Baked Gnocchi

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This Baked Gnocchi will quickly become one of your go-to dinners. It’s amazingly easy making it perfect for those nights when you’re low on prep time or don’t want to put in a lot of effort. It’s a deliciously fresh tasting and satisfying dish made with just a handful of simple ingredients.

Baked Gnocchi

Honestly this is one of those recipes that’s really just more of an idea. It’s so easy you don’t even need a recipe. It uses store-bought gnocchi and store-bought marinara sauce so it really is such a breeze.

Plus it’s really versatile too. You can add cooked ground meat, sautéed vegetables, use a homemade marinara sauce, or add different cheeses.

I think we all could use more easy recipes like this. So instead of getting take-out again for maybe the second time in a week you’ll have a simple dinner at home to make instead.

You’ll be savoring every bite of this easy dinner!

Ingredients Needed for Baked Gnocchi

• Gnocchi – refrigerated, frozen or of course homemade gnocchi will be the best option.
• Marinara sauce – I like to use Rao’s tomato basil sauce, for a cheaper alternative Classico four cheese is another tasty sauce. Homemade will also be delicious.
• Heavy cream – even though we only add 3 tablespoons it add such a delicious rich and creamy touch to the sauce.
• Grape tomatoes – these aren’t a must if you don’t have any on hand.
• Mozzarella – fresh or the standard low-moisture block of mozzarella works great. I’ve used both.
• Fresh basil – this is totally optional. It just adds a light flavor and pretty color. I’ve also used parsley when that’s what I have on hand.

How to Make Baked Gnocchi

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a medium casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray.
2. Pour 1 cup of the sauce into baking dish and tilt dish to spread. Drizzle in 3 Tbsp heavy cream and stir (it doesn’t need to be fully incorporated). Add half the tomatoes.
3. Bring a large pot of unsalted water to a boil. Cook gnocchi about 1/3 shy of the time listed on package (they continue to cook in the oven).
4. Drain gnocchi well then immediately transfer to baking dish and spread out. Sprinkle in remaining tomatoes, then pour remaining 1 cups sauce evenly over top.
5. Top with a layer of mozzarella.
6. Bake in preheated oven until sauce is bubbling, about 10 – 12 minutes. If you’d prefer cheese browned a bit then broil closer to broiler element during the last 2 – 4 minutes of that cook time.
7. Garnish with basil and serve warm.

What to Serve with It?

• Breadsticks
• Garlic Bread
• No Knead Bread with Pesto or good olive oil and pepper for dipping
• Side salad with Italian dressing

Possible Variations

This recipe can easily be adjusted to suit your taste or use up what you have on hand. Try it with things like:

• Cooked sausage
• Cooked ground beef
• Sautéed vegetables (like asparagus, carrots, zucchini, eggplant)
• Parmesan
• Red pepper flakes
• Roasted garlic

Tips for the Best Baked Gnocchi

• Par-cook (vs. fully cooking) the gnocchi before adding to baking dish so it doesn’t end up soggy in the end.
• Use a good quality tomato basil sauce for best flavor. One made just a few ingredients like tomatoes, onions, basil, garlic and olive oil.
• If you like stretchy gooey mozzarella use low moisture block mozzarella, then if you prefer fresher flavor and chewier texture use fresh mozzarella.
• Stick with refrigerated or even frozen gnocchi if possible. It has a superior flavor to shelf stable gnocchi.
• Garnish with fresh basil or parsley for a nice pop of fresh green color to add nice contrast.

More Italian Recipes You’ll Love

• Alfredo Sauce
• Chicken Parmesan
• Italian Wedding Soup
• Marinara Sauce or a meaty Spaghetti Sauce

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Baked Gnocchi

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Ingredients

• 24 oz. refrigerated gnocchi
• 2 cups tomato basil marinara sauce (preferably Rao’s), divided
• 3 Tbsp heavy cream
• 1 1/3 cups grape tomatoes
• 8 oz. fresh mozzarella , cut into 6 - 8 slices, or 2 cups shredded block mozzarella
• 2 Tbsp fresh basil torn or whole small leaves, for garnish

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a medium casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray.
• Pour 1 cup of the sauce into baking dish and tilt dish to spread. Drizzle in 3 Tbsp heavy cream and stir (it doesn’t need to be fully incorporated). Add half the tomatoes.
• Bring a large pot of unsalted water to a boil. Cook gnocchi about 1/3 shy of the time listed on package (they continue to cook in the oven).
• Drain gnocchi well then immediately transfer to baking dish and spread out. Sprinkle in remaining tomatoes, then pour remaining 1 cups sauce evenly over top*.
• Top with mozzarella cheese.
• Bake in preheated oven until sauce is bubbling, about 10 - 12 minutes. If you’d prefer cheese browned a bit then broil closer to broiler element during the last 2 - 4 minutes of that cook time.
• Garnish with basil and serve warm.

Notes

• You can also add 3/4 lb. Italian sausage , cooked or 3/4 lb. ground beef , cooked to the marinara sauce.
• Shelf stable gnocchi works too it just doesn’t taste quite as good.
• If you really love sauce then you can just use a full 24 oz jar. Otherwise save for spaghetti for lunch tomorrow or freeze for another use.

Categorized:

• Main Dish
• Pasta & Italian

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• Katherine I’ve made this several times over the last few years and my family loves it every time! I always use Rao’s marinara, which imo is some of the best premade you can buy. March 21, 2023 Reply
• Janine Milner best recipe thank you June 21, 2020 Reply
• Sarah Thoughts on how the Trader Joe’s cauliflower ghocchi would stand up in this dish? February 8, 2020 Reply Jaclyn I haven’t ever used it but if it generally works well in place of standard gnocchi in other recipes it should work well here too. February 9, 2020 Reply
• Rhonda I made this recipe a few nights ago and am already getting requests to make again! It’s fast, easy, and delicious. You must give it a try, you won’t regret it.! January 11, 2020 Reply

Baked Gnocchi

Ingredients

• 24 oz. refrigerated gnocchi
• 2 cups tomato basil marinara sauce (preferably Rao’s), divided
• 3 Tbsp heavy cream
• 1 1/3 cups grape tomatoes
• 8 oz. fresh mozzarella , cut into 6 - 8 slices, or 2 cups shredded block mozzarella
• 2 Tbsp fresh basil torn or whole small leaves, for garnish

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a medium casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray.
• Pour 1 cup of the sauce into baking dish and tilt dish to spread. Drizzle in 3 Tbsp heavy cream and stir (it doesn’t need to be fully incorporated). Add half the tomatoes.
• Bring a large pot of unsalted water to a boil. Cook gnocchi about 1/3 shy of the time listed on package (they continue to cook in the oven).
• Drain gnocchi well then immediately transfer to baking dish and spread out. Sprinkle in remaining tomatoes, then pour remaining 1 cups sauce evenly over top*.
• Top with mozzarella cheese.
• Bake in preheated oven until sauce is bubbling, about 10 - 12 minutes. If you’d prefer cheese browned a bit then broil closer to broiler element during the last 2 - 4 minutes of that cook time.
• Garnish with basil and serve warm.

Notes

• You can also add 3/4 lb. Italian sausage , cooked or 3/4 lb. ground beef , cooked to the marinara sauce.
• Shelf stable gnocchi works too it just doesn’t taste quite as good.
• If you really love sauce then you can just use a full 24 oz jar. Otherwise save for spaghetti for lunch tomorrow or freeze for another use.

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