Description
Baked gnocchi brings pillowy dumplings, tomato sauce, and melted cheese together in one pan. Quick, cozy, and satisfying with minimal prep.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound gnocchi
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried Italian herbs
Garnish:
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley
Instructions
- Crank your oven to a toasty 375F and grab a large baking dish that will hold all the cheesy goodness comfortably.
- Cook the entire 1 pound package of gnocchi according to the package directions, then carefully drain the pasta in a colander.
- Warm 2 cups of heavy cream in a large saucepan over medium heat, stirring gently to prevent scorching.
- Mince 2 cloves of garlic and drop them into the simmering cream along with 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, and ½ teaspoon dried Italian herbs.
- Sprinkle 1 cup of grated Parmesan cheese into the cream mixture, whisking until the cheese melts completely and creates a smooth sauce.
- Fold the drained gnocchi into the creamy sauce, ensuring each pillow of pasta gets completely coated.
- Pour the saucy gnocchi into your prepared baking dish and generously scatter 1 cup of shredded mozzarella across the top.
- Slide the dish into the preheated 375F oven and bake for exactly 25-30 minutes until the cheese turns golden and the edges bubble dramatically.
- Pull the dish from the oven and sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the top for a bright, fresh finish.
Notes
- Fresh gnocchi works best, but frozen can be substituted if packaged carefully and thawed completely before cooking.
- Drain gnocchi thoroughly to prevent excess water from making the sauce watery and diluting the rich cream base.
- Select a high-quality Parmesan cheese for deeper flavor, avoiding pre-grated versions which can contain stabilizers that prevent smooth melting.
- For a lighter version, replace heavy cream with half-and-half and use reduced-fat mozzarella to decrease overall calories without sacrificing creamy texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 to 6
- Calories: 560 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 40 g
- Saturated Fat: 25 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 125 mg