Creamy Garlic Parmesan Gnocchi
Written by Samantha Falla
There are some nights when you want a homemade dinner without spending an hour making it. This creamy garlic Parmesan gnocchi is made in one pan, takes less than 30 minutes, and tastes like something you would order at an Italian restaurant.
Gnocchi are small Italian dumplings traditionally made with potatoes, flour, and sometimes egg. You can find packaged gnocchi in most grocery stores, which makes them an easy starting point for a quick meal. Instead of boiling them separately, this recipe cooks the gnocchi directly in a creamy garlic sauce.
Full Recipe:
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 3–4 servings
Ingredients:
1 pound potato gnocchi
2 tablespoons butter
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup heavy cream
½ cup chicken or vegetable broth
¾ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup baby spinach
½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
¼ teaspoon black pepper
Salt, to taste
Red pepper flakes, optional
Fresh parsley or basil, optional
Instructions:
Start the Sauce
Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds to 1 minute, stirring frequently. The garlic should become fragrant but shouldn't start to burn.
Pour in the heavy cream and broth. Add the Italian seasoning and black pepper, then stir everything together.
Cook the Gnocchi
Add the uncooked gnocchi directly to the skillet. Stir so that the gnocchi are coated in the sauce.
Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the skillet, and cook for about 5 to 7 minutes.
Stir occasionally to prevent the gnocchi from sticking to the bottom.
The gnocchi should become soft and tender while the sauce begins to thicken.
Make It Creamy
Reduce the heat to low and gradually stir in the Parmesan cheese.
Continue stirring until the cheese has melted completely and the sauce is smooth and creamy.
Add the spinach and cook for another 1 to 2 minutes, just until it wilts.
Taste the sauce before adding salt since Parmesan can already be fairly salty.
Serve
Spoon the gnocchi into bowls and finish with extra Parmesan, freshly cracked black pepper, and red pepper flakes if you want a little heat.
Fresh parsley or basil also makes an easy finishing touch.
This recipe is easy to turn into a more filling dinner! Consider adding grilled chicken, Italian sausage, shrimp, or crispy bacon for extra protein. You can also add mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, broccoli, or peas. If you like spice, add red pepper flakes to the garlic and butter at the beginning of the recipe.
However you customize it, the combination of pillowy gnocchi and creamy Parmesan sauce makes this an easy recipe to keep around for nights when you want comfort food without all the work.
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