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    You are here: Home / Recipes / Pasta

    Easy Creamy Gnocchi Bake

    Published: Mar 3, 2021 · Modified: Apr 10, 2023 by Susie Weinrich · This post may contain affiliate links. Leave a Comment

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    a close picture of baked gnocchi in a skillet
    pinterest image with text

    Creamy Gnocchi Bake is an excellent one pan dinner that is done in about 30 minutes! Pillow-y soft gnocchi pasta is coated in a creamy tomato sauce and covered in melty mozzarella cheese and baked in the oven.

    a large skillet with baked gnocchi

    We love a one pan dinner here at Mom’s Dinner! They are generally really easy to make, you have less dirty dishes to clean up after dinner, and they are usually FULL of flavor. Here are some more one pan dinners we love:

    • Mediterranean Shrimp Skillet
    • Enchilada Skillet
    • Lasagna Skillet

    Now if gnocchi is not your jam, you can make a very similar dish with this recipe for Spaghetti with Tomato Cream Sauce!

    Table of Contents hide
    1 Ingredients & Tips
    2 What is Gnocchi?
    3 Step By Step Picture Instructions
    4 Serving & Side Dishes
    5 Recipe Tips
    6 More Skillet Recipes
    7 Did you make this recipe?!
    8 Easy Gnocchi Bake Recipe

    Ingredients & Tips

    The ingredients in this Gnocchi Bake Recipe are pretty simple, a lot of which you probably already have in your pantry.

    Pictured below are the ingredients to grab:

    ingredients for gnocchi bake recipe on a table
    Ingredients Clockwise: Diced tomatoes, red pepper flakes, potato gnocchi, tomato paste, sugar and kosher salt, olive oil, heavy whipping cream, marinara sauce, garlic, dried basil, onion, mozzarella cheese.

    Gnocchi: For this recipe you are using a shelf stable potato gnocchi. It can be found be the dry pasta in your grocery store.

    Marinara sauce: Use a 24 oz jar of your family’s favorite marinara sauce. Pictured above is Prego, but we generally use Rao’s.

    Diced tomatoes: Diced tomatoes are a great addition to the texture and flavor of this Baked Gnocchi dish. Make sure to drain your tomatoes before adding to the recipe.

    Mozzarella cheese: It is reccomeneded to shred your own cheese. It will melt creamier and more flavoful than pre-shredded cheese. If you can get whole milk mozzarella to shred that will be the best.

    What is Gnocchi?

    Gnocchi is a type of Italian pasta. They are little pillow like pastas that are dense and traditionally made with potato.

    The word gnocchi is derived from the word “nocca”, meaning knuckle. Which makes sense because if you look at the pasta it does kind of resemble a knuckle!

    a picture of gnocchi up close

    The actual pronunciation of gnocchi can be a divisive conversation… so I will just tell you how I say it – “nyoh-key”.

    I have only tested this recipe with store-bought potato gnocchi. However you could also make your own! There are two types of gnocchi:

    • Ricotta Gnocchi
    • Potato Gnocchi

    Step By Step Picture Instructions

    Preheat the oven to 400°.

    For this recipe you will need an oven safe skillet.

    However, if you do not have an oven safe skillet start in a skillet and then transfer to a casserole dish before popping in the oven.

    Let’s get started…

    In a skillet over medium-low heat add the olive oil. Soften the onions in the oil for 5 minutes.

    Pro Tip: Don’t let the onions brown, if they begin to brown or caramelize turn the heat down.

    Add the garlic and sauté another 3-4 minutes.

    Stir in the tomato paste, sugar, kosher salt, and dried basil.

    Pro Tip: lightly crush the dried basil in the palm of your hand to release the flavor oils.

    onions and garlic coated in hers and tomato paste in a skillet

    Pour in the heavy cream and simmer lightly for about 3-4 minutes.

    Pro Tip: don’t sub a lesser fat dairy product for the heavy cream, it won’t thicken the same.

    orange colored cream sauce in a skillet

    Stir in the drained tomatoes, marinara sauce, and uncooked gnocchi.

    gnocchi coated in a tomato cream sauce in a skillet

    If your skillet isn’t oven safe go ahead and transfer the mixture to a baking pan before moving on.

    Top with mozzarella cheese.

    a hand sprinkling mozzarella cheese over gnocchi

    Bake for 20 minutes. If you like a little browning on your cheese, broil for an additional 2 minutes.

    Cool for 5 minutes and then serve!

    Serving & Side Dishes

    Just like any pasta dish, this baked gnocchi is great with a side salad and some garlic bread.

    This Big Italian Salad is a great option if you want to add lots of veggies to your dinner. Haricot Verts (Green Beans) can also be a great addition to this dinner.

