Cheesy Baked Gnocchi Recipe {One Pan Dinner} (2024)

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By Sarah Rossi

on Jun 30, 2023, Updated Feb 16, 2024

5 from 34 votes

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This Cheesy Baked Gnocchi recipe is about to be high up on that list of loved vegetarian family meals. Affordable, ready in 30 minutes, very little effort, super tasty = winner!

Cheesy Baked Gnocchi Recipe {One Pan Dinner} (2)

This Cheesy Baked Gnocchi recipe is a complete meal, all cooked in one pan. Just what we love. (In fact, I’ve written a whole book of One Pot Recipes – I love them that much!)

Here’s how this one works:

➡️ Roast the veggies

➡️ Add gnocchi and roast a bit more

➡️ Pour over instant sauce and bake

Boom! That’s it. This is so adaptable. Swap out the broccoli for something else, add in some meat or other protein if you fancy. But either way, don’t forget the cheese.

Why You’ll Love this Gnocchi Pasta Bake

⭐️ A veggie, creamy treat

⭐️ Hands-off and quick

⭐️ Vegetables yes, but also… cheeeeesy!

Cheesy Baked Gnocchi Recipe {One Pan Dinner} (3)

How we came up with this recipe

If you’re new to gnocchi (and if you are – please also try my Chorizo Gnocchi Pan-Fry because it’s divine), these little blobs of happiness are pronounced noh-kee.

They’re a Italian soft, dumpling-style pasta that’s made with a dough that usually includes potato, semolina or plain wheat flour, and egg.

They work really well with plenty of sauce, and you can cook it separately or, like this recipe, you can throw it in with the sauce to cook.

In testing this recipe, we started off with a cream based sauce but felt that it was a little heavy and rich for a mid week dinner.

So in our later tests, and this version, we used an instant white sauce cheat type method which I’ve used in a few recipes elsewhere and absolutely love.

The mustard, garlic powder and plenty of Parmesan add flavour and the gnocchi roasts just enough to have a little bite and texture.

Cheesy Baked Gnocchi and Broccoli Ingredients notes

Cheesy Baked Gnocchi Recipe {One Pan Dinner} (4)
  • Broccoli – This needs to be cut very small so it cooks quickly enough
  • Onion – You can use fresh or pre-chopped frozen for this, again chop small
  • Gnocchi – I used dried gnocchi but you can use fresh if you prefer
  • Cornflour – NOT regular flour
  • Milk – Semi skimmed or whole is fine
  • Crème fraîche – Regular or half fat is fine
  • Grated Parmesan cheese – Or a vegetarian alternative if you prefer

How To Make this Baked Gnocchi Recipe

Cheesy Baked Gnocchi Recipe {One Pan Dinner} (5)
  1. Roast the broccoli and onion as per the recipe below.
Cheesy Baked Gnocchi Recipe {One Pan Dinner} (6)

2. Add the gnocchi and more oil and return to the oven.

Cheesy Baked Gnocchi Recipe {One Pan Dinner} (7)

3. Mix up the sauce as per the recipe below.

Cheesy Baked Gnocchi Recipe {One Pan Dinner} (8)

4. Pour over, sprinkle on the remaining cheese and bake one last time!

Substitutions

  • Meat – You can add in meat if you’d like to. Bacon lardons would work well.
  • Veggies – Similarly, add any veggies you think would work here. Perhaps peas or sweetcorn?

Leftovers

In the fridge You can keep this recipe in the fridge for 3 days. Reheat fully by before serving.

You may need a splash of water or an ice cube to loosen up the sauce a bit when reheating.

In the freezer Gnocchi is always at its best when cooked and eaten immediately and can be a bit stodgy and mushy once defrosted. That said, I’d rather eat it like this than waste it, perhaps for a lunch, but ideally, eat leftovers from the fridge.

Top Tip

Broccoli chunks

Chop the broccoli up into similar size pieces as the gnocchi so it cooks quickly and before it burns on the outside.

FAQs

Do I really not need to boil the gnocchi beforehand?

No! It cooks absolutely fine in the sauce and you don’t want to overcook it as they will become mushy. We want it cooked through but still solid.

Can I make this a vegan gnocchi recipe?

Sure, just use vegan substitutes for the milk, cheese and crème fraîche.

Can I add meat to this Baked Gnocchi Recipe?

Sure. Add cooked meat when you add the sauce.

Is this recipe vegetarian?

The recipe doesn’t contain any meat, but if you don’t eat cheese that contains rennet (ie is not free from meat products) replace it with an alternative that is suitable.

