This easy, hearty Chicken Parmesan Gnocchi Bake is quick to prep and is made with just 5 ingredients! Tender bites of gnocchi are baked to cheesy, saucy perfection with the perfect amount of diced chicken breasts. I crave this recipe year round!
What’s in chicken parmesan gnocchi bake?
Just 5 basic ingredients and you’ll have a delicious meal in no time! It’s a fave among the entire family.
- Chicken: This is a great recipe to use leftover chicken in if you have any sitting in the fridge.
- Marinara Sauce: You can always make your own homemade marinara sauce for the best flavor.
- Gnocchi: You’ll only need 1 package for this easy recipe.
What is gnocchi?
Gnocchi is a variety of pasta that is made with potato, flour and eggs. They are light potato dumplings and have a smooth and silky texture.
You can of course make your own gnocchi, but I find that store bought gnocchi works just as well in this recipe.
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How to Store and Reheat
If you have leftovers, they can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven.
How to Freeze
Let the chicken and gnocchi casserole fully cool to room temperature prior to freezing in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Defrost in the refrigerator prior to reheating.
Notes from the Test Kitchen
I like to use diced chicken breast for this recipe, but you can also use thigh. If you have leftover rotisserie chicken you can use that instead, and you can add it right into the dish without having to cook it first.
Chicken Parmesan Gnocchi Bake
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts cubed
- 16 ounces gnocchi 1 package
- 2 cups marinara sauce divided
- 8 ounces whole-milk mozzarella cheese sliced
- ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons torn fresh basil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450°F.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet. Add in the chicken and cook until golden brown and the inside is no longer pink, about 7-8 minutes. Remove from the pan and set aside.1 tablespoon olive oil, 1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- If the pan is dry, add in another tablespoon of oil. Sauté the gnocchi until golden, about 10 minutes. Set aside.16 ounces gnocchi
- Spread one-third of the marinara in the bottom. Top with half of the chicken, then half the mozzarella. Repeat with sauce, chicken, gnocchi, sauce and mozzarella. Top with parmesan.2 cups marinara sauce, 8 ounces whole-milk mozzarella cheese, ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Broil for another 1-2 minutes to turn the cheese golden brown. Remove from the oven, top with basil, serve and enjoy!2 tablespoons torn fresh basil
Notes
- This recipe can easily be doubled to serve a crowd!
- You can prep this dish the night before. Complete steps 1-4, cover, and store in the fridge. Bake the following day.
- Ensure that the chicken is cooked through before adding it to the baking dish.
- Bake the dish in a preheated oven so that it cooks through evenly.
How to Make Chicken Parmesan Gnocchi Bake Step by Step
Cook the chicken: Heat 1 tsp oil in a skillet. Add in 1 1/2 lbs diced chicken breasts and cook until no longer pink. Remove the cooked chicken from the pan and set aside.
Sear the gnocchi: Sauté 16 oz gnocchi until golden. Add more oil if needed.
Assemble the dish: Spread one-third of the marinara sauce (you’ll need 2 cups for the entire dish) into the bottom of a casserole dish. Top with half the chicken, then half of the mozzarella (8 oz mozzarella total). Repeat with the sauce, chicken, gnocchi, sauce and mozzarella. Top with 1/4 cup parmesan cheese.
Bake: Bake at 450°F for 10-12 minutes or until the cheese has melted. Broil for another 1-2 minutes to get that golden brown color. Garnish with about 2 tbsp fresh torn basil, and enjoy!
I made this but upon taking gnocchi out of pan after sautéing them per recipe they were hard. Perhaps boiling them would have been better??
Definitely modify if needed!