Creamy pesto gnocchi are an easy 30 minute one skillet meatless dinner recipe this tastes like a dish from an upscale restaurant! The recipe includes basil pesto, which you can buy at the store or make yourself. It’s so easy and delicious, so delicious Restaurant quality meal could become a new family favorite!
Creamy Pesto Gnocchi – why you’ll love them
If you are looking for a simple dinner with basic ingredients, look no further! In this meatless recipe Everything is prepared in one pan: Vegetables, cream sauce and even gnocchi! This incredibly easy dinner takes just 30 minutes to make and requires little effort, yet the presentation is stunning and restaurant worthy! It is the perfect choice for both busy weeknight family evenings and special occasions when entertaining guests. Creamy Pesto Gnocchi are comforting, creamy, and flavorful. If you’re looking for another cozy gnocchi recipe, be sure to try my Creamy Sausage Gnocchi or Chicken Gnocchi or Gnocchi with Tomato Sauce.
A 30 minute meal in a skillet
It only takes 30 minutes to make creamy pesto gnocchi. Clean up after dinner is minimal – only one saucepan to clean! Serve as a meatless main course or side with your favorite proteins (Steaks, pork, chicken, lamb, pork, salmon, shrimp, etc.).
What are gnocchi?
Originally from Italy, gnocchi are basically dumplings made from small lumps of dough. The gnocchi batter is usually made by combining Wheat flour, potatoes, eggs and spices. Technically, gnocchi are not pasta (since they are prepared as dumplings), however, gnocchi are often categorized as pasta.
main ingredients
- Gnocchi. I used store-bought Delallo brand potato gnocchi, which is 85% potato.
- Basil pesto. This is a perfect recipe for store-bought basil pesto. My favorite in-store brands are the chilled brands like Buitoni or Whole Foods. You can also prepare basil pesto yourself.
- cherry tomatoes. I love using two colors – yellow and red – they add so much vibrancy to recipes.
- Sun dried tomatoes. I used the variety that’s preserved in olive oil. Drain the oil well and cook the asparagus in it.
- asparagus gives creamy pesto gnocchi a nice savory taste. Don’t skip it!
- whipped cream used to cook gnocchi and adds creaminess to the sauce.
- chicken broth also used to cook gnocchi. If you don’t have chicken broth, you can use water as well.
Creamy Pesto Gnocchi (30-Minute One-Skillet Meal)
Ingredients
- ½ Cup sun dried tomatoes De-oiled, chopped
- 1 Pound asparagus Trimmed ends, cut into 1.5 inch pieces
- 16 oz gnocchi
- ½ Cup chicken soup
- 1 Cup whipped cream
- 4 cloves Garlic chopped
- ½ teaspoon Italian spice or herbs from Provence
- ¼ Cup Basil pesto
- 5 oz cherry tomatoes (yellow and red), halved
- Salt and coarsely ground black pepper taste good
- red pepper flakes taste good
instructions
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Heat a large, high-sided skillet over medium-high heat. Add the asparagus, generously seasoned with salt (ends trimmed), and chopped sun-dried tomatoes. (Since you’re using sundried tomatoes in oil, there should be enough sundried tomato oil to cook the veggies.)
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Cook over medium-high heat for 5-10 minutes, stirring once or twice, until asparagus is tender. Place the asparagus and sun-dried tomatoes on a plate.
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In the same pan, add uncooked potato gnocchi, chicken broth, cream, minced garlic, and Italian seasoning. Bring to a boil over medium heat and stir well. Cover with a lid and let the gnocchi cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes while the sauce simmers.
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Once the gnocchi are cooked, add the basil pesto and stir.
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Add sliced cherry tomatoes. Add back the cooked asparagus and sundried tomatoes. Cook over low heat for 3 minutes, stirring frequently to blend the flavors. If you want a thicker sauce, cook longer. Add more basil pesto if you like.
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Mix well. Remove from stove.
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Season to taste with salt, freshly ground coarse black pepper and red pepper flakes.
