This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Progresso™ The opinions and text are all mine.
You know when you go to a restaurant and you just want to order the same thing every time? I’m kind of like that whenever I hear the words “mac and cheese.” Bacon mac and cheese, brisket mac and cheese, crab mac and cheese, butternut squash mac and cheese etc. There’s just something so creamy and comforting about homemade mac and cheese. Although this recipe isn’t technically macaroni but instead uses soft pillows of gnocchi, it can definitely fall into the category of creamy and comforting just like all those other mac and cheese recipes.
I’m also a really big fan of baked mac and cheese. I especially love when there’s a crispy topping on top. For this recipe I picked up Progresso™ Italian Bread Crumbs at Walmart. They got nice and toasty and added just the bit of texture dimension that the gnocchi needed.
Progresso™ Bread Crumbs are something that you need to just keep handy in your pantry. First of all they save time, and time is something I can always use more of. They taste homemade and are perfect for your favorite family recipes like chicken parm, meatloaf, meatballs, casseroles, baked “fried” chicken and more…
I started the recipe by making a cheese sauce. I used pepper jack cheese but if you’re not a fan of pepper jack you could use a sharp cheddar or something else. It’s actually really easy to make your own cheese sauce. Start by melting butter and then adding in some flour. When it looks all bubbly like this you add in some milk and let it thicken.
Once the mixture is thickened you remove it from the heat and add in cheese and salt and pepper. I just whisked it until the cheese melted, which happened almost instantaneously.
While the cheese sauce was thickening I boiled the gnocchi. Gnocchi are dumpling-like and taste like pillows of pasta. I buy mine right next to the regular pasta. They really only take 3 minutes of boiling to get cooked. So it’s a really fast process. I strained them and added them to a 9 x 13 inch pan.
I added some frozen broccoli into the pan along with the gnocchi. If you wanted to make it a little more hefty you could add in some pieces of rotisserie chicken.
Then the fun part! Pour on the cheese sauce, baby. I kind of stirred the pasta and broccoli to coat it entirely with the cheese sauce.
Finally, you’ll sprinkle on some Progresso™ Bread Crumbs and bake! So easy, right?!
Gnocchi Pepper Jack Mac and Cheese
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 1 lb package gnocchi
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 2 Tbsp flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup pepper jack cheese
- 7 oz frozen broccoli florets
- 1/4 cup Progresso™ Italian Bread Crumbs
Instructions
- Heat oven to 375° F. Bring a pot of water to boil. Pour the gnocchi into the water. When they start floating to the top, remove from the heat and strain.
- In a saucepan, melt butter. Whisk in the flour, salt, pepper and garlic powder. When mixture is bubbly, quickly add the milk. Cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens and bubbles. Remove from the heat and add the cheese, stirring until smooth.
- Pour broccoli into the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch pan. Add in the cooked gnocchi. Pour the cheese sauce evenly over the top. Gently stir to coat all the gnocchi with the sauce.
- Sprinkle bread crumbs over the top evenly.
- Bake for 10 minutes on the middle rack. Turn to broil and put the dish on the top rack. Bake for 2-3 minutes until breadcrumbs get toasted. Remove from oven and serve immediately.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Progresso™ The opinions and text are all mine.
Leave a Reply