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
Scale
- 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