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Cheesy Gnocchi Bake

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4.87 from 23 votes

Cheesy Gnocchi Bake is so simple and quick to make. Soft gnocchis are baked to perfection in tomato sauce, melty cheese, and creamy ricotta. This makes a satisfying and easy meal for any night of the week! 

If you love pasta dishes, you’ll love this Easy Pastina and Ricotta and Spinach Stuffed Shells recipe!

PIN this Gnocchi Bake to try later!

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This Gnocchi Bake is filled with cozy, comforting, and delicious flavors that you just can’t resist. This is the kind of meal you crave after a long day, or when you simply want a super easy, quick, wholesome meal that requires minimal time in the kitchen. 

Soft and pillowy gnocchis are cooked in a bubbly tomato sauce with melted cheese and creamy ricotta. The gnocchis are incredibly tender and make a hearty meal or side dish. This can be made in less than 30 minutes so it makes any night of the week easy. 

You only need a handful of ingredients to put this Baked Gnocchi Recipe together and it will quickly become part of your dinner menu rotation.  Any type of Pasta Bake is amazing because 1) they are always delicious  2) they are incredibly easy to make 3)Just like this recipe, you can prep the entire dish the night before so all you have to do it bake it. 

cheesy gnocchi bake on spoonPin

INGREDIENTS

Gnocchi: you can find gnocchis near the pasta aisle at the grocery store. Gnocchis are very delicate and cook very quickly when boiled. 

Marinara sauce: use jarred or a homemade sauce. I always recommend sprucing up the jarred sauce by adding Italian seasoning, fresh basil, a pinch of salt, garlic, and olive oil. 

Basil: fresh basil leaves work best and bring the most flavor, especially for this dish.

Ricotta cheese: whole-milk or park-skim cheese can be used. Ricotta will add creaminess, a touch of sweetness, and texture. 

Cheese: parmesan and mozzarella cheese are best in this recipe. I always recommend grating and shredding your own cheese to ensure the cheese is extra melty.  

Heavy cream: adds the perfect amount of creaminess. 

gnocchi bake in bowlPin

HOW TO MAKE GNOCCHI BAKE

COOK GNOCCHI. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the gnocchi according to package instructions. It should only take 1-2 minutes. Carefully drain the gnocchi (they will be very delicate).
 
ADD MARINARA SAUCE. Add 1 cup of marinara sauce to the bottom of the baking dish to cover the bottom of the dish.
 
SWIRL IN HEAVY CREAM. Add heavy cream and swirl around the sauce with a spoon just until combined, then add shredded basil leaves.
 
ADD GNOCCHI & CHEESES. Spoon in the cooked gnocchi to the dish then add 2 more cups of marinara sauce. Stir together just until combined. Top the gnocchi with dollops of ricotta cheese and shredded cheese.
 
BAKE. For 15-20 minutes or just until cheese is melted and bubbling. Garnish with shredded basil and enjoy!

how to make gnocchi bakePin

TIPS

Add more cheese to make this Gnocchi Bake extra cheesy. 

Swap the marinara sauce for an alfredo sauce if you prefer a white sauce.

If you love spice, add red chili flakes or paprika for some heat.  

Add your favorite protein to make this dish more hearty. 

For a healthier and low-carb alternative, use Cauliflower Gnocchi to make a Baked Cauliflower Gnocchi and swap the heavy cream for plain Greek yogurt. 

Ravioli or tortellini pasta can be used instead of gnocchi. 

gnocchi bake with tomato saucePin

OTHER ADD-INS 

There are so many different veggies and proteins you can add to this creamy cheesy Gnocchi Bake! Everything tastes good in this bake so you can customize this exactly how you like it. Also, this is a great way to sneak in veggies for your kiddos. They will love veggies when they are covered in tomato sauce and cheese. 😉

Here are some of my favorite add-ins:

  • Meatballs
  • Sausage
  • Bacon
  • Ground beef or turkey meat
  • Shredded or cubed chicken
  • Frozen or canned peas
  • Spinach or kale
  • Tomatoes
  • Cooked mushrooms, bell peppers, broccoli

cheesy gnocchi in bowlPin

This Gnocchi Bake is filling enough as a main dish but also works as a side dish. For the most satisfying dinner, serve this Gnocchi Bake with Garlic Brussels Sprouts, Garlic Bread, and Caprese Salad. 

baked gnocchi with cheesePin

LEFTOVERS & STORAGE

This leftover gnocchi bake makes delicious leftovers. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days. 

