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Creamy Skillet Gnocchi

Creamy skillet gnocchi with spinach in a rich Parmesan cream sauce.

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This rich and savory one-pan dish is the ultimate quick comfort food. Pillowy gnocchi are pan-seared and simmered in a creamy Parmesan sauce with spinach, ready in about 20 minutes. It’s a cozy, satisfying dinner perfect for busy weeknights.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 (16-ounce) package shelf-stable potato gnocchi
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
  • 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 0.5 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
  • 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
  • 0.25 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 2 cups fresh baby spinach
  • Fresh parsley or basil, chopped, for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a large skillet, heat olive oil and butter over medium-high heat. Add gnocchi in a single layer and cook without stirring for 3-4 minutes until golden brown on one side. Stir and cook 2-3 more minutes until lightly browned all over.
  2. Push gnocchi to the side. Add diced onion to the center and cook 2-3 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant. Stir everything together.
  3. Pour in broth to deglaze the pan, scraping up browned bits. Simmer for 2 minutes to reduce slightly. Reduce heat to medium-low and pour in heavy cream. Add Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using). Stir to combine.
  4. Let sauce simmer gently for 3-4 minutes until it begins to thicken. Remove skillet from heat. Stir in grated Parmesan cheese until melted and sauce is smooth.
  5. Fold in fresh spinach until wilted from the residual heat. Taste and adjust seasoning. Garnish with fresh herbs and extra Parmesan before serving.

Notes

For best texture, do not skip browning the gnocchi. Always remove the skillet from heat before adding the Parmesan to prevent the sauce from breaking. For a lighter version, use whole milk or canned coconut milk instead of heavy cream. Add cooked chicken, sausage, or white beans for extra protein.

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