Remarks
- My favorite store-bought basil pesto is always the chilled version. I particularly like the Buitoni brand and Whole Foods. Or make your own basil pesto.
Nourishment
Nutritional Information
Creamy Pesto Gnocchi (30-Minute One-Skillet Meal)
amount per serving
% Daily Value*
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition Disclaimer:
The nutritional information on this website is an estimate only and is provided for convenience and courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for each recipe on this website cannot be guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for the advice of a professional nutritionist.
What goes well with pesto gnocchi?
Add your favorite protein to make this meatless dish a balanced, complete meal. Simple ideas include leftover cooked chicken, roast chicken, grilled meat, shrimp, salmon, or scallops. Here are my favorite protein-based recipes that go well with pesto gnocchi:
Substitutions, Variations and Add-ins
- Pasta. If you don't have gnocchi, short-cut pasta like farfalle, spiral pasta (fusilli), penne, or rigatoni are the next best substitutes.
- Basil pesto. I love making basil pesto from scratch, but the store-bought version works great in this recipe! I prefer pesto, which is available in grocery store refrigerated sections. You can also use sun-dried tomato pesto.
- Vegetables. This recipe is easy to adapt to the available ingredients. Choose your favorite veggies or use this recipe to clean out the fridge! I recommend tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, mushrooms, broccoli, asparagus, sundried tomatoes, artichokes, spinach, and arugula.
How to make it dairy free
- Skip cream and use your favorite non-dairy substitute. Unsweetened coconut milk works perfectly!
- If you use thinner, non-dairy milk alternatives such as oat milk or almond milk, omit the chicken broth from the recipe and use non-dairy milk instead. Cook the gnocchi in the milk. The longer the gnocchi cooks, the more starch is released and the thicker the sauce will be.
How to make basil pesto from scratch
Here's an easy recipe for my favorite version of homemade basil pesto. This amount of ingredients makes about 1 cup or 1.5 cups of basil pesto.
The ingredients for basil pesto
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves, wrapped
- ½ cup toasted pine nuts
- 4 cloves of garlic
- ½ cup Parmesan or Romano cheese, freshly grated
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- salt and pepper to taste
The instructions for preparing basil pesto
- Add all the ingredients (except salt and pepper) to the food processor and blend until the pesto-like sauce is formed, about 5 to 10 minutes.
- You may have to work in batches.
- If basil is low, you can add spinach, arugula, or parsley.
- Add salt to taste.
Tips for Success
- Do you have to pre-cook gnocchi? No, do not do that! It only takes about 5 minutes for the gnocchi to cook over medium-high heat! Simply add the uncooked gnocchi directly to the creamy sauce.
- The longer you cook the gnocchi, the thicker the sauce will be. As you cook the gnocchi in the sauce, the starch is released from the gnocchi, which helps thicken the sauce. Keep this in mind if you want a thinner or thicker sauce. For example, if you want a lower fat content, cook the gnocchi in milk longer. The longer you cook the gnocchi, the thicker the sauce will be.
- Use a heavy-bottomed, high-sided saucepan For example a cast iron pan or a high-quality stainless steel pan. This helps prevent burn marks and ensures even cooking without food sticking to the bottom of the pan.
What to serve with creamy pesto gnocchi
Storage and reheating tips
- Refrigerator. Store Creamy Pesto Gnocchi in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freezer. Freeze in an airtight container for up to 1 month.
- Reheat in the microwave. Microwave the chilled pesto gnocchi for about 1 minute. Taste and reheat for an additional 30 seconds if necessary.
- Warm up on the stove. Heat this dish in a large, high-sided skillet on the stovetop over low-medium heat. If using this method, add a small amount of heavy cream, half, or milk as you reheat to thin the sauce.
More pasta recipes with basil pesto
One of the classic ways to use pesto is as a pasta sauce. All it takes is tossing pasta with homemade basil pesto to make a flavorful, easy dish. However, you can go further and add chicken, shrimp, and veggies. Here are some delicious pasta dishes that readers like the most: