Description
Creamy chicken alfredo gnocchi bake delivers comfort with Italian-inspired ingredients. Cheesy layers and tender gnocchi invite home cooks to savor each comforting, hearty bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (480 ml) cooked chicken, shredded or diced
- 1 pound (454 g) uncooked potato gnocchi
- 4 oz (113 g) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy whipping cream
- 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese, divided
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 tbsp butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup (240 ml) chicken broth
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prep Cheese: Soften cream cheese at room temperature or use microwave for quick tempering.
- Preheat Oven: Set to 375°F, positioning rack in upper third section for optimal heat circulation.
- Create Sauce Base: Melt butter in large skillet over medium-high heat, sautéing garlic until aromatic and translucent.
- Develop Creamy Mixture: Whisk cream cheese with cream and chicken broth until silky smooth, integrating all components seamlessly.
- Combine Proteins: Fold cooked chicken and gnocchi into sauce, ensuring thorough and even coating throughout the mixture.
- Layer Cheese Elements: Incorporate half the parmesan cheese, creating rich and luxurious texture, then transfer entire mixture to 9×13 baking dish.
- Final Cheese Topping: Generously sprinkle remaining parmesan and mozzarella across surface, creating a decadent golden cheese blanket.
- Bake and Finish: Cook uncovered for 25-30 minutes until cheese transforms into crispy, bubbling crust with appealing golden edges.
- Rest and Season: Allow dish to settle briefly after removing from oven, then season with salt and pepper to personal taste before serving piping hot.
Notes
- Soften Cream Cheese Strategically: Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking or microwave in 10-second intervals to prevent overheating and maintain smooth texture.
- Position Oven Rack Precisely: Upper third placement ensures even heat distribution and prevents bottom burning while promoting golden cheese topping.
- Whisk Sauce Continuously: Constant stirring prevents cream cheese from clumping and creates silky, uniform sauce with no lumpy patches.
- Rest Dish After Baking: Allowing 5-10 minutes cooling time helps sauce thicken, flavors meld, and makes serving easier without runny consistency.
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 38-43 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 23 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg