This creamy Pesto Gnocchi is an easy and straightforward dinner that you may throw collectively in quarter-hour or much less. You’ll wish to make this scrumptious selfmade consolation meals a part of your everlasting meal plan.

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Whenever you’re within the temper for a easy “throw collectively” one-pot meal, feast your eyes on this creamy pesto gnocchi. It goes from the stovetop to the desk in lower than quarter-hour.
And “technically” this isn’t a one-pan dinner as a result of I do suggest boiling the gnocchi individually. But it surely’s one-pan(ish) and price the additional dish to scrub.
What’s in This Pesto Gnocchi Recipe
We’re rocking:
- Gnocchi – I used shelf steady (discover it within the pasta aisle), however frozen or refrigerated gnocchi may even work.
- Pesto – use storebought or make your personal (associated: Pesto With out Pine Nuts or Vegan Pesto)
- Olive oil and a little bit of salted butter.
- Shredded Parmesan, and whereas the recipe card beneath recommends how a lot to make use of, everyone knows cheese ought to actually be measured together with your coronary heart.

And, if you wish to get fancy or make this a extra sturdy dish, you possibly can add toasted pine nuts, shredded Parmesan, sun-dried tomatoes, and/or crumbled crispy bacon.
I additionally extremely suggest including a minced clove of contemporary garlic in step 7 to punch up the flavour. You can even throw in a couple of fistfuls of child spinach in step 8.
Make Pesto Gnocchi
I’ll stroll you thru it with some ideas and tips and pictures, and also you’ll discover a printable recipe card on the backside of the submit with actual measurements and cooking instances.
There are two choices with this recipe – the quick model and the (barely) longer model. The longer model takes an additional 3-5 minutes. Each choices are scrumptious, however in the event you’re pressed for time, go for the quick model.
This recipe is FAST, so that you’ll wish to have every little thing measured and able to go when the gnocchi is boiling. Fortunately, we’re solely speaking about 2 minutes of prep time!
Boil the gnocchi in a pot of salted water for 2-3 minutes. It cooks tremendous shortly, and also you additionally don’t wish to overcook these scrumptious little potato dumplings. When the primary few gnocchi begins to drift, take away the pan from the warmth and instantly drain the gnocchi in a strainer.
Whereas the gnocchi is boiling, preheat a heavy-bottomed chrome steel skillet over medium warmth. Whereas the gnocchi is draining, add the olive oil and butter to the skillet.
Add the gnocchi to the skillet, and stir gently for 1 minute to coat the gnocchi within the oil/butter combination. Professional tip: if any gnocchi sticks to the pan, maintain gently stirring and scraping. It’s going to launch in the course of the cooking course of.
After that first minute of stirring, let the gnocchi sit within the skillet, stirring solely sometimes. You don’t need them to burn, however you do need some tasty searing motion taking place. This toasting course of solely takes 3-5 minutes, nevertheless it offers the gnocchi an unbelievable texture.
As soon as these gnocchi are wanting evenly browned and scrumptious, slowly pour within the heavy cream, add the pesto, and stir. Professional tip: Begin with the really helpful quantity of pesto and add extra to style. Through the recipe testing course of, we initially used 1/2 cup of pesto and the entire household discovered the flavour overpowering.
Prime the dish with shredded Parmesan and go reside your finest life.

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Ceaselessly Requested Questions
Sure! You need to use your favourite non-dairy butter and cream. Plant-based unflavored creamer would work effectively as would a cashew cream base.
If you happen to want directions on make cashew cream, you could find them on this submit on vegan aioli.
If you happen to devour dairy however want a lactose-free possibility, lactose-free milk or cream may even work on this dish.
Permit the gnocchi to chill and retailer them in an air-tight container within the fridge for 3-4 days. We love these Snapware glass spill-proof containers.
This dish reheats very effectively, however the gnocchi will take in quite a lot of the creamy pesto sauce. If you happen to plan to make it forward of time, both 1) add an additional 1/4 cup of heavy cream within the preliminary cooking course of (I’d additionally add an additional tbsp of pesto), or 2) reheat with a splash of heavy cream.
If you happen to’re making this to serve later, you possibly can skip the step of toasting the gnocchi. The crispy gnocchi texture doesn’t final when reheated.
Professional Suggestions/Recipe Notes
- I like to recommend utilizing a stainless-steel skillet when you’ve got one. It offers you one of the best sear on the gnocchi.
- If you happen to use refrigerated or frozen gnocchi, comply with the cooking directions on the bundle after which soar into step 4 within the printable recipe card beneath.
- I like to recommend utilizing salted butter on this recipe, as unsalted would possibly brown in the course of the cooking course of. This could possibly be scrumptious but when it isn’t watched carefully, it may burn.
- If you happen to use a milk product that’s decrease in fats than heavy cream, you’ll wish to heat the milk previous to including it to the pan. The excessive stage of milkfat within the heavy cream will maintain it from curdling within the warmth, however half-and-half, complete milk (or decrease) will seize up and curdle within the sizzling pan.
- Whereas this recipe is basically vegetarian as written, in the event you’re a strict vegetarian, you’ll wish to use a vegetarian-friendly Parmesan cheese.
- In case you have leftover pesto, take a look at my tutorial on Freeze Pesto. You can even make a few of our scrumptious Pesto Rice.
Extra Weeknight Dinners To Get pleasure from

Creamy Pesto Gnocchi
This creamy pesto gnocchi is an easy and straightforward dinner that you may throw collectively in quarter-hour or much less. You will wish to make this scrumptious selfmade consolation meals a part of your everlasting meal plan.
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In a big saucepan carry 2 quarts of salted water to a boil.
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Add the gnocchi and prepare dinner till al dente, ~2-3 minutes. When a couple of begin to float, they’re carried out.Begin the sauce whereas the gnocchi cooks.
16 oz gnocchi
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Drain the gnocchi. Put aside.
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Preheat a big deep skillet over medium warmth.
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Whereas the gnocchi is draining, add the olive oil and butter to the skillet.
1 tbsp salted butter, 1 tbsp olive oil
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Add the gnocchi to the skillet, and stir gently for 1 minute to coat the gnocchi within the oil/butter combination.
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After that first minute of stirring, let the gnocchi sit within the skillet for 3-5 minutes, stirring solely sometimes.
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Scale back the warmth to low and slowly pour within the heavy cream, add the pesto, and stir. Cook dinner on low for 1 minute.
1/2 cup heavy cream, 1/4 cup pesto
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Prime with shredded Parmesan and serve.
1/3 cup shredded Parmesan
- I like to recommend utilizing a stainless-steel skillet when you’ve got one. It offers you one of the best sear on the gnocchi.
- If you happen to use refrigerated or frozen gnocchi, comply with the cooking directions on the bundle after which soar into step 4 above.
- If you happen to use a milk product that’s decrease in fats than heavy cream, you’ll wish to heat the milk previous to including it to the pan. The excessive stage of milkfat within the heavy cream will maintain it from curdling within the warmth, however half-and-half, complete milk (or decrease) will seize up and curdle within the sizzling pan.
- Whereas this recipe is basically vegetarian as written, in case you are a strict vegetarian, you’ll wish to use a vegetarian-friendly Parmesan cheese.
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