When ready to reheat, you can microwave, heat in the oven, or on the stovetop in a frying pan. I always prefer heating leftovers on the stovetop as the gnocchi edges will get slightly crispy. 

Bake the leftovers in the oven at 400 degrees F for about 10 minutes or until heated through. 

 

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Pin

Gnocchi Bake

Cheesy Gnocchi Bake is so simple and quick to make. Soft gnocchis are baked to perfection in tomato sauce, cheese, and ricotta. This makes a satisfying and easy meal for any night of the week! 
4.87 from 23 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Keyword: gnocchi bake
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. gnocchi
  • 3 cups marinara sauce jarred or homemade
  • 3 tablespoons heavy cream
  • 5-7 cup fresh basil leaves shredded; plus more for garnsihing
  • 3/4 cup whole milk or part-skim ricotta
  • 1/4 cup parmesan cheese grated
  • 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese shredded

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the gnocchi according to package instructions. It should only take 1-2 minutes. Carefully drain the gnocchi (they will be very delicate).
  • Add 1 cup of marinara sauce to the bottom of the baking dish to cover the bottom of the dish.
  • Add heavy cream and swirl around the sauce with a spoon just until combined, then add shredded basil leaves.
  • Add cooked gnocchi to the dish then add 2 more cups of marinara sauce. Stir together just until combined. Top the gnocchi with dollops of ricotta cheese and shredded cheese.
  • Bake for 15-20 minutes or just until cheese is melted and bubbling. Garnish with shredded basil and enjoy!
Find Kathryn's Kitchen Blog on Instagram!Mention @Kathryns.Kitchen.Blog or tag #kathrynskitchen!

Notes

Recipe Notes: 
  • Add more cheese to make this Gnocchi Bake extra cheesy. 
  • Swap the marinara sauce for an alfredo sauce if you prefer a white sauce.
  • If you love spice, add red chili flakes or paprika for some heat.  
  • Add your favorite protein to make this dish more hearty. 
  • For a healthier and low-carb alternative, use Cauliflower Gnocchi and swap the heavy cream for plain Greek yogurt.
  • Ravioli or tortellini pasta can be used instead of gnocchi. 
  • Leftover: This leftover gnocchi bake makes delicious leftovers. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days.  When ready to reheat, you can microwave, heat in the oven, or on the stovetop in a frying pan. Bake the leftovers in the oven at 400 degrees F for about 10 minutes or until heated through.
4.87 from 23 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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20 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    My family can eat pasta every night for dinner. This baked gnocchi sounds delicious. I know it will be a hit and devoured in a flash.

  2. 5 stars
    Oh wow, this sounds delicious! I love how simple it sounds to make as well! Excited to give it a try! Thanks for the share!

  3. 5 stars
    What a wonderful recipe! Such a gorgeous gnocchi bake, it looks delicious. I am a sucker for anything cheesy! Thank you for your post, I will definitely make this dish. 

  4. 5 stars
    We made this over the weekend and it was absolutely scrumptious! Not to mention, it was so quick and easy. This is perfect for a busy weeknight dinner. Next time, I am going to try it with cauliflower gnocchi.

  5. 5 stars
    I haven’t made a gnocchi bake in a really long time and this recipe seems like the perfect one to follow! Thank you for sharing this recipe, I cant wait to try this out!

  6. 5 stars
    I always have gnocchi on hand, so I know that this recipe is going to be made on repeat in my house. Thank you so much for the recipe, this is going to save me so many weeknight meals!