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30 Easy Gnocchi Recipes You Can Make At Home

It's pretty unfair that at most meals, we have to choose between our two favorite carbs: pasta and potatoes. That is exactly why we're devoted to gnocchi, the miracle food that manages to combine both into soft little pillows of heaven. Plus, if you start with store-bought gnocchi (which we wholeheartedly endorse), they're the ideal foundation for an easy weeknight meal. Here are 30 of our favorite easy gnocchi recipes.

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We always thought of gnocchi as a hearty cold-weather dish. But this skillet, loaded with fresh corn and tomatoes, proves otherwise. (It's also drop-dead gorgeous, just saying.)

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"Done in 30 minutes" is music to our weary Monday night ears. FYI, feel free to swap in any green vegetable here—Brussels sprouts, perhaps?

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We never said gnocchi was diet food (but we promise, this ooey-gooey cheese situation is soooo worth it).

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Behold, proof that gnocchi doesn't have to be a massive carb overload. This gluten-free version subs in cauliflower for some of the starch, making it a lighter (but no less delicious) version of our favorite comfort food.

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News flash: Chicken noodle soup is out, chicken gnocchi soup is in.

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This is definitely dinner-party fancy, but it's deceptively easy to put together.

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Another great lower-carb alternative—this one swaps potatoes for carrots, which gives the dish a light sweetness (and a great color, too).

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On the other hand, sometimes copious amounts of cheese are exactly what the doctor ordered. (Yes, there are double potatoes in this dish.)

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Making gnocchi from scratch sounds super intimidating. But we promise, this recipe couldn't be simpler (plus, the ricotta makes the gnocchi extra fluffy). Prepare to impress the entire table.

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All those veggies need a little melted mozzarella to balance everything out.

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It's like a big, warm hug in a bowl. And best of all, most of the cooking time is hands-off simmering.

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Behold, a mash-up of all of our of favorite things.

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It's cheesy, gooey and bubbly, not to mention ready in 20 minutes and 1,000-percent kid-friendly.

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This dish has a secret: It starts with everyone's favorite cauliflower gnocchi from Trader Joe's.

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Springtime produce never tasted so delicious.

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If you use store-bought gnocchi, it's only six ingredients—and one of them is burrata.

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It's all cooked on one pan, so you can spend more time eating and less time doing dishes.

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This has "cozy dinner eaten from the couch" written all over it.

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Well, look who's fancy all of a sudden!

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We would eat just about anything if it were covered in this sauce. (Hint: Make a loaf of crusty bread to sop up the extra.)

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A magnificent umami bomb in a bowl. (And did we mention it's ready in 30 minutes?)

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Everything we love about fall produce in one recipe.

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Step one: Head to the farmers market and stock up on seasonal veggies. Step two: Eat.

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We'll always love baked ziti, but this quick version with pillowy gnocchi has stolen our hearts.

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This classic sausage ragù would make any Italian grandma proud.

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RELATED: 24 Old-School Recipes Your Italian Grandma Used to Make

Hearty, comforting and ready in under 30 minutes. Hello, new weeknight favorite.

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This genius recipe combines two of our weeknight dinner prep secret tricks: store-bought pasta and our trusty sheet pan. Throw everything together, and dinner's on the table in no time.

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It doesn't get any faster or easier than this. And with only a handful of ingredients, you can easily make it on a weeknight.

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Honestly, we didn't know it was possible for French onion soup to get more delicious.

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Feel free to use whatever winter veggies you have on hand. (Just don't skimp on the super-savory sage cream sauce.)

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RELATED: 18 Chicken Pasta Recipes to Make for Dinner Tonight

Nine Gnocchi Recipes So Crazy Good You'll Forget Regular Pasta Ever Existed

If you're searching for gnocchi recipes that use either the homemade or store-bought versions, you've come to the right place. These cute mini dumplings are next-level delicious pillows of heaven. And they're so easy to customize as they can be topped with a variety of sauces or served with any type of vegetable you have on hand. Plus, making dinner with them is super quick if you use pre-made gnocchi—just open the package and toss 'em in. And gnocchi recipes come together with minimal clean-up since you can often make the whole dish in one skillet.

A platter of these light potato gnocchi, smothered with a thick sauce, is an ideal comfort meal. To help you make gnocchi a regular staple at your house, here's what you need to know about gnocchi, and a collection of the best recipes.

What is gnocchi made of?

Gnocchi (the singular is gnoccho, but who eats just one?) are basically dumplings that are made of flour, potato, semolina, egg and cheese, sometimes ricotta—or a combination of these ingredients. Gnocchi recipes can be put together with handmade gnocchi or the pre-made variety purchased in the fresh pasta section of many grocery stores.

Related: 101 Creative and Delicious Pasta Recipes

Should you use pre-made gnocchi?

While gnocchi are always popular at Italian restaurants, they can be made at home with a few common ingredients, although the process can be slightly laborious and time-consuming just FYI. Making gnocchi takes patience and persistence. The best potato gnocchi can be light and delicate, but if made incorrectly, they can be dense, rubbery and/or soggy. If you want to avoid the hassle, you can also use store-bought gnocchi for any of these recipes

If you shop at Trader Joe's, you've most likely seen (or bought) their ever-popular frozen Trader Joe's Cauliflower Gnocchi. If so, then consider using this amazing low-carb pasta substitute for any gnocchi recipe you find that looks good! There are so many delicious dishes and recipes with cauliflower these days, but using the Trader Joe's frozen cauliflower gnocchi in recipes is a dinnertime lifesaver for those who are eating low-carb—or who just want healthy, pre-made gnocchi.

