I’ve made this ridiculously easy vegetarian recipe countless times for my family and every time it’s a huge hit. And the BEST PART about it is you only need marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, fresh basil, and pre-made gnocchi to make it! And if I’m being honest, you don’t even really need the fresh basil. Which means you can have all the ingredients on hand for this comforting meal as an awesome backup for any busy weeknight. Oh- AND you can assemble it in advance to make it even EASIER! In this post, I’ll explain a little more about what gnocchi actually are (and how to pronounce it correctly), how to assemble this easy super cheesy baked gnocchi, and provide some recommendations for what kind of kind of sauce and cheese to use.
What are gnocchi?
Gnocchi are Italian dumplings made with either potatoes or ricotta cheese, along with some flour, formed into small little oval shapes. They’re similar to pasta in a lot of ways, but a bit more hearty and nutrient-packed because they have the added potatoes or cheese.
Um… how do you pronounce gnocchi?
A “gn” in Italian is similar to an “ñ” in Spanish. The g is kind of silent, but the n is drawn out. Kind of like “nee-OH-kee.” Some people say it more like “nee-AW-kee.”
Can you make your own gnocchi?
You can absolutely make your own gnocchi, and many people do! In fact, here’s a recipe for homemade ricotta gnocchi made with whole wheat flour. It’s a bit easier and faster to make ricotta gnocchi, but you can also make classic potato gnocchi, or even sweet potato gnocchi for a healthier option.
Is it WORTH making my own gnocchi?
That depends on how much you like cooking projects. I view gnocchi similarly to pasta in that, while I COULD make my own, and it may be tastier and more authentic, it’s not worth it to me. I generally use store bought gnocchi for all my gnocchi needs. DeLallo is a good brand, and you can buy it on amazon! Trader Joe’s also has a low-carb cauliflower gnocchi that people swear by (but I have yet to try it).
How to use gnocchi
Besides using it for this cheesy baked gnocchi, you can use gnocchi in a variety of other ways. Serve it simply with your favorite sauce. Sautè it for crispy pesto gnocchi with goat cheese and cherry tomatoes. Make chicken gnocchi soup, or use them as a shortcut dumpling in Chicken and Dumplings or throw them into Chicken Noodle Soup in place of the noodles. The possibilities (or should I say PASTABILITIES hahaha) are endless!
How to make CHEESY Baked Gnocchi
Variations
I love how simple the ingredient list is for this baked gnocchi, but it’s easy to put your own spin on it. You can add veggies (such as sautéed mushrooms or cooked spinach), or even some added protein, like rotisserie chicken or shrimp. You can also add other herbs, like oregano and parsley.
Other Easy Meals with around Four Ingredients
Roasted Eggplant Parmesan Stacks Dutch Oven Whole Roast Chicken New England Baked Haddock Three-Ingredient Oven-Fried Chicken Tenders Orzo with Mushrooms, Browned Butter, and Thyme 15-Minute Poached Salmon with Chive Butter Pasta with Bolognese Sauce
Check out all my 5-ingredient recipes! Give or take :-) Did you make this Cheesy Baked Gnocchi? Please comment below and Rate this Recipe!
