Get ready to fall in love with your new favorite weeknight dinner: this incredibly easy and delicious Creamy Tomato Gnocchi. This one-pan wonder delivers a restaurant-quality meal in just 30 minutes, combining pillowy potato gnocchi with a rich, velvety tomato cream sauce. It’s the ultimate comfort food that’s impressive enough for guests but simple enough for a busy Monday.
This dish is designed for enthusiastic home cooks who crave comforting meals without the fuss. Forget simmering a sauce for hours; this recipe comes together in a flash, making it a perfect go-to for a satisfying and quick dinner. If you enjoy simple, elegant pasta dishes, you might also love our pesto chicken tortellini.
Why This Creamy Tomato Gnocchi Recipe is a Weeknight Winner
There are so many reasons this recipe will become a staple in your kitchen. It’s a complete game-changer for busy evenings.
One-Pan Meal: Everything cooks in a single skillet, which means minimal cleanup and maximum flavor.
Ready in 30 Minutes: From start to finish, you’re just half an hour away from a warm, comforting bowl of gnocchi.
Simple Ingredients: You only need a handful of pantry staples to create a sauce that tastes like it’s been simmering all day.
Incredibly Versatile: This recipe is a fantastic base for customization. Add spinach, sausage, or your favorite protein to make it your own.
The Simple Ingredients You’ll Need
The magic of this dish lies in its simplicity. We’re using quality ingredients to build a deeply flavorful sauce without a long ingredient list.
For the Gnocchi and Sauce
Potato Gnocchi: One 16-ounce package of store-bought gnocchi works perfectly.
Yellow Onion: Finely chopped, it creates a sweet flavor base.
Garlic: Freshly minced garlic is a must for the best flavor.
Crushed Tomatoes: One 28-ounce can provides the perfect texture and robust tomato taste.
Heavy Cream: This is the key to the luxurious, creamy texture.
Vegetable Broth: To thin the sauce to the perfect consistency.
Italian Seasoning: A blend of dried herbs that adds instant depth.
Red Pepper Flakes: For a gentle touch of warmth. Adjust to your liking.
Fresh Basil: Stirred in at the end for a fresh, aromatic finish.
Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated, for an essential salty and nutty flavor.
Salt and Black Pepper: To taste.
The perfect combination of comfort and convenience.
How to Make Creamy Tomato Gnocchi: A Step-by-Step Guide
Follow these simple steps to create the perfect gnocchi in tomato cream sauce. This process is straightforward and perfect for cooks of any skill level.
Build the Sauce: Pour in the crushed tomatoes, vegetable broth, and Italian seasoning. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 5-7 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.
Cook the Gnocchi: Add the uncooked gnocchi directly to the simmering sauce. Stir gently to coat, cover the skillet, and cook for 3-5 minutes, or until the gnocchi are tender and float to the surface. For another delicious gnocchi variation, check out our creamy spinach and feta gnocchi.
Make it Creamy: Reduce the heat to low and stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese. Continue stirring until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy.
Finish and Serve: Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the fresh basil and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves.
Expert Tips for the Perfect Creamy Tomato Sauce
A few simple tricks can elevate your sauce from great to absolutely unforgettable.
Don’t Overcook the Gnocchi: Gnocchi cook very quickly. As soon as they float, they’re done. Overcooking can make them mushy.
Use Quality Tomatoes: Since tomatoes are the star, using a good quality brand of crushed tomatoes (like San Marzano) will make a noticeable difference in flavor.
Fresh Parmesan is Key: For the smoothest sauce, grate your own Parmesan cheese. Pre-shredded cheeses often contain anti-caking agents that can make the sauce grainy.
Temper the Cream: To prevent the cream from curdling, make sure the sauce is on low heat before you stir it in.
Delicious Variations to Try
One of the best things about this Creamy Tomato Gnocchi is how easy it is to adapt. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Make it Spicy
Add a pinch more red pepper flakes or even a dash of Calabrian chili paste along with the garlic for a fiery kick.
Substitute the heavy cream with full-fat coconut cream or a cashew-based cream. Use a high-quality vegan Parmesan cheese alternative to finish the dish.
A simple yet elegant dinner ready in under 30 minutes.
What to Serve with Your Gnocchi
This dish is hearty enough to be a meal on its own, but it also pairs wonderfully with a few simple sides.
A crisp green salad with a simple vinaigrette.
Garlic bread or crusty bread for soaking up every last bit of the sauce.
Steamed or roasted vegetables like broccoli, asparagus, or zucchini.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
Store any leftover gnocchi in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, gently warm it in a saucepan over low heat, adding a splash of milk or broth to loosen the sauce if needed. Avoid microwaving, as it can make the gnocchi rubbery.
Absolutely! This recipe is designed for convenience and works perfectly with a 16-ounce package of store-bought, shelf-stable potato gnocchi. Just add it directly to the sauce to cook.
Gnocchi cooks very quickly. You’ll know it’s done when the individual pieces become tender and float to the surface of the simmering sauce. This usually takes about 3-5 minutes.
Yes, you can easily make this recipe dairy-free. Substitute the heavy cream with full-fat coconut cream (from a can) or a high-quality cashew cream. Use your favorite brand of vegan Parmesan cheese.
For a rich and flavorful sauce, we recommend using a high-quality can of crushed tomatoes, such as San Marzano style. They provide a great balance of sweetness and acidity and a smooth texture.
The key is to not overcook it. Add the gnocchi to a simmering sauce (not a rapid boil) and remove the skillet from the heat as soon as the gnocchi have floated to the top and are tender.
More Delicious Dinner Recipes
FL Recipes
Creamy Tomato Gnocchi (Ready in 30 Minutes!)
This one-pan Creamy Tomato Gnocchi is the perfect 30-minute weeknight dinner. Pillowy gnocchi tossed in a rich, velvety tomato cream sauce makes for an unforgettable and easy meal the whole family will love.
1/2cupParmesan Cheesefreshly grated, plus more for garnish
1/4cupFresh Basilchopped
Salt and Black Pepperto taste
Equipment
1 Large Skillet or Dutch Oven
1 Cutting Board
1 Chef's Knife
Method
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and red pepper flakes and cook for another minute until fragrant.
Pour in the crushed tomatoes, vegetable broth, and Italian seasoning. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 5-7 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.
Add the uncooked gnocchi directly to the simmering sauce. Stir gently to coat, cover the skillet, and cook for 3-5 minutes, or until the gnocchi are tender and float to the surface.
Reduce the heat to low and stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese. Continue stirring until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy.
Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the fresh basil and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves.
Nutrition
Calories: 580kcalProtein: 16gFat: 28gFiber: 6g
Notes
Tip 1: For the smoothest sauce, use freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Tip 2: Don't overcook the gnocchi; they are ready as soon as they float to the top of the sauce. Tip 3: Add a cup of fresh spinach at the end with the basil for extra nutrients.
Keyword creamy tomato gnocchi,easy gnocchi recipe,one pan gnocchi
We hope you love this Creamy Tomato Gnocchi as much as we do! If you make it, please leave a comment below and let us know what you think. Don’t forget to share it with your friends and family on Pinterest!
This easy one-pan Creamy Tomato Gnocchi is the ultimate 30-minute comfort food.
Hi, I’m Emily Carter, and welcome to FL Recipes! I share simple, healthy recipes that make cooking easy, fun, and delicious for everyone. more about me »
