26 Best Gnocchi Recipes for Dinner Everyone Will Love

Having a pasta night and want to try something new? Fluffy and tender gnocchi are a great choice. These recipes will satisfy your carb cravings—and you can make your own gnocchi or use store-bought.

Our best gnocchi recipes

Gnocchi is one of our favorite homemade dishes. These plump dumplings are made with just several ingredients (usually potatoes, flour and eggs), but the dishes made with them turn out first-class, even better than with pasteProperly prepared gnocchi have a light, airy texture, yet are incredibly filling. There are many variations of these Italian dumplings, including those made with ricotta, sweet potato, and even cauliflower, but nothing compares to the classic – potato gnocchi. You'll be pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to make at home. Potato gnocchi pair well with pesto or tomato sauce, but are also delicious simply with butter.

Potato gnocchi

You'll be pleasantly surprised by how easy it is to make soft and tender homemade gnocchi. They pair well with pesto or tomato sauce, but are equally delicious with butter.

Recipe: Potato gnocchi

Gnocchi with cauliflower

We added cauliflower to flour to make soft and fluffy gnocchi. Toss them with a brown butter sauce with capers for a delicious gluten-free lunch.

Recipe: Potato gnocchi with cauliflower

Gnocchi with sausage and peppers on a baking sheet

Bake gnocchi (instead of boiling) for a quick, sheet-pan lunch. Peppers, onions, tomatoes, and sausage make a wonderful base for these little potato dumplings, topped with Parmesan cheese and baked until crispy.

Recipe: Italian Potato Gnocchi Stew on a Baking Sheet

Mac and cheese with gnocchi

Katie's creamy gnocchi mac 'n' cheese is made with Dijon mustard and butternut squash puree. It's topped with a crispy mixture of bacon, crackers, and sharp cheddar and served straight from the pan, making cleanup a breeze.

Recipe: Gnocchi Mac 'n' Cheese

Ricotta gnocchi

Jeffrey's light and airy gnocchi are made with creamy ricotta and Parmesan cheese and pair perfectly with a garlicky tomato sauce and pancetta. Since gnocchi freezes well, make a large batch and keep it in the freezer for up to two weeks; they're a lifesaver when you need a quick dinner.

Recipe: Gnocchi with ricotta

Gnocchi "Primavera"

This dish is quick to make on a weekday using store-bought potato gnocchi. The sauce, perfect with fresh vegetables, requires a little Parmesan cheese and lemon zest.

Recipe: Gnocchi "Primavera"

Summer gnocchi with corn and mushrooms

You'll want to make this quick, easy dinner all summer long: fresh leeks, corn on the cob, and wild mushrooms pair with store-bought potato dumplings.

Recipe: Summer gnocchi with corn and mushrooms

Gnocchi salad with pesto sauce

Katie's salad makes green vegetables super easy to eat. She pairs store-bought gnocchi with pesto, green beans, and peas for a quick-to-cook side dish.

Recipe: Salad with gnocchi and pesto

Sweet Potato Gnocchi in Creamy Maple Sauce

Giada's easy-to-make homemade gnocchi is a wonderful Italian twist on the classic sweet potato side dish.

Recipe: Sweet potato gnocchi with a brown butter, maple syrup, cinnamon, and sage sauce

Gnocchi casserole with ham and peas

A one-pan dish topped with golden, melted cheese? Yes, please! Potato gnocchi, ham, and peas are coated in a creamy sauce flavored with thyme. Top with grated Gruyere or Swiss cheese and broil until melted.

Recipe: Cheese casserole with Italian dumplings, ham and green peas

Italian Eggplant Gnocchi Casserole

This comforting, gratin-like dish is packed with wonderful Italian flavors. It's surprisingly high in fiber and incredibly easy to prepare.

Recipe: Eggplant casserole in the oven

Baked gnocchi with gorgonzola

For a sophisticated version of mac 'n' cheese, bake gnocchi in a creamy Gorgonzola sauce and finish with a crispy breadcrumb topping.

