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Gnocchi Carbonara


If you’re in the mood for a delicious, flavorful meal, look no further than this easy Gnocchi Carbonara. Made with Trader Joe’s cauliflower gnocchi, it comes together in just a few minutes and is sure to satisfy. This recipe is made with easy-to-find ingredients. Cooks in one pan and ready to eat in 15 minutes!

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white plate served with gnocchi and bacon

What is Gnocchi Carbonara?

Gnocchi carbonara is a dish made with gnocchi, pancetta or bacon, eggs, and Parmesan cheese. It is usually served as a main course.

Carbonara is a popular dish in Italy and it’s usually made with different types of pasta, including spaghetti, fettuccine, and rigatoni.

About This Recipe

The authentic Carbonara recipe is usually made with pancetta or guanciale meat and uses Pecorino Romano cheese.

This recipe below is simplified and is the perfect candidate for an easy weeknight dinner since we use ingredients that are easier to find and make it suitable for everyday life.

Why you will love it

  • Comfort dish that could be made year-round.
  • Made with only a few ingredients, yet still flavorful.
  • Made with minimum steps, no boiling gnocchi in advance is required.
  • Perfect for picky eaters! How can they say “no” to gnocchi and cheese?!

Key Ingredients

ingredients to make gnocchi carbonara with bacon

Ingredient Notes

  • Use your favorite gnocchi kind. I used two packages of premade gnocchi; it’s Trader Joe’s cauliflower gnocchi. These are delicious, gluten-free, and made with simple ingredients: cauliflower, cassava flour, potato starch, olive oil, and salt.
  • Bacon. Uncured, sugar-free, thick-cut bacon.
  • Parmesan cheese. Freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano would work the best.
  • Egg yolks. If possible, buy eggs from pasture-raised chickens; the egg yolk will be more yellow and tasty.

How to make it – Step by step photos.

Step 1. When making gnocchi carbonara we start with making the cheesy carbonara sauce first. Add separated egg yolks, grated parmesan cheese, black pepper, and salt in a small bowl. Whisk till combined.

white bowl with egg and cheese sauce

Step 2. Heat frying pan over medium-high heat, sauté chopped bacon in a pan until crispy for about 3-4 minutes. Once cooked, remove the bacon from the skillet and place it temporarily in a separate dish. Keep the bacon grease.

cast iron skillet with fried bacon

Step 3. Use the same skillet with bacon grease. Add frozen gnocchi to the hot pan and fry till slightly crispy. Let them get a crispy coating before turning them over.

cast iron skillet with fried gnocchi

Step 4. Once the gnocchi is cooked, turn the heat off! Add cooked bacon, egg mixture, Italian seasoning, and stir to combine while the skillet is still hot. Garnish with freshly ground black pepper and serve gnocchi carbonara immediately.

cast iron skillet with cooked bacon and gnocchi

Recipe Tips

There are a few tricks to making a successful gnocchi carbonara recipe.

  1. It is essential to use fresh ingredients, such as good quality pancetta or bacon and free-range eggs. This will ensure that your carbonara tastes its best.
  2. Make sure you use pork bacon with some fat, not the turkey “bacon”, it really adds to the final flavor.
  3. Don’t drain the bacon fat, it will be used to fry the gnocchi.
  4. Grate your own cheese instead of buying already grated cheese; it’s much tastier this way.
  5. Be sure to add plenty of Parmesan cheese to the sauce. This will give the sauce a rich, creamy flavor that is essential to this dish. Serve with a sprinkle of additional Parmesan cheese on top.
  6. Use a large-sized, non-stick, or well-seasoned cast-iron skillet.

Tips On Choosing Right Gnocchi

  • First, be sure to cook the gnocchi in batches. Overcrowding the pan will result in soggy, mushy gnocchi.
  • Choose quality gnocchi, something you tried and liked. You can even make homemade gnocchi if time allows.
  • If using a different brand of gnocchi, cook first according to the package instructions.
  • Secondly, be sure to drain the cooked gnocchi well before adding them to the sauce. This will help prevent the sauce from becoming too watery.

