Quick and easy bacon-pea gnocchi is healthy weeknight comfort food the whole family will love. Enjoy as side dish or a meal unto itself.
Brains love repetition. This is why it is easy to fall into a rut but takes a purposeful effort to get back out.
Intentional or not, you probably have a regular rotation of meals. The exact seasonings or added ingredient may vary but from a big picture perspective it is likely you are making the same thing over and over again.
Currently, my regular rotation of quick meals includes at least one skillet dinner per week. Usually my skillet meals start with a pile of vegetables and a leftover protein then become a hash, stir-fry, or vegetable-pasta creation.
What are Gnocchi?
Gnocchi are soft dumplings that originated in Italy. The dough can be made from a number of starches. You'll most likely find gnocchi made with potato starch. The flavorings can be plain or include herbs, squash, vegetables, and more. Uncooked they are around the size and shape of the end of your thumb. Gnocchi expand a bit after only a few minutes in boiling water to become pillowy soft. The speed of preparation and the buttery smooth texture make gnocchi an excellent base for quick comfort food.
Bacon-pea gnocchi skillet started as a super lazy dinner and became a dish I go back to every few weeks.
I love that it is super fast to make and comforting to eat. I generally serve gnocchi as a side dish along side an easy protein like baked fish or chicken. The leftovers make a satisfying light lunch.
If you love skillet dinners give this one a try. It is a great way to shake up the usual routine without asking your brain to work too hard - because God knows, nobody wants that!
Bacon-Pea Gnocchi Skillet
Ingredients
- 16 ounce Italian gnocchi
- 2 cup Peas frozen
- 3 tablespoons bacon real bacon bits for salads
- ½ cup red onion thinly sliced
- 1 cup 8 fl oz chicken broth
- salt & pepper
Instructions
- Bring a pot of water, with several generous pinches of salt, to a boil then add the gnocchi and peas. Cook, uncovered, for 3-5 minutes until the gnocchi float to the top. Drain the gnocchi but reserve 1-2 tablespoons of the cooking liquid.
- In a large skillet, cook the bacon and onion over medium-high heat until the onions begin to soften, 3-5 minutes .
- Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the gnocchi, peas and reserved cooking liquid. Sprinkle with salt and pepper then stir in the chicken broth.
- Simmer until the liquid thickens into a sauce that coats the back of a spoon, about 5 minutes. Stir frequently. Add more salt and pepper to taste if desired.
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