Baked gnocchi with bacon, tomato and mozzarella
This easy baked gnocchi recipe with smoky bacon, tomato and mozzarella sauce is perfect for rushed weeknights when you need dinner on the table fast.
This baked gnocchi is comfort food. Comfort food for those who need comforting. And yesterday, I needed it (more than I normally do). You see, yesterday was not only the beginning of the 3rd school term here in SA, but also the day we had to start with Atropine drops on my darling princess. I’m not going to go into what Atropine is (you can read more here, if you so wish) but we are doing it because she has a pretty important appointment at an Optometrist this Thursday.
We found out a couple of weeks ago that her eyes are slightly squint (so slightly that we’ve never even noticed) but now there are talks of glasses and surgery and even though this isn’t, by far, the worst thing that could happen, I feel sad. I think as a mom, all you want is for your kids to be perfectly healthy and happy. Again, this isn’t even that big of a deal (and I can’t imagine what it must be like to hear your child is terribly ill, etc).
{Our beautiful Abi has been for two eye operations now after the glasses made no difference. Her eyes are perfect and the doctor is very happy. This post was originally written when I was feeling very sorry for myself and so, I’ve edited it slightly because I never want her to read this one day thinking I felt she disappointed me (which one reader pointed out) because nothing she could ever do would disappoint me. She is wonderful, smart and perfect in every way.}
Anyway, so yes, yesterday I needed comfort food. And since I also didn’t feel like spending hours in the kitchen, I knew I wanted to use a few packets of ready-made gnocchi. This isn’t something I use a lot because I really love making fresh gnocchi but it definitely is a life-saver when you’re pressed for time. I also think it works really well in a baked gnocchi dish because it’s quite a lot firmer than home-made gnocchi so the shape is retained while, I think, home-made gnocchi will just get mushy.
The sauce is made by frying bacon and then adding both tinned and halved cherry tomatoes and a splash of cream (you could also use yoghurt). The cooked gnocchi is mixed into this and then baked under a blanket of fresh, creamy fior di latte. Perfect, easy comfort food ready in a flash.
Baked gnocchi with bacon, tomato and mozzarella
Ingredients
- 500 g store-bought gnocchi
- 250 g bacon chopped
- 2 garlic cloves crushed
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 400 g tin chopped tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- handful cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2-3 tablespoons cream/yoghurt
- large handful fresh parsley chopped
- salt & pepper to taste
- 100 g mozzarella sliced
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 200°c.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil.
- In the meantime, make the sauce.
- In a large, hot frying pan, fry the bacon until starting to crisp with most of the fat rendered.
- Pour off most of the fat then add the garlic and smoked paprika and fry for 30 seconds.
- Add all of the tomatoes and the sugar and allow to simmer for 5 minutes.
- Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the cream/yoghurt, parsley and seasoning.
- Cook the gnocchi in the salted water until it starts floating to the top. Remove with a slotted spoon and add to the sauce.
- Transfer the gnocchi and sauce to an oven-proof dish and top with the sliced mozzarella.
- Place in the oven and bake for 10 minutes until the mozzarella is melted and golden.
- Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
More gnocchi recipes you will love:
Lamb ragu with cauliflower gnocchi
Baked Caprese gnocchi
Just made this last night. It is so fantastic and really simple. I live in Minnesota so a winter comfort dish like this is necessary! The amounts are really arbitrary, just so you get close you will be fine. There is of course a grams to ounces conversion on the net. I used frozen gnocchi and I thought it became mushy. I’ll search for a better one or make it myself. The flavors,smell and appearance of this dish are wonderful! I doubled this recipe and used the yogurt. Thanks for posting this delicious recipe!
Never made anything with gnocchi before, but this was delicious! One of the best things I’ve ever cooked! Thank you!
Thanks for the lovely comment Kristin! And I’m so glad you liked this so much. It’s one of my favourites too.
So glad you liked it!
This was really good and very quick to make! Thanks!
Oh yum! Glad you liked it.
This was amazing! I used pumpkin gnocchi and also added chopped zucchini…first for gnocchi! will do again! Thanks
This looks A.MA.ZING! Can’t wait to make this – thank you!
After tasting all the components, I thought that the dish was only going to be “meh”. Some short of magic happened in the oven! It came out so flavorful. This was my first time cooking with gnocchi and I deem it a success. Also, I used “Italian” tomatoes with the herbs which I think was a nice addition. Also grated some Parmesan before putting it in the oven. Another shortcut I used- I cooked my bacon in a cast iron skillet and combined everything in it, topped with cheese and into the oven, Less mess! Thanks for a quick recipe!
I loved your comment Kat. And I’m so glad you liked the finished product! 🙂
So glad you liked it Shawn!
I tried this tonight and it was absolutely delicious. My husband and I both loved it. I’ll definitely make this frequently. It was quick and very easy to prepare, and tasted amazing. (I rarely comment on recipes, but this is one of the best recipes I’ve tried from Pinterest.) Well done.
Thanks for your lovely comment Michele.
Wow! This is an amazing dish and your photos are so professional! Just like if they came from a good magazine!!! Well done!
Thank you so much!
Thank you so much for your lovely comment.
Jessie, So glad you like the recipe!
WOW! This is one of the best recipes I have ever found online. I made it for dinner last night and both my husband and I were blown away. I am so happy I stuck to the recipe as was stated on the site, my usual behaviour is to add extra this and some of that in most cases.
Also thanks for the measurements in grams, even in Canada most recipes speak in ounces which gets to be infuriating when everything is labelled in metric.
Hi! I am a college student living in a dorm… so my only way for a home cooked meal is my crockpot! Do you think i could adapt this with canned tomatoes, bacon cooked in my microwave, and then throw it all in the crackpot with some cream?
I think you should give it a go and see how it turns out! I would LOVE to know so please report back once you have. 🙂
I made this last night and my daughter declared it the best dinner ever!
So glad she liked it! 🙂
Could you please tell me what kind of cream you used?
I use fresh cream. In the US I think it’s referred to as Heavy cream?
Looks absolutely delicious. Thank you for sharing this; it DOES look like comfort food. My oldest got teased for his glasses; it hurt to see such a happy, open little boy turn into a withdrawn middle-schooler. And then he discovered the value of a well-turned quip. Somebody in high school told him, “We didn’t know you were this funny!” He wasn’t the class clown, he just wasn’t somebody you’d want to have a war of words with. So, be of hope, because he’s happily married to an amazing woman, is pursuing his doctorate in history in NYC, and is one of the kindest, funniest, well-rounded people I’ve ever known. (And for all other parents, teach your children kindness!!!)
Made it for dinner tonight. Used smoked bacon, sour cream and fresh basil. Difibetely making it again very soon! Make sure you have bread for the souce after 🙂 thank you!
So glad you liked it!
Yes, of course! Any pasta would work but the gnocchi is just that little bit more special. 😉