    Recipe Tips

    • Give your onions plenty of time to soften. Crunchy onions are not what you are looking for here!
    • If you like it really cheesy, add all the cheese you want!! You can even do a combo of cheeses (parmesan, mozzarella, provolone, etc…), or use fresh mozzarella!
    • If you don’t like browning on your cheese, skip the broiler part.
    • If your skillet isn’t oven safe, you can still make this dish. Just transfer everything to a baking dish before putting it in the oven.
    • Lightly crush the basil in the palm of your hand before adding it to the pan, it will release more flavor.
    • Make sure you use heavy cream (no subs) so it will thicken the sauce.
    A skillet full of gnocchi in a tomato cream sauce topped with melted mozzarella cheese

    More Skillet Recipes

    • lasagna skillet with a fork
      30 minute Easy Skillet Lasagna
    • pesto lasagna with mozzarella and pine nuts
      Pesto Lasagna Skillet
    • Skillet Enchiladas topped with cilantro, avocado, and green onions
      Easy Enchilada Skillet

    Susie Weinrich washing produce

    Did you make this recipe?!

    If you make this recipe I would love to hear your review. Pop down to the comment section and connect with me.

    Then sign up for our Weekly Newsletter so you never miss a new recipe!

    Rate This Recipe
    gnocchi bake in an oven safe skillet with a serving taken out of the pan

    Easy Gnocchi Bake Recipe

    Pillow-y soft gnocchi pasta are coated in a tomato cream sauce and then topped with melty mozzarella cheese. Just one pan and about 30 minutes and dinner is ready!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate SaveSaved to Grow
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 644kcal
    Author: Susie Weinrich

    Equipment

    • Oven safe skillet

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 small onion diced (yellow or white)
    • 3 garlic cloves minced
    • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
    • 2 teaspoon dried basil
    • 1 tsp sugar
    • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
    • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
    • 1 cup heavy cream
    • 2 cups jarred marinara
    • 15 oz diced tomatoes drained well
    • 1 lb vacuum packed – shelf stable potato gnocchi (uncooked)
    • 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese (whole milk mozzarella, fresh shredded is best)
    Prevent your screen from going dark while you are cooking!

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 400°.
    • In an oven safe skillet add the olive oil over medium-low heat. Soften the onions in the oil for 5-7 minutes.
      Tip: Don't let the onions brown, if they begin to brown or caramelize turn the heat down.
      2 tablespoon olive oil, 1 small onion
    • Add the garlic and sauté another 3-4 minutes.
      3 garlic cloves
    • Stir in the tomato paste, sugar, kosher salt, basil, and red pepper flakes.
      1 tablespoon tomato paste, 2 teaspoon dried basil, 1 teaspoon sugar, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
    • Pour in the heavy cream and simmer lightly for about 3-4 minutes.
      1 cup heavy cream
    • Stir in the drained tomatoes, marinara sauce, and uncooked potato gnocchi.
      Tip: if your skillet isn't oven safe go ahead and transfer the mixture to a baking pan.
      2 cups jarred marinara, 15 oz diced tomatoes, 1 lb vacuum packed – shelf stable potato gnocchi
    • Top with mozzarella cheese.
      1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
      a hand sprinkling mozzarella cheese over gnocchi
    • Bake for 20 minutes.
      If you like a little browning on your cheese, broil for an additional 2 minutes.
    • Cool for 5 minutes and then serve!

    Serving

    • Serve large scoops of this Gnocchi Bake in bowls or a plate.
    • Great served with a big salad and garlic bread. We love this Big Italian Salad or a Caesar Salad.

    Notes:

    Recipe Tips: 
    • Give your onions plenty of time to soften. Crunchy onions are not what you are looking for here!
    • If you like it really cheesy, add all the cheese you want!! You can even do a combo of cheeses (parmesan, mozzarella, provolone, etc…), or use fresh mozzarella!
    • If you don’t like browning on your cheese, skip the broiler part.
    • If your skillet isn’t oven safe, you can still make this dish. Just transfer everything to a baking dish before putting it in the oven.
    • Lightly crush the basil in the palm of your hand before adding it to the pan, it will release more flavor.
    • Make sure you use heavy cream (no subs) so it will thicken the sauce.
    Did you try this recipe? Connect with me & let me know how it turned out by commenting below!
    Jump to Comments
    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 644kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 21g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 100mg | Sodium: 1581mg | Potassium: 758mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 1916IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 348mg | Iron: 7mg

    If nutrition facts are provided they are calculated as an estimate to the best of our knowledge.

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    About Susie Weinrich

    Susie Weinrich is the recipe developer, food photographer, and content creator behind Mom's Dinner. She has over 20 years experience in the food industry. Currently, Susie shares all her recipes and food knowledge on Mom's Dinner. You will find her recipes are easy to follow and full of tips and tricks to make sure the recipe you are making turns out perfect!

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