Chicken Parmesan Gnocchi Bake: A Cozy Winter Comfort Recipe

Chicken Parmesan Gnocchi Bake

When winter settles in across Southern Illinois, our days get shorter, our fields rest, and our evenings slow down just enough to enjoy the simple comforts that make this season special. Around here, winter isn’t just about cold weather—it’s about warmth, connection, and good food shared with the people who matter most.

After long days planning flights, reviewing data, or mapping out the next season for our farming partners, nothing hits the spot like a hearty, oven-baked meal. This Chicken Parmesan Gnocchi Bake has quickly become one of my favorite winter comfort dishes. It’s cozy, satisfying, and incredibly easy—perfect for busy weeks when you still want something homemade on the table.

Why This Dish Feels Like Winter Perfection

This recipe combines everything we love about classic Chicken Parmesan with pillowy gnocchi, melted cheese, and rich marinara—all baked together in one skillet. It’s warm, filling, and just indulgent enough for a cold evening when the wind is rattling the windows.

Much like our work at Illinois Drone Solutions, it’s all about efficiency without cutting corners:

• One skillet

• Simple ingredients

• Big, reliable results

That philosophy works just as well in the kitchen as it does in the field.

Chicken Parmesan Gnocchi Bake (Serves 4)

Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 30 minutes Total Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients

• 12 oz plain gnocchi

• 1 ½ tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

• 1 medium yellow onion, diced

• 4 cloves garlic, roughly chopped

• Kosher salt & freshly cracked black pepper

• 1 lb ground chicken

• 2 cups store-bought marinara sauce

• ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes

• 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella

• ½ cup shredded parmesan

• 1 ball fresh burrata

• Fresh basil or oregano for garnish

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

2. Cook gnocchi according to package directions. Drain and reserve ¼ cup of the cooking liquid.

3. Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic; cook until soft, about 5 minutes.

4. Add ground chicken and cook until fully browned and cooked through, about 10–12 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

5. Stir in gnocchi, reserved cooking liquid, marinara sauce, and red pepper flakes. Mix well, then add parmesan.

6. Top with mozzarella and bake on the top rack for about 15 minutes, until bubbly and golden.

7. Let rest 5 minutes, then tear burrata over the top. Finish with fresh herbs and additional seasoning if needed.

A Little Tip from My Kitchen

If you want to elevate it visually (and nutritionally), try using spinach gnocchi. It adds a beautiful pop of green and pairs perfectly with the red sauce—simple, but impressive.

Winter Is a Season for Slowing Down

At Illinois Drone Solutions, winter is our planning season—reviewing data, preparing equipment, and getting ready to serve our agricultural partners when spring returns. It’s also a reminder to slow down, gather around the table, and enjoy meals that bring warmth and comfort.

This dish does exactly that.

If you give it a try, I hope it becomes part of your winter rotation too. From our home to yours—stay warm, eat well, and here’s to a productive year ahead.

Illinois Drone Solutions ~ 508 Mulberry Street, Cisne IL 62823 ~ 618.673.2179