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30-Minute Sheet Pan Chicken & Gnocchi with Bacon

Crispy meets smoky: shelf-stable gnocchi roasted until golden in rendered bacon fat with juicy chicken, charred broccoli, and Parmesan — one sheet pan, 30 minutes, about 34g protein per serving (estimated).
Prep Time 8 minutes
Cook Time 22 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 6 slices bacon chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 1 1/2 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 (16 oz) package shelf-stable potato gnocchi do not substitute fresh or frozen
  • 4 cups broccoli florets about 1 large head, or halved Brussels sprouts
  • 1 medium red onion cut into 1/2-inch wedges
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning divided
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt divided
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper divided
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan plus more for serving
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • Lemon wedges for serving
  • Red pepper flakes optional

Equipment

  • Large rimmed sheet pan (18x13-inch)
  • Tongs or spatula
  • Instant-read thermometer

Method
 

  1. Heat the oven to 425°F. Scatter the chopped bacon over a large rimmed sheet pan and bake 5 minutes, until it just starts to crisp. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate with a slotted spoon, leaving the rendered fat on the pan — that's the smoky base everything else roasts in.
  2. In a large bowl, toss the broccoli florets, onion wedges, and gnocchi with the olive oil, garlic, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, 3/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and the smoked paprika until evenly coated.
  3. Spread the gnocchi and vegetables over the bacon fat in a single layer — give everything room so it roasts instead of steaming. Roast 8 minutes.
  4. Season the chicken pieces with the remaining 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Stir the pan with tongs, then nestle the chicken pieces among the vegetables and gnocchi in a single layer. Return to the oven.
  5. Roast 8–10 more minutes, until the chicken is cooked through to 165°F, the gnocchi are golden and crisp at the edges, and the broccoli is charred at the tips.
  6. Scatter the reserved bacon back over the pan, shower with the Parmesan and parsley, and rest 2 minutes. Serve straight from the pan with lemon wedges and extra Parmesan.

Notes

Food safety: Chicken to 165°F. Shelf-stable gnocchi roasted directly on the pan is the 30-minute enabler — do not substitute fresh or frozen. Leftovers 4 days refrigerated; reheat on a sheet pan at 400°F to re-crisp. Not freezer-friendly. Protein ~34g/serving estimated from USDA FoodData Central; not lab-tested.