Description
A fun twist on traditional gnocchi—pillowy potato dumplings baked in a hearty meat sauce, giving you all the flavors of stuffed pasta with none of the fuss.
Ingredients
1 lb gnocchi (store-bought or homemade)
1 tbsp olive oil
1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 jar (24 oz) marinara or pasta sauce
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook gnocchi according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
3. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and cook until softened, about 3 minutes.
4. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add ground beef, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook until browned and fully cooked, breaking into crumbles.
5. Stir in marinara sauce and simmer for 5 minutes.
6. Add cooked gnocchi to the skillet and toss to coat.
7. Transfer everything to a baking dish and top with Parmesan and mozzarella cheese.
8. Bake for 15–20 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly.
9. Garnish with fresh herbs and serve hot.
Notes
You can use ground turkey or plant-based meat as a substitute.
Add sautéed mushrooms, spinach, or bell peppers for extra vegetables.
This dish freezes well—assemble ahead and bake from frozen, adding 10–15 minutes to bake time.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 30 min
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 640mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
Keywords: gnocchi bake, meat sauce, casserole, easy pasta bake, outside-in gnocchi