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On busy weeknights, a box (or bag!) of store bought fresh gnocchi is a perfect shortcut to a hearty, delicious meal the whole family will love. Find your new favorite recipe with this delicious collection of our best gnocchi ideas!
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Gnocchi is our weeknight secret weapon: It cooks in minutes, and it's a perfect blank canvas for everything from veggies to protein to a jar of marinara sauce (or a scoop of leftover mushroom parmesan sauce!) Keep reading for a few of our favorite ways to dress up this cozy Italian dumpling!
Jump to:
- What kind of gnocchi should I use?
- How to cook gnocchi
- Our best gnocchi recipes
- Parmesan Spinach Gnocchi
- 20 Minute Creamy Pesto Gnocchi
- Summer Gnocchi
- Creamy Mushroom Gnocchi
- Vegan Tomato Gnocchi Soup
- Italian Sausage Gnocchi with Burst Tomato Sauce
- Creamy BLT Gnocchi
- Sheet pan gnocchi
- Instant Pot Short Rib Ragu with Gnocchi
- Creamy Turkey Gnocchi Soup
- FAQs
What kind of gnocchi should I use?
Store bought gnocchi
The recipes below are each designed to use a box of store-bought potato gnocchi (plus a few other veggies and common pantry ingredients). Your gnocchi might have a smooth surface, or it might have some ridges along one side - either style is good!
Each package is usually about 1 pound (16 ounces), depending on brand. You can typically find gnocchi in a few different places in the store:
- Freezer Section. Often stored next to frozen ravioli/tortellini or frozen meatballs!
- Deli or Cheese areas. Refrigerated gnocchi is often found by other fresh pasta near the deli or cheese counter.
- Pasta Aisle. Shelf-stable gnocchi is usually available in the pasta aisle.
Pro tip: Trader Joe's cauliflower gnocchi will also work in these recipes!
Homemade gnocchi
If you prefer the texture of fresh, homemade potato dumplings, you can absolutely use homemade gnocchi in any of these recipes!
Typically made with fresh cooked potatoes, eggs, and a bit of flour, fresh gnocchi dough is fun to make and has an incredible, soft texture once cooked. Use a traditional potato gnocchi recipe, or turn your leftover mashed potatoes into homemade gnocchi! You can also make colorful versions, like a simple sweet potato gnocchi or a butternut squash gnocchi.
How to cook gnocchi
Like regular dried pasta, gnocchi should be cooked in salted, boiling water (although as you'll see in the recipes below, that's not the only method to cook gnocchi!) But fresh gnocchi will cook much more quickly than dried pasta: For best results, follow the cooking instructions on the box or package.
Our general rule of thumb: Boil fresh gnocchi in salty water until it floats.
Our best gnocchi recipes
This easy weeknight dinner recipe collection is curated from our own archives, as well as from a few of our favorite recipe developers and bloggers!
Parmesan Spinach Gnocchi
This easy gnocchi recipe features plenty of fresh spinach and a rich, creamy parmesan sauce! Add some shredded or grilled chicken for extra protein. One of the most popular recipes on our website!
Parmesan Spinach Gnocchi Recipe
20 Minute Creamy Pesto Gnocchi
This creamy pesto gnocchi is ready in 20 minutes (using just one skillet!) with store-bought gnocchi, basil pesto, and heavy cream! Top with some parmesan, add a green salad, and dinner is handled.
Pesto Gnocchi Recipe
Summer Gnocchi
This recipe uses fresh tomatoes, zucchini, and corn with a quick white wine butter sauce, but you can stir in bell peppers or any other CSA veggies you have in the fridge. Ready in 20 minutes!
Summer Gnocchi Recipe
Creamy Mushroom Gnocchi
This easy mushroom gnocchi is ready in 30 minutes with a simple garlic, shallot, and parmesan cream sauce.
Mushroom Gnocchi Recipe
Vegan Tomato Gnocchi Soup
This soup is ready in 30 minutes - and the gnocchi cooks right in the soup (no extra dishes, and no boiling a pot of water!) This recipe is cozy, creamy, and only needs a few pantry staple ingredients.
This recipe comes from our friend Kylie at Midwest Foodie!
Italian Sausage Gnocchi with Burst Tomato Sauce
This creamy gnocchi uses vegan Italian sausage, mushrooms, and plenty of kale with a simple burst cherry tomato sauce.
This recipe comes from our friend Casey at The Mindful Hapa!
Creamy BLT Gnocchi
Pillowy, tender gnocchi is wrapped up in a creamy parmesan cheese sauce with tomatoes, greens, and crispy bacon for a cozy riff on the classic sandwich.
BLT Gnocchi Recipe
Sheet pan gnocchi
Did you know you can bake gnocchi? We developed this recipe for our friends at The Better Fish, and it's become one of our favorite weeknight dinners! Toss gnocchi (uncooked and straight out of the box!) on a pan with some veggies and fish for a hearty, complete meal. No boiling required!
Instant Pot Short Rib Ragu with Gnocchi
When it comes to weeknight dinners, the Instant Pot is an exceptional timesaver. Use it to make a lightning-fast, packed-with flavor sauce that turns your gnocchi into a rich and elegant meal.
This recipe comes from our friend Eden at Sweet Tea & Thyme!
Creamy Turkey Gnocchi Soup
This easy, creamy gnocchi soup is ready in a snap and is perfect with rotisserie chicken or leftover Thanksgiving turkey!
This recipe comes from our friends Sam & Dan at Ahead of Thyme!
FAQs
What are gnocchi made of?
Italian-style gnocchi dough is made from cooked, finely mashed (or riced) potatoes, flour, and often an egg. Some gnocchi recipes also call for ricotta cheese in place of (or in addition to) the riced potatoes. French gnocchi (also called Parisian gnocchi) however, is made in a more pâte à choux style, with a warm flour dough that's squeezed out of a piping bag directly into boiling water.
How do you keep gnocchi from being mushy?
Gnocchi can get mushy if it is cooked too long, either by leaving it too long in boiling water or leaving it in a hot soup for an extended period of time. Different gnocchi recipes or brands can also vary in texture, so you may need to keep experimenting to find the brand or recipe that's perfect for your taste buds!
Can I replace pasta with gnocchi?
Generally, yes - you can use gnocchi instead of pasta in many of your favorite recipes. Gnocchi is great in your favorite mac and cheese recipes, topped with your favorite marinara sauce and meatballs, or tossed with a quick pasta sauce. The only place we don't like to use gnocchi instead of pasta is in cold dishes like pasta salad (gnocchi is really best served warm).
We hope you loved this collection of easy weeknight gnocchi recipes! If you have any lingering questions, just leave a comment below. For more cozy weeknight recipes, be sure to check out our full pasta recipe collection!
More Easy Weeknight Pasta Recipes
- 8 Easy Orzo Recipes for Delicious Weeknight Dinners
- Creamy Harissa Tomato Pasta with Kale
- Creamy Lemon Pasta with Peas and Bacon
- Creamy Mushroom Gnocchi
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