just as pleased with this creation as I was.

This recipe has it all. It’s made in one skillet, takes just 30 minutes, and it truly tastes like something you’d be served in a restaurant. Did I mention the bacon yet? It also has the easiest homemade creamy tomato sauce that’s garlicky and a little smoky. Now, let’s get cooking and put that gnocchi to glorious use!

Ingredients

Keep scrolling to the recipe card for the FULL ingredient amounts and instructions or click the “Jump to Recipe” button at the top of the page!

• Gnocchi – You can use store-bought or homemade.
• Bacon – Use as much as you like!
• Garlic – Just like the bacon, you can add more or less as you prefer.
• Smoked paprika – Even if you just have regular paprika, I highly recommend looking for this smoked version at the store.
• Diced tomatoes – You can use crushed tomatoes instead if you prefer a smoother tomato sauce.
• Tomato paste – Make your own tomato paste by simmering tomato puree for 20 minutes.
• Sugar – This will help balance out the acidic tomatoes. You can leave it out if you like, or use an alternate like honey.
• Sour cream – Greek yogurt or a splash of heavy cream will work too.
• Parsley – Fresh is best! You can use dried instead if that’s what you have handy.
• Salt and pepper – Season to taste.
• Mozzarella – I wanted to use a nice and melty cheese. Other great types would be provolone, Monterey Jack, or asiago.

How to make cheesy gnocchi bake

1. Make the sauce: Preheat the oven to 435F. In a large oven-safe skillet, cook the bacon. Pour off all but 1 tbsp of the fat and add the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, and garlic. Simmer for 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to low, and stir in the sour cream, paprika, salt, pepper, and parsley.
2. Cook the gnocchi: Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the gnocchi according to package instructions. It should take just 1-2 minutes. Add the gnocchi straight from the boiling water to the skillet; reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water.
3. Bake the gnocchi: Add a splash of the pasta cooking water to the skillet with the gnocchi and sauce. Mix everything together well, top with mozzarella cheese, and bake for 10 minutes. Garnish with parsley and serve.

What else can I mix in my cheesy gnocchi bake?

Everything tastes good mixed into a creamy tomato sauce loaded with bacon and cheese! This is a great opportunity to sneak veggies into dinner. Need some inspiration? Give these ideas a try:

• Frozen/canned peas or corn
• Carrots
• Broccoli or cauliflower
• Cherry tomatoes
• Bell peppers
• Onion
• Spinach or kale
• Leftover chicken, cubed or shredded
• Ground beef, sausage, chicken, turkey, or pork, cooked with the bacon

How to serve cheesy gnocchi bake

I made this in one large skillet, but you could also scoop the sauced gnocchi into individually sized cast iron skillets before topping with cheese. This is a great recipe to create a restaurant experience for guests without slaving away all day!

Thinking about serving some sides? This recipe is nice and filling all on its own, but if you want a bit of nutritional variety on the plate it would be great served with some veggies. Here are some ideas for you:

• Old Fashioned Green Beans
• The Ultimate Parmesan Roasted Broccoli
• Roasted Brussels Sprouts
• Garlic Herb Roasted Carrots
• Garlic Parmesan Roasted Brussels Sprouts
• Italian Roasted Mushrooms and Veggies
• How to Steam Broccoli

How to store leftover gnocchi

Your leftover gnocchi bake will last 3-5 days in the fridge stored in an airtight container.

To reheat, the microwave will work just fine. If that’s not an option, you can also reheat on the stovetop or the oven. For the stovetop, add the leftovers to a skillet along with a splash of either water or broth. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through.

For the oven, bake the leftovers, covered, for about 10 minutes at 400F or until heated through.

Can I freeze leftover gnocchi?

While it’s not ideal to freeze cooked gnocchi, you can if you need to keep the leftovers longer than 5 days. Gnocchi, when cooked, frozen, and thawed, tend to fall apart and become mushy.

If you don’t mind the texture, let the gnocchi cool down fully, then transfer to an airtight container. It’ll last 2 months. It’s best to let the gnocchi thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Looking for more recipes like this?

• Homemade Gnocchi Recipe
• One Skillet Ham and Cheese Gnocchi
• Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken Gnocchi
• Sausage Leek Ragu Gnocchi
• Garlic Parmesan Butter Gnocchi
• One Pot Chicken Florentine Gnocchi

Enjoy!