Gnocchi Carbonara Storing Tips

This dish is best enjoyed right away and doesn’t taste the same when reheated. Leftover gnocchi carbonara can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, simply add the Gnocchi Carbonara to a pan over medium heat until warmed through. Serve with a side of salad or steamed vegetables.

Best Cheese for Gnocchi Carbonara

There are a few different types of cheese that can be used when making Gnocchi Carbonara. Some of the most popular choices include Parmesan, Pecorino, and Ricotta. All of these cheeses will add a unique flavor to the dish, so it really comes down to personal preference. If you want a more traditional carbonara flavor, then Parmesan is probably the way to go.

what to serve with Gnocchi Carbonara

One simple, but delicious option to serve with Gnocchi Carbonara is a side salad. A green salad with a light vinaigrette dressing pairs perfectly with the rich and creamy flavors of the carbonara. If you’re looking for something a little heartier, try serving the carbonara with some garlic bread or roasted vegetables.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is carbonara sauce made of?

The classic Recipe For Gnocchi Carbonara Made With Pancetta And Pecorino Romano Cheese.

Do I need to boil gnocchi before frying it?

No, for the best texture skip the pre-boiling step and simply cook them in the pan with some oil or fat.

large cat iron skillet with gnocchi, bacon and yellow sauce

More Easy Recipes

Did you try this recipe? I love hearing from you! Don’t forget to rate and leave a comment below.

white plate filled with gnocchi and bacon

Gnocchi Carbonara

Natalia-Flavorful Home
Easy, flavorful gnocchi carbonara recipe made in 15 minutes. This comfort dish is made in one pan with simple and easy-to-find ingredients.
5 from 1 vote
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American

Equipment

  • large cast-iron skillet

Ingredients
  

  • 4 egg yolks
  • 1 cup Parmigiano Reggiano Parmesan cheese freshly grated
  • 1/4 tsp pepper
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 8 oz bacon nitrate-free, sugar-free, diced
  • 1 tbsp olive oil if needed for frying gnocchi
  • 24 oz gnocchi 2 packages of frozen Trader Joe's cauliflower gnocchi
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 2 tbs water

Instructions
 

  • Make the sauce. In a small bowl, add separated egg yolks, parmesan cheese, pepper and salt. Mix till combined.
  • Cook the bacon. Preheat cast-iron skillet on medium-high heat. Add diced bacon and cook for 3-4 minutes while stirring. Once cooked, remove the bacon from the skillet and place it temporarily in a separate dish.
  • Cook the gnocchi. Add gnocchi to the same skillet and cook in bacon grease till slightly crispy. Important tip, to get the crispy coating, cook about 2-3 minutes per side, and don't stir in between.
  • Combine. Once the gnocchi are cooked, turn the heat off! Add bacon, egg sauce, Italian seasoning, stir to combine. If the mixture is too thick, add 1-2 tablespoons of water to the pan to thin out the sauce.
  • Garnish with more cheese if desired and serve right away.

Notes

Choose quality gnocchi. 
If using Trader Joe’s gnocchi, cook from frozen.
Ensure the pan is well preheated and there is enough oil or fat before adding to the pan. 
Please make sure you use bacon with some fat; it really adds to the flavor.
For best flavor, grate your own cheese.
This recipe feeds four hungry adults, reduced the amounts accordingly.
Shortcut tip. Use kitchen shears to slice the bacon right into the pan. 

Nutrition

Calories: 835kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 15gFat: 72gSaturated Fat: 29gCholesterol: 266mgSodium: 1074mgPotassium: 51mgFiber: 2gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 464IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 345mgIron: 4mg
Tried this Recipe? Leave us a Comment!

Natalia | Flavorful home
Natalia is a recipe developer, food photographer, and home cook. She started Flavorful Home to document her recipes and share home cooking tips. She loves creating flavorful and nutritious meals while keeping the cooking process simple and joyful!
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