Description
This Marry Me Gnocchi recipe is a creamy, flavorful one-pan dish perfect for a quick weeknight dinner. Tender gnocchi is sautéed with garlic and Italian seasoning, simmered in vegetable broth with sun-dried tomatoes and a touch of heat from red pepper flakes, then finished with spinach, cream, Parmesan, and fresh basil for a luscious, comforting meal that’s easy to prepare in just 17 minutes.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 medium cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 1/2 cups vegetable broth
- 16 ounces gnocchi
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped
- 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt (plus more to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (plus more to taste)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (plus more for serving)
- 2/3 cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 cups baby spinach, roughly chopped
- 5-6 fresh basil leaves, chiffonaded (plus more for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare the base: Place a large sauté pan over medium-low heat and add the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the minced garlic and Italian seasoning. Sauté for about one minute, stirring frequently, until the garlic is tender and fragrant.
- Add broth and main ingredients: Gradually pour in the vegetable broth while stirring to deglaze the pan and lift any brown bits. Then add the gnocchi, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, crushed red pepper flakes, kosher salt, and black pepper.
- Cook and simmer: Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cover the pan and cook for 5 minutes, allowing the gnocchi to become tender as it soaks up the flavors.
- Wilt spinach and finish sauce: Remove the lid and stir in the roughly chopped baby spinach. Cook for approximately one minute until the spinach wilts. Then stir in the grated Parmesan cheese, heavy whipping cream, and chiffonaded fresh basil leaves. Taste the sauce and adjust salt and pepper seasoning as desired.
- Serve: Plate the gnocchi and garnish generously with additional Parmesan cheese, fresh basil leaves, and optional crushed red pepper flakes for extra heat if preferred.
Notes
- Use fresh garlic for the best flavor, but garlic powder can be substituted if needed.
- If you prefer a vegetarian option, ensure the Parmesan cheese is vegetarian-friendly (some contain animal rennet).
- You can swap heavy cream for half-and-half for a lighter dish, but the sauce will be less rich.
- Sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil can add more flavor; just reduce or omit the olive oil in the pan accordingly.
- Fresh gnocchi cooks faster, so adjust simmer time if using fresh instead of frozen.
- For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free gnocchi made from potatoes or alternative flours.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
