Creamy Pesto Gnocchi with Sausage & Bacon

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When our stove died, dinner had to get a little creative. This creamy pesto gnocchi came together entirely in the Instant Pot with Italian sausage, bacon and whatever I could pull from the fridge… and ended up being one of the meals actually worth repeating.

Creamy Pesto Gnocchi with Sausage & Bacon

An easy one-pot dinner made with Italian sausage, crispy bacon, pillowy gnocchi and creamy pesto sauce. Made entirely in the Instant Pot using the sauté and pressure cook functions.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Servings: 6

Course: dinner, Main Course

Cuisine: American, italian-inspired

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 1 lb Italian sausage
• 6 slices bacon chopped
• 1 small onion diced
• 2 packages potato gnocchi 16 oz each
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup prepared pesto
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt and black pepper to taste

Equipment

• 1 Instant Pot

Method

 

1. Set the Instant Pot to Sauté. Add the Italian sausage and chopped bacon. Cook, breaking up the sausage as it browns, until the sausage is cooked through and the bacon begins to crisp.
2. Add the diced onion and cook for 2–3 minutes, until softened. Drain excess grease if needed.
3. Pour in the chicken broth and scrape the bottom of the pot well to loosen any browned bits.
4. Add the gnocchi and gently press it into the liquid. Do not stir.
5. Secure the lid and cook on High Pressure for 1 minute.
6. When the cooking time is finished, immediately perform a quick release.
7. Switch the Instant Pot back to Sauté on Low. Stir in the heavy cream and pesto.
8. Add the Parmesan and stir until melted and the sauce is creamy.
9. Let the sauce simmer for 1–2 minutes if needed to thicken. Season with salt and black pepper to taste, then serve warm.

Notes

The sauce will continue to thicken as it sits, so don’t worry if it looks a little loose immediately after adding the cream.

You can add spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms or whatever vegetables you have hanging around in the fridge.

For a stronger pesto flavor, add another spoonful of pesto just before serving.