Bacon Mac and Cheese Gnocchi is the perfect delicious dinner! You will love the gooey cheese, crispy bacon, and crunchy bread crumb topping!
This Bacon Mac and Cheese Gnocchi is OUT OF THIS WORLD delicious! I love making pasta, but my family gets sick of the same old pasta dishes, so when I saw a pack of gnocchi, I knew I could put a twist on things by making a Bacon Mac and Cheese Gnocchi!
This recipe is so easy, and taking hardly any time to whip up, that saves me time that I can be spending with my family! My kids even like helping me shred the cheese and mix everything together! Serve this alongside a delicious easy Wedge Salad or with the Best Ever Garlic Bread!
How to make Bacon Mac and Cheese Gnocchi:
**scroll down for full ingredient list and directions**
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. Place 8 strips of bacon on the sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until cooked a bit crispy. Remove bacon from sheet and place on paper towel lined dish; set aside. You can also use the microwave to make the bacon.
- In a medium sauce pot, cook the gnocchi according to package directions; strain and set aside.
- In a medium pot, melt the butter and add the garlic. Saute for 1 minute and then add the flour and whisk to combine; cook for 30 seconds stirring continuously. Over medium heat, slowly add milk while whisking. Increase heat to high and whisk constantly until mixture thickens and comes to a bubble.
- Reduce heat to low, add cheese and whisk to combine. Remove from heat and set aside.
- In a small bowl add panko, cayenne pepper, salt, black pepper, and green onions; toss to combine. Chop the bacon strips.
- In a small baking dish, add gnocchi, pour cheese sauce over the top and carefully toss to coat. Sprinkle parmesan cheese over the top, then sprinkle bacon crumbles, and then sprinkle the panko mixture on top of that.
- Place into the oven and bake for 20 minutes. Switch to broil and broil for 2-3 minutes or until panko is lightly browned and crispy. Remove from oven and top with green onions if desired. Serve immediately!
When to serve Bacon Mac and Cheese Gnocchi?
- This makes a great meal or side dish!
- Bring this bacon mac and cheese gnocchi to a potluck or office party!
- This dish makes a great side for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner!
- The kids will LOVE this meal, so anytime for dinner is the perfect time!
Can I make this Gnocchi vegetarian?
YES! Just leave the bacon out of the recipe and follow the directions leaving out the bacon! This Mac and Cheese Gnocchi is delicious with or without the bacon!
What are Gnocchi & where to find them?
- Gnocchi are a variety of pasta consisting of various thick, small, and soft dough dumplings that may be made from semolina, ordinary wheat flour, egg, cheese, potato, breadcrumbs, cornmeal or similar ingredients.
- Gnocchi will be found in the pasta aisle at your local grocery store. They are usually packaged in a plastic vacuum sealed package with 1lb of gnocchi inside. Alternatively they can be purchased on Amazon.
Other Mac and Cheese recipes to consider:
- Instant Pot Mac and Cheese (the best ever)
- Buffalo Quinoa 'Mac' and Cheese
- Buffalo Bleu Mac and Cheese
- Spicy Jalapeno Mac and Cheese
- Best Ever Creamy Mac and Cheese
- 1 package gnocchi
- ½ package NatureRaised Farms Bacon
- 2 TBS butter
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 2 TBS flour
- 1 ½ cups milk
- 1 ½ cups white cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese freshly grated
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper optional but I recommend it
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup panko bread crumbs
- 2 green onions chopped
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Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
-
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. Place 8 strips of bacon on the sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until cooked a bit crispy. Remove bacon from sheet and place on paper towel lined dish; set aside.
-
In a medium sauce pot, cook the gnocchi according to package directions; strain and set aside.
-
In a medium pot, melt the butter and add the garlic. Saute for 1 minute and then add the flour and whisk to combine; cook for 30 seconds stirring continuously. Over medium heat, slowly add milk while whisking. Increase heat to high and whisk constantly until mixture thickens and comes to a bubble. Reduce heat to low, add cheese and whisk to combine. Remove from heat and set aside.
-
In a small bowl add panko, cayenne pepper, salt, black pepper, and green onions; toss to combine.
-
Chop the bacon strips.
-
In a small baking dish, add gnocchi, pour cheese sauce over the top and carefully toss to coat. Sprinkle parmesan cheese over the top, then sprinkle bacon crumbles, and then sprinkle the panko mixture on top of that. Place into the oven and bake for 20 minutes. Switch to broil and broil for 2-3 minutes or until panko is lightly browned and crispy. Remove from oven and serve immediately!
Recipe created December 2016. Updated October 2020.
Mary
This looks like pure heaven!!
Allyson
It is so so so good!
charlie
Wish I could try it, but gnocchi is not readily available in any supermarket or club warehouse near me....I fail miserably at gnocchi if I try to make from scratch. As good as this sounds, it ain't gonna work in my world. so sorry. Hopeful it works for other people though! 🙂
Allyson
You could easily make this with pasta instead of gnocchi!
Joaanne
How big a package of gnocchi should I us
Allyson
I would use the standard 1lb package!
Emily
Holy crap. This has got to be some of the best homemade mac ever! YUM!
Stephanie
Such a fantastic idea and so delicious! I love that you used gnocchi to mix up a classic recipe.
Trang
I seriously love your idea of changing it up and using gnocchi instead of regular pasta. It really elevates the mac n'cheese and the toppings are the best.
Catalina
My family will go crazy over this dish! Sounds amazingly delicious and so creamy!
katerina @ diethood.com
Oh my goodness, these bacon mac and cheese gnocchi are absolutely amazing!! YUM!
Beti | easyweeknightrecipes
These look so creamy and delicious! I am so excited to try this!!
Beth
This looks so delicious and tasty! My family is going to love this recipe! I can't wait to make this!
Sara Welch
Adding this to my dinner line up for the week; this looks too good to pass up! Delish!
kerri
oh! how decadent is the gnocchi?! such a great idea! definitely going to try this!
Toni Dash
This is so amazing!! My kids really enjoyed it!
Cathy
This looks sooo creamy and delicious!
Pam
I am absolutely gonna try this meal! I think i may add some finely chopped onion and sun dried tomatoes as well. And I'll def use thick cut bacon amd mix some in as well as top with crumbles.... Oh good lord I can't wait to make dinner tomorrow night!! 😋🍴
Allyson
OH YUM! Let me know how it goes!!
Keri
Adding this to my rotation for sure!