Let me know how you got on and what you thought of these recipes. Please rate the recipe using the ⭐️ below.

Also I’d LOVE to see your cooking creations. If you’d like to share yours with me, you can tag me on Instagram (@tamingtwins).

Cheesy Baked Gnocchi Recipe {One Pan Dinner} (9)

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5 from 34 votes

Cheesy Baked Gnocchi {with Broccoli}

By Sarah Rossi

This deliciously creamy Cheesy Gnocchi Bake with Broccoli is indulgent but super simple. Ready in 30 minutes and heavenly.

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 300 g Broccoli , Cut into very small pieces
  • 1 Onion, Peeled and chopped
  • 2 tbsp Olive oil
  • 500 g Gnocchi, I used dried
  • 25 g Cornflour
  • 300 ml Milk
  • 300 ml Crème fraîche
  • 75 g Parmesan cheese, Grated
  • 1 tsp Wholegrain mustard
  • 1 tsp Garlic granules
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 200C.

  • Put the broccoli, onion and 1 tbsp of the olive oil, with plenty of salt and pepper, into a shallow roasting tin. Stir to coat with the oil. Roast for 10 minutes.

  • Add the gnocchi, the remaining oil and stir well. Return to the oven for 10 minutes.

  • While it’s in the oven, mix the cornflour with just enough of the milk to make a smooth paste in a small bowl. Then stir in the crème fraîche and whisk until smooth. Add the rest of the milk and whisk again until smooth.

  • Add two thirds of the parmesan, the mustard, garlic granules and more salt and pepper.

  • Add the creme fraiche mixture to the roasted gnocchi, stir through and sprinkle the remaining Parmesan on top. Bake for a further 10 minutes.

Notes

Broccoli chunks: Chop the broccoli up into similar size pieces as the gnocchi so it cooks quickly and before it burns on the outside.

Nutrition

Calories: 550kcalCarbohydrates: 66gProtein: 19gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 872mgPotassium: 435mgFiber: 5gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 774IUVitamin C: 69mgCalcium: 393mgIron: 5mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Italian

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Categorized as:
Cheese, Collections, Comfort Food, Family Dinner Ideas, Main Courses, One Pot, One Pot Pasta, One Pot Vegetarian, Pasta, Pasta Bake Recipes, Recipes, Under 30 minutes, Vegetarian, Vegetarian Pasta

Cheesy Baked Gnocchi Recipe {One Pan Dinner} (10)

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9 Comments

  1. Cheesy Baked Gnocchi Recipe {One Pan Dinner} (16)
    Absolutely delicious

    Reply

  2. Cheesy Baked Gnocchi Recipe {One Pan Dinner} (17)
    Amazing. I add cooked smoked pancetta when I add the sauce and serve it with balsamic oven roasted fine beans and asparagus. Thursday nights are my night to cook for our family and I choose a different recipe from Taming Twins every time. Thank you for making me the culinary goddess I knew I was 😂

    Reply

  3. Cheesy Baked Gnocchi Recipe {One Pan Dinner} (18)
    Brilliant after work , quick meal
    Gorgeous tastes
    I did dry pan fry the gnocchi before adding
    Highly recommended

    Reply

  4. Cheesy Baked Gnocchi Recipe {One Pan Dinner} (19)
    My husband and 2yo son loved this recipe! So easy and quick to make.

    Reply

  5. What is corn flour? I’m in the U.S.

    Reply

    1. Corn starch!

      Reply

  6. Cheesy Baked Gnocchi Recipe {One Pan Dinner} (20)
    Made this for dinner tonight. Delicious and very easy. I’ll add peas next time or cook some garlic bread to mop up excess sauce 😍

    Reply

  7. Cheesy Baked Gnocchi Recipe {One Pan Dinner} (21)
    We loved this recipe, thank you! The sauce was so light and creamy.

    Reply

  8. Cannot wait to try this, but have a question, could I use garlic powder in place of the granules. Many thanks for all your great recipes. You do all the hard work for us.

    Reply

Cheesy Baked Gnocchi Recipe {One Pan Dinner} (2024)

FAQs

Do you have to boil gnocchi before baking? ›

You DO NOT need to pre boil the gnocchi as it will cook in the sauce. Allow everything to soften slightly, then top with the mozzarella and bake until crispy and golden.

What do Italians eat with gnocchi? ›

A classic choice for saucing gnocchi is a simple combination of butter and sage, but the possibilities are endless. Simpler sauces like pesto, marinara and vodka are good choices, as are heartier sauces like Bolognese, cheese and cream sauces. Since gnocchi is fairly neutral in flavor, it pairs well with most anything.

