Baked Gnocchi with Tomato and Mozzarella Recipe
A comforting and flavorful baked gnocchi dish featuring tender potato gnocchi coated in a rich tomato sauce and topped with melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Perfect for a hearty weeknight dinner or a cozy meal any time of the year.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
Gnocchi and Sauce
- 1 pound potato gnocchi (store-bought or homemade)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 can (14 ounces) crushed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
Toppings and Garnish
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil leaves (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and grease a baking dish with cooking spray or olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Cook gnocchi: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the gnocchi and cook according to package instructions, about 2–3 minutes or until they float to the surface. Drain and set aside.
- Sauté garlic: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds, until fragrant but not browned.
- Make tomato sauce: Stir in crushed tomatoes, dried oregano, dried basil, salt, and pepper into the skillet. Simmer for 5 minutes to allow the flavors to blend.
- Combine gnocchi and sauce: Add the cooked gnocchi to the skillet with the tomato sauce and gently stir to coat evenly.
- Prepare for baking: Transfer the gnocchi and sauce mixture to the prepared baking dish. Evenly sprinkle shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese on top.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 15–20 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
- Serve: Remove from oven, let cool slightly, garnish with fresh basil leaves if desired, and serve hot.
Notes
- Use fresh basil leaves as a garnish to add a fresh herbal note to the finished dish.
- You can substitute mozzarella with any good melting cheese like provolone or fontina if preferred.
- For a spicier kick, add red pepper flakes to the tomato sauce.
- Homemade gnocchi can be used, but store-bought is a convenient time saver.
- To make this dish gluten free, ensure your gnocchi is made with gluten-free ingredients.
Keywords: baked gnocchi, gnocchi with tomato sauce, mozzarella gnocchi bake, easy Italian dinner, comfort food
