Simple Creamy Gnocchi Recipe

Easy creamy gnocchi can be made in just 25 minutes and is perfect for a date night. This is a delicious, creamy, hearty, weeknight-tested dinner that’s both delicious and cheesy.

Simple Creamy Gnocchi Recipe

This simple recipe for creamy gnocchi is perfect for a date night. It takes only 25 minutes to prepare. This is a hearty, delicious and fancy weeknight dinner. It features a creamy red sauce.

To really elevate the flavor, I use a basic marinara with Parmesan cheese and garlic. To get melted mozzarella, we’ll heat the sauce quickly on the stove. This is a simple recipe you can remember and make again.

With pre-made gnocchi, you can make delicious gnocchi at home. For some other personal favorites, see gnocchi Bolognese or pesto gnocchi.

Table of Contents

Gnocchi: How to Make It?

Gnocchi takes only minutes to prepare and is extremely easy to make. Cook the gnocchi in a large pot of salted water for 3-4 minutes or until they float to top. Fresh and frozen gnocchi cook in a similar manner. They are ready to eat when they float to their surface.

Pan-searing gnocchi is another popular way to cook it. Pan-searing gnocchi creates a crispy exterior and a denser inside. Boiling gnocchi makes it much more tender and softer. Personally, I prefer to boil gnocchi over pan-sear.

Mozzarella Cheese Selection

FRESH mozzarella balls are my FAVORITE ingredient in Italian cooking. They are usually vacuum-sealed in plastic and about the same size as a baseball. You can also choose smaller mozzarella pearls. Fresh mozzarella melts perfectly and tastes authentic.

You can also use low-moisture, whole milk mozzarella cubes if you don’t wish to use fresh mozzarella. When it cooks, low-moisture mozzarella becomes less elastic and stringy. Pre-shredded cheese is always better than larger blocks. It tastes great and melts much better.

Simple Creamy Gnocchi Recipe

Quick Overview

PREP TIME 10
COOK TIME 15
TOTAL TIME 25 MINUTES
YIELD: 4 1X
CATEGORY: DINNER
CUISINE: ITALIAN

Easy creamy gnocchi can be made in just 25 minutes and is perfect for a date night. This is a delicious, creamy, hearty, weeknight-tested dinner that’s both creamy and delicious.

Simple Creamy Gnocchi

Ingredients

16 ounces marinara
2 pounds potato gnocchi
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1/3 cup light cream
1/3 cup white wine
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
2 teaspoons salt per glass
1/2 cup baby mozzarella balls or pearls (see note)
1 tablespoon olive oil

Cooking Steps & Instructions

Bring large saucepan of salted water over high heat to boil. Boil the gnocchi for 3-4 minutes, or until they float to top.
In a large skillet or pan that is oven-safe, heat oil on medium heat. Cook garlic for 1 minute.
Mix in the marinara, Parmesan cheese, chopped basil, and white wine. Bring to a gentle simmer.
Reduce heat to low and add cream. Mix the cream until it is well combined. The gnocchi should be evenly distributed.
Sprinkle with mozzarella. Place in oven at high broil for 3-4 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Serve immediately

You can reduce the recipe by half and use only 1 lb of gnocchi. However, I recommend using the same sauce/sauce ingredients to make sure you have enough.

You can also use a 8-ounce fresh mozzarella ball chopped into pieces. You can also use a cubed piece of low-moisture, whole milk mozzarella. When it cooks, low-moisture mozzarella becomes less elastic and stringy. Pre-shredded cheese is always better than larger blocks. It tastes great and melts much better.