Recipe: Gnocchi casserole with Gorgonzola

Crispy gnocchi with mushrooms

For extra-crispy gnocchi, add them to a preheated, oiled frying pan. Bonus: no need to wait for the water to boil!

Recipe: Fried gnocchi with mushrooms

Chicken with gnocchi in tomato-basil sauce

You'll love this quick and easy dinner. Layer the chicken and gnocchi on top of the cooked zucchini for a more veggie-friendly option if you have picky eaters.

Recipe: One-Pan Chicken Gnocchi with Tomato and Basil Sauce

Minestrone with gnocchi

Gnocchi make a tender and filling addition to vegetable minestrone soup.

Recipe: Minestrone with gnocchi

Niçoise salad with gnocchi dumplings

Pair store-bought gnocchi with a flavorful Bolognese sauce made with bacon, red wine, and Nicoise olives.

Recipe: Gnocchi in meat sauce

Gnocchi with fresh marinara sauce

What's the secret to Valerie's perfect gnocchi? She uses a potato masher to ensure every bite is light and airy.

Recipe: Gnocchi in fresh marinara sauce

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Bolognese with mini gnocchi dumplings

Preparing a filling dinner doesn't take much time. Thanks to store-bought gnocchi, this cozy, cheesy dish will be on the table in less than an hour.

Recipe: Gnocchi in Bolognese sauce

Homemade gnocchi

Making homemade gnocchi can take time and effort, but it's well worth it when you're tucked into a big bowl of soft potato dumplings. If you make more than you're planning to eat, place the gnocchi on a floured baking sheet and freeze until firm, then transfer to a plastic bag.

Recipe: Homemade gnocchi

Baked gnocchi with vegetables

You can't go wrong with Jeff's vegetable-heavy main course. He roasts fresh vegetables and store-bought gnocchi on a baking sheet, then tosses them with melted butter, Parmesan, and basil.

Recipe: Oven-baked gnocchi with vegetables

Gnocchi with basil

Fresh herbs add a rich flavor to any dish, and they're abundant in summer. Add chopped basil to the gnocchi mixture and serve with classic ingredients: sliced fresh tomatoes, pine nuts, and Parmesan cheese.

Recipe: Basil Gnocchi

Goat cheese gnocchi with bacon, dates and wine sauce

Damaris masterfully prepares Southern twists on traditional dishes, and her goat cheese gnocchi is no exception. She simmers bacon and dates in a mixture of white wine and vegetable broth for a rich, flavorful sauce.

Recipe: Goat cheese gnocchi in wine sauce with bacon and dates

Sardinian-style gnocchi with shrimp and arugula

Giada's recipe is inspired by Southern-style Italian pasta, which requires only water, flour, and salt. The gnocchi are topped with a simple shrimp sauce and slightly bitter arugula.

Recipe: Sardinian Gnocchi with Shrimp and Arugula

Gnocchi "cacio e pepe"

Want to impress your dinner guests? Homemade gnocchi will make the classic cacio e pepe even more delicious.

Recipe: Gnocchi with cheese and pepper "Cacho e pepe"

Airfryer Gnocchi with Pumpkin and Sage

Gnocchi in the air fryer? This recipe will convince you! After trying several techniques, we discovered that boiling the gnocchi first results in a golden, crispy crust while the center remains soft and fluffy. Top it with roasted pumpkin, toasted walnuts, brown butter, and sage for a truly comforting cold-weather dish.

Recipe: Airfryer Pumpkin Gnocchi with Brown Butter Sage Sauce

Gnocchi "cacio e pepe" with mushrooms

Store-bought gnocchi are ideal because they pair beautifully with any vegetables, and you can cook everything in one saucepan, eliminating the need to boil water. We love this combination with mushrooms (for an easier recipe, start with our baked mushrooms recipe). Parmesan, butter, and olive oil combine to create a rich, creamy sauce in less than 15 minutes.

Recipe: Gnocchi "Cacio e Pepe" with mushrooms