What is a good sauce to put on gnocchi? ›

Like pasta, gnocchi is the perfect vessel for a variety of delicious sauces, from tomato, bolognese and quick butter sauce with sage to creamy gnocchi sauces.

Is gnocchi a peasant dish? ›

Filling and inexpensive, gnocchi were known as peasant food to early Italians. Early ingredients such as breadcrumbs, corn meal, flour, chestnut flour, ricotta cheese and vegetables. Different areas of Italy had their own versions of gnocchi as well.

Is gnocchi healthier than pasta? ›

Nutritional Value

Believe it or not, regular pasta is actually more carb-heavy than gnocchi, coming in at around 2 times the amount of carbs per serving. Gnocchi is also notorious for having a lot more sodium, with over 200 grams of it per serving. Regular pasta doesn't have nearly as high of a sodium content.

Can you cook gnocchi in sauce instead of boiling? ›

There is no need to pre-cook the gnocchi. It'll cook in the sauce. The sauce is meant to be quite thick, but if you find it gets too dry before the gnocchi is cooked, add in another splash of chicken broth or wine.

Why do Italians eat gnocchi on Thursdays? ›

The saying originated from lower-class food rationing and the people's need to maximize what ingredients they had at their disposal. Gnocchi, a substantial, high-calorie dish, was prepared on Thursday in anticipation of Friday, when, according to Catholic tradition, people fasted, abstaining from meat.

What does gnocchi mean in Italian? ›

The word gnocchi may be derived from the Italian word nocchio, meaning a knot in wood, or from nocca, meaning knuckle. It has been a traditional type of Italian pasta since Roman times. It was introduced by the Roman legions during the expansion of the empire into the countries of the European continent.

What is gnocchi called in Italy? ›

In Venice, gnocchi is also known as "macaroni." Made from a base of flour, milk, and eggs cooked and shaped into little discs, they are baked in the oven with butter and cheese. It's an almost identical preparation to Lazio's famous gnocchi alla romana: round, flat discs of cooked and cooled semolina.

What store bought sauce goes with gnocchi? ›

What Sauces Pair with Gnocchi
  • Tomato Sauce. Like our Chunky Tomato & Herb Sauce, a thick marinara-like sauce pairs well with cheese. ...
  • Alfredo Sauce. Is there anything that doesn't go well with Classic Alfredo? ...
  • Blue Cheese. ...
  • Gnocchi and Herbs.

Does gnocchi come with cheese? ›

In some regions of Italy, such as Lombardy and Piedmont, grated Parmesan cheese is commonly sprinkled over gnocchi as a finishing touch. In other regions, such as Tuscany, cheese is not traditionally used with gnocchi. Additionally, some recipes for gnocchi incorporate cheese directly into the dough or sauce.

What should you not do when making gnocchi? ›

Don't overwork the dough: When making gnocchi dough, it's important not to overwork it. Overworking the dough can make the gnocchi tough and chewy. Mix the ingredients together just until the dough comes together, and then stop mixing! You're not kneading bread here.

What are the 3 types of gnocchi? ›

Gnocchi alla zucca: Pumpkin gnocchi served with butter and cheese. Ndunderi: The Amalfi Coast specialty originally made with farro and curdled milk. Gnocchi alla Romana: Made with semolina and milk, this variety is shaped into squares and baked rather than boiled.

Why is gnocchi not vegan? ›

Traditional gnocchi is made with eggs making it not vegan. My vegan gnocchi recipe has two substitution options. Option 1 (my favorite): I've included a recipe to make a simple homemade egg yolk. This yolk recipe will provide all the flavor and color of eggs which really makes this gnocchi so tasty!

Is gnocchi already cooked? ›

The basic ingredient of store-bought gnocchi is, of course, potatoes, which in this case are precooked. But in addition there are various raw flours and/or starches, such as rice, wheat, corn, and potato. These latter are inedible when uncooked from the standpoint of both digestibility and safety.

How do you know when gnocchi is done in the oven? ›

Roast, stirring once or twice, until gnocchi are golden and starting to crisp, most of the tomatoes have burst, and onion is golden, 25–30 minutes.

How is gnocchi supposed to be cooked? ›

How to prepare gnocchi. Poach gnocchi in batches in a pan of lightly salted water for 2-4 minutes. Cooked gnocchi will float to the top. Strain and serve immediately with a good pasta sauce.

Do you have to boil Trader Joe's gnocchi? ›

Trader Joe's provides three methods for cooking the gnocchi: in a pan cooked with a little water and then browned with oil or butter, boiled, or microwaved.

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