This 8 ingredient weeknight dinner uses store-bought potato gnocchi that is tossed in a creamy sauce. This simple gnocchi with sauce recipe helps keep you on a budget without sacrificing any flavor and only requires one pan, which means minimal clean up. It is an excellent item to add to the weeknight dinner menu that the whole family will enjoy.
When it comes to gnocchi recipes, this simple tomato sauce takes this one to the next level. It is the ideal weeknight dinner because it is time friendly, budget friendly and also creates minimal dirty dishes. This is a great recipe if you are looking for one skillet meals that are simple and delicious.
This one-pan gnocchi dish is great when paired with a glass of white wine. It is an excellent dish to make for your significant other for a date night. If you want to add a little fun activity to date night, make this dish with homemade gnocchi. It can be a fun recipe to make with your significant other and gnocchi only requires a few simple ingredients.
This was inspired by my Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup recipe on this site, and pairs well with this Cheesy Garlic Bread or a fresh salad.
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Ingredients
The base of the creamy sauce is tomato paste and whipping cream. This brings the tomato flavor and creamy texture. The garlic provides an extra pop of flavor to the dish and those flavors are brought out by them being sautéed in olive oil. Fresh spinach and cherry tomatoes are added to add some freshness to this dinner. Store-bought gnocchi is the star of the dish. The sauce is finished off with salt and pepper for seasonings.
- olive oil
- garlic
- tomato paste
- gnocchi
- cherry tomatoes
- heavy whipping cream
- spinach
- salt and black pepper
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
In a casserole dish, add cherry tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper. Drizzle olive oil on top. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes. Once done, remove from the oven and mash and tomatoes that did not break open in the oven. Remove the tomatoes from the pan using a slotted spoon.
Boil the uncooked gnocchi in a large pot of salted water. The gnocchi is done once it starts to float at the top of the water. The cook times can vary but this process typically takes only 3-4 minutes so make sure you do not walk too far away while they are cooking.
Add olive oil to a large skillet. Then add in crushed garlic, cook until fragrant. Add in the tomato paste and allow it to cook into the garlic for about a minute. Add in the heavy cream and whisk the tomato paste into the heavy cream until completely combined. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Add chopped baby spinach and roasted fresh tomatoes to the cream sauce. Cook on medium heat until the spinach starts to wilt. Toss in the gnocchi. Serve immediately.
Hint: Don't overcook your garlic. This can ruin your entire dish. Overcooked garlic gives off a very strong flavor so it is very important to only cook until fragrant.
Substitutions
- Heavy Cream - heavy cream can be replaced with coconut milk if you are following a dairy free diet
- Gnocchi - for kind of gnocchi you have a few options. You can use store-bought gnocchi, make homemade potato gnocchi yourself using egg yolk, riced potatoes and all purpose flour. You can also use a gluten free version of gnocchi like cauliflower gnocchi
- Protein - this recipe is currently a vegetarian version. You can add protein into the meal for extra flavor as well. A delicious addition could be sausage or chicken
- Tomatoes - can be replaced with sun-dried tomatoes
Variations
- Spicy - add red pepper flakes while cooking to imbue heat into the dish
- Deluxe - add bacon or pancetta, top with a little grated fresh parmesan cheese to finish off the dish
- Herbaceous - add fresh herbs such as fresh basil, fresh sage or fresh parsley
- Buttered Gnocchi - toss gnocchi in a light buttered base sauce with parmesan cheese
See this Buttered Gnocchi recipe on my website!
FAQ's
I love Trader's Joe's cauliflower gnocchi. I do suggest either pan frying or air frying them though. I have noticed they do not hold up well to being boiled.
Absolutely! I would have loved this recipe as a kid! Think of it like spaghetti but to the next level with elevated pasta (aka the gnocchi) and a more decadent sauce. I do suggest cutting the gnocchi in fourths prior to serving to kids younger than five since gnocchi can be a choking hazard.
Equipment to make a Gnocchi with Sauce Recipe
To make this recipe, you will need a cast iron skillet and a pot to boil the gnocchi in. You are also going to need a small casserole dish to roast the tomatoes.
How to Store
Store the leftovers in an air tight container for up to one week. The creamy tomato sauce will thicken up on you so you can add a little butter, heavy cream or oil when reheating to help thin it out.
These ingredients do stand up well to freezing for about 2 months.
Top tip
Don't overcook the gnocchi. When gnocchi is overcooked, it can start to fall apart a little. You want your boiled gnocchi to be a pillowy gnocchi texture but not too pillowy. The best way to assure the gnocchi is not overcooked is to follow the package directions.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with roasted tomato cream sauce gnocchi:
📖 Recipe
Easy Gnocchi with Homemade Creamy Tomato Sauce Recipe
Equipment
- Skillet
- pot to boil gnocchi
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic crushed
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- 1 package gnocchi
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper before baking
- 1 ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- ½ cup spinach chopped
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a casserole dish, add cherry tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper. Drizzle olive oil on top. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes. Once done, remove from the oven and mash and tomatoes that did not break open in the oven. Remove the tomatoes from the pan using a slotted spoon.
- Boil the uncooked gnocchi in a large pot of salted water. The gnocchi is done once it starts to float at the top of the water. The cook times can vary but this process typically takes only 3-4 minutes so make sure you do not walk too far away while they are cooking.
- Add olive oil to a large skillet. Then add in crushed garlic, cook until fragrant. Add in the tomato paste and allow it to cook into the garlic for about a minute. Add in the heavy cream and whisk the tomato paste into the heavy cream until completely combined. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Add chopped baby spinach and roasted cherry tomatoes to the cream sauce. Cook on medium heat until the spinach starts to wilt. Toss in the gnocchi and turn the burner down to medium-low heat. Serve immediately.
Notes
- store in air tight container in fridge for up to 5 days.
- freeze up to 2 months.
- reheat before serving.
Nutrition
If you have any questions about how to make this roasted tomato spinach gnocchi or need other dinner recipe suggestions, leave a comment below!
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