This baked gnocchi is covered in a creamy marinara sauce and topped with fresh mozzarella, parmesan cheese, and fresh herbs. You’ll devour it in no time!
What is Creamy Cheesy Baked Gnocchi
Creamy cheesy baked gnocchi is a main course entree consisting of gnocchi baked in a creamy tomato-based sauce and mixed with fresh spinach and a cheesy topping. Gnocchi are a type of pasta that consist of soft, fat, and chewy dumplings. They are most popular in Italian cuisine. If you love a cheesy pasta dish, you can’t skip our classic ricotta stuffed shells!
Creamy Cheesy Baked Gnocchi Video
How to Make Baked Gnocchi
Baked gnocchi may sound fancy and difficult to make, but there’s actually nothing to it. There are only four steps between you and a delicious Italian-inspired dinner.
- Simmer the sauce: In a deep oven-safe skillet or pan, combine pasta sauce and heavy cream and bring to a simmer.
- Stir in the gnocchi: Add gnocchi and spinach and stir. Cook until spinach is slightly wilted.
- Top it off with cheese: Layer parmesan cheese and freshly sliced mozzarella cheese on top.
- Bake: Bake at 400°F for 15 minutes. Garnish with fresh herbs.
Hot tip: Use frozen spinach when needed, but keep in mind it may taste slightly different compared to fresh spinach. Thaw and squeeze all the extra liquid out before adding to the dish.
Tips for the Best Gnocchi
There may be only four steps to this simple recipe, but follow these tips to make the tastiest version of cheesy creamy baked gnocchi.
- Use a high quality pasta sauce: The pasta sauce gives this dish a lot of flavor, so use a good quality one. We love using our homemade marinara sauce.
- Grate the parmesan fresh: Use a high quality parmesan cheese and grate it fresh for the best flavor.
- Chop spinach evenly: Cut spinach into similar sized pieces for even texture and flavor.
- Add herbs along with spinach: In addition to using herbs as a garnish, mix in a portion with the spinach for extra flavor.
- Season with more spices: When using a mild pasta sauce, consider adding additional seasoning such as Italian, salt, pepper, garlic powder, or onion powder. If the pasta sauce is highly flavorful, skip the extra spices.
- Make your own gnocchi: Skip the store-bought gnocchi and easily make your own delicious potato gnocchi at home.
Additions & Substitutions
Customize this cheesy baked goodness with more goodness using these additions or substitutions.
- Protein: Add a protein like italian sausage, turkey, chicken, bacon, or ground beef to the dish for extra heartiness. Brown small pieces of your choice of meat in the pan with olive oil prior to mixing with the cream sauce.
- Cheese: Swap out the mozzarella cheese for a different easy-melting cheese like cheddar.
- Spice: Add crushed red pepper flakes to the cream for a little heat.
- Veggies: Up your veggie intake with grape or cherry tomatoes. Add just before putting it in the oven.
Serving Creamy Cheesy Baked Gnocchi
Nothing pairs better with creamy cheesy gnocchi like Ukrainian garlic bread or easy garlic knots. Then, to top it off, add a side salad like broccoli cauliflower salad, bacon brussels sprouts salad or a refreshing Caesar salad. To add more meat to the entree, make a side of delicious parmesan crusted chicken or homemade kielbasa sausage.
Storage & Reheating Tips
When you find yourself with leftovers, refrigerate and reheat to safely enjoy your baked gnocchi for a few days. Avoid freezing as cooked gnocchi turns mushy after being frozen.
- Refrigerator: To store for up to three days, keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.
- Reheating: To quickly reheat a small portion, heat leftovers in the microwave. To reheat a large portion, place leftovers back into the oven at 350° and heat until warmed through.
FAQ
Does store-bought gnocchi need to be pre-cooked?
No, whether your gnocchi is the shelf-stable or frozen variety from the store, it will warm and cook in the marinara sauce in the oven
When is gnocchi fully cooked?
Gnocchi is fully cooked when the texture is similar to a doughy pasta. It will be soft and easy to chew.
What happens when gnocchi is overcooked?
When gnocchi is overcooked, it turns into a mushy consistency. However, this is more likely to happen with boiled gnocchi rather than baked.
More Pasta Recipes
- Chicken Gnocchi Soup – Olive Garden creamy chicken soup copycat
- Spinach Stuffed Shells – Jumbo shells full to the brim with spinach, three cheeses and covered in marinara.
- Spicy Chili Noodles – Noodles tossed in a sweet and spicy sauce.
- Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo – Pasta mixed with plump shrimp, freshly grated parmesan, and a creamy sauce
- Italian Pasta Salad – Salad made with cold pasta, fresh veggies, and savory salami
- Stuffed Shells with Meat Sauce – Three cheeses & meat sauce for the coziest pasta bake
- Beef Stroganoff – Melt-in-your-mouth strips of beef and mushrooms with egg noodles
Recipe
Ingredients
- 16 oz pasta sauce
- 1 cup whipping cream
- 16 oz gnocchi shelf stable or frozen
- 2 cups spinach chopped
- 1 cup grated parmesan
- 8 oz fresh mozzarella cheese sliced
Instructions
- In a deep, oven-friendly pan, combine pasta sauce with whipping cream and bring it to a simmer.
- Add gnocchi and spinach and cook while stirring, until spinach is slightly wilted.
- Top it off with parmesan cheese and freshly sliced mozzarella.
- Bake at 400°F for about 15 minutes. Top with fresh herbs and enjoy.
My family loved this baked gnocchi! Couldn't believe how easy it was to make! Definitely going on our monthly rotation!
Hi Jamie, the whole goal for me is to make cooking simple and easy for busy families. I am thrilled to know that this is the case with this recipe. Thank you for sharing your feedback!
I'm a sucker for a good pasta dish, and this one has OUT DONE ITSELF! Seriously so yummy and so easy. Will be making again.
Hi Andie, I love that this dish was a hit. Thank you for sharing your feedback!
looks so good! I'm definitely gonna try this, love the idea of one pan.
Hi Trish, I hope you love this recipe! Let me know what you think when you make it. Wishing you the best of luck!