How do you pronounce gnocchi?

While this word may look hard, it's made much easier if you simply ignore the 'g' at the start. Here's how to pronounce gnocchi: NYOW-kee, with the accent on the first syllable.

Is gnocchi healthy?

Gnocchi recipes can be made healthy, especially if you have small portions, focus on lighter sauces and pump up the veggies that accompany it. To keep calories in check when it comes to serving gnocchi, lean on plain tomato sauce or a bit of pesto, rather than cream-based ones. And when making a gnocchi recipe, double up on veggies that are easy to add like spinach or arugula, which wilt down fast, or sautéed summer squash, mushrooms or peppers.

Related: 60 Ways to Cook Up Tortellini

Is gnocchi pasta?

Indeed, gnocchi are a type of small pasta dumpling and they can be prepared and served much the way you would tortellini or ravioli. Whether freshly made, frozen or packaged from the store, gnocchi can be boiled, fried, roasted or cooked in a skillet.

What to serve with gnocchi?

Since gnocchi can be on the filling side, a lighter accompaniment is in order here. You might serve a green salad with cucumbers, shredded carrots and slices of radish with a vinaigrette. Or offer a platter of tomatoes and avocado with basil on top. As the weather turns cooler, consider roasting vegetables like Brussels sprouts or butternut squash to plate with gnocchi recipes.

Related: Yup, Pasta Shape Matters! Here Are 30 Types You Should Know About

Is gnocchi vegan?

Alas, vegan eaters may have to look elsewhere. Gnocchi does include eggs (and often cheese). You could use vegan cheese in place of those made from cow's or sheep's milk and you can skip the egg too, but typically eggs are key here, so gnocchi as a vegan dinner isn't ideal.

Where to buy gnocchi

As mentioned, gnocchi is sold rather widely in grocery stores, either in the deli section where fresh pasta is displayed, or as a shelf-stable option in the spaghetti aisle. You can also check for gnocchi at specialty stores that import and sell Italian products.

Related: Best Homemade Winter Pasta Recipes

Best Gnocchi Recipes

Soft, airy-pillows of goodness twinkled with a quick and easy sauce can be a star-of-the-show main course or an exceptional side dish. These are our favorite recipes.

Photo courtesy of The Grand Tier Restaurant

Is your family begging for something simple tonight? Here are perfectly easy and super tasty spaghetti recipes that'll satisfy.

Giada De Laurentiis' 'Fail-Proof' Gnocchi Recipe Is 'Easier ...

Tender, fluffy gnocchi are nestled in a simple, satisfying butter sauce in Food Network star Giada De Laurentiis' recipe. It's easy to make and even more important, delicious. Here's the TV culinary host's recipe.

Food Network personality Giada De LaurentiisEthan Miller/Getty Images De Laurentiis' gnocchi requires just a handful of ingredients

The Italian-American chef's recipe calls for russet potatoes, flour, one egg, unsalted butter, fresh thyme leaves, and shaved Parmesan cheese. The dish should, of course, be salted and peppered to taste.

De Laurentiis says on her food and lifestyle blog Giadzy of the pillowy dish, "This is a great, fail-proof gnocchi recipe. If you've never tried making it before, just know that it's easier than you think! The gnocchi are so fluffy and tender, they just need a really simple sauce – and this browned butter with thyme is just perfect."

Find the full recipe on Food Network's site.

Giada De Laurentiis' shortcut to cooking the potatoes for this recipe

"I have two russet potatoes to make this gnocchi; I put them in the microwave for 12 minutes. Now they're cooked," the chef says in the Food Network video for this recipe.

The flesh of the potato is raked out with a knife or fork then "I let them cool down a little bit, then I'll start scooping them out into a bowl."

The Simply Giada star adds a full cup of flour to the potatoes ("I just want my potatoes to not be too hot"). An egg is incorporated into the potato mixture.

"The great thing about gnocchi dough," De Laurentiis notes, "is that it's not one of those doughs that has to sit and rest, so it's really great."  Note of caution from the chef, however: "You don't want to overwork your dough too much, but you do want to make sure that it kind of all comes together."

De Laurentiis forms the dough into a circular shape and then cuts it into four equal pieces. Each quarter piece is rolled into a long, thin shape, "about a half-inch thick roll, 20-some inches long." Now, the snake-like dough is cut into inch-long pieces.

Along with a rich, nutty brown butter sauce infused with thyme, the Food Network personality's gnocchi with thyme butter sauce is an incredibly easy and quick comfort meal.

Home cooks were impressed with how easy De Laurentiis' gnocchi are to make

"Mine weren't as pretty as the photo, but my 9-year-old said it was "amaaaaaazing". He is picky, so this was a definite victory. I will be purchasing a gnocchi board online & making these again!," one reviewer said.

Another home cook added, "I made this last night and it was delicious. Easier than you think!"

Finally, another fan summed it up saying, "Easy and delicious! Big Hit! Tender, fluffy, absolutely perfect gnocchi!"

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