Baked Gnocchi with Tomatoes

This baked gnocchi with tomatoes is rich and creamy with a delicious sauce made from mozzarella cheese. This simple one-pan meal is easy to make but hearty and filling.

Gnocchi is one of my favorite comfort foods and I usually keep a package of shelf-stable gnocchi on hand for easy dinners. It’s a great pantry staple because it lasts a long time and you can easily spice it up with just a few ingredients.

What is Gnocchi?

Gnocchi is typically considered a type of pasta but it’s technically a little dumpling,  made with potatoes and flour. It’s usually served like pasta, with marinara sauce, pesto, or alfredo sauce. You can learn more about the history of dumplings in this post from DeLallo!

The Best Type of Shelf Stable Gnocchi

There are a number of different brands on the market, but DeLallo is my personal favorite. Some gnocchi come seasoned or flavored, but I recommend plain gnocchi for this recipe.

Baked Gnocchi Ingredients

• Olive oil– This helps create a crispy, golden brown exterior on the gnocchi.
• Shelf-stable or refrigerated gnocchi– I’m sharing my favorite brands below! Looking for more ways to use it? Try my sun dried tomato gnocchi next!
• Butter– This helps add richness to the sauce.
• Milk– This makes the sauce extra creamy.
• Flour– This helps create a roux from the milk and butter.
• Garlic powder- I love the garlic flavor this adds to the dish.
• Salt– A little salt enhances all the flavors.
• Mozzarella cheese– This creates the cheesy part of the dish.
• Cherry tomatoes– This is an easy way to add vegetables to the gnocchi bake.
• Breadcrumbs– These add a lovely texture to the dish.
• Crushed red pepper flakes- I like the heat these add to the recipe, but you can skip them if you don’t like the spicy taste.

How to Make Baked Gnocchi

Start by toasting the gnocchi in a skillet until golden brown. Then ,make a roux with the butter, milk, and flour.

Add the gnocchi, tomatoes, and cheese sauce into a casserole dish and cover with breadcrumbs.

Bake until golden brown and the cheese is bubbly. Top with fresh basil.

What is Cauliflower Gnocchi?

Cauliflower Gnocchi, made famous by Trader Joe’s, took the world by storm a few years ago. The TJ’s brand of cauliflower gnocchi is made from cauliflower, cassava flour, and potato starch. I don’t recommend substituting frozen cauliflower gnocchi in this recipe. It’s a little too soft and gummy for this recipe.

How To Make Baked Gnocchi

The trick to this delicious baked gnocchi is the rich and creamy sauce! Butter, flour, and milk create a simple roux, and then the mozzarella cheese creates a deliciously rich sauce. Pour the sauce over toasted gnocchi and sliced tomatoes, and bake until bubbly and crispy!

Do I Need to Boil the Gnocchi First?

Nope! Whether you’re using shelf-stable, frozen, or refrigerated gnocchi, there’s no need to boil the gnocchi before using it in this recipe. Since we’ll toast it in the skillet, it’ll get golden brown before we add it to the baking dish.

How to Store Leftovers

If you have leftovers, store them in the fridge in an airtight container. To reheat, microwave or reheat in the oven until the cheese is melted. I do not recommend freezing this recipe.

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Looking for other ways to make baked gnocchi? Try this easy sheet pan gnocchi recipe!

If you need a tasty side dish idea, try this Air Fryer Broccoli!

Or serve it with these air fryer green beans. The lemon aioli is amazing!

What’s your favorite way to eat gnocchi?

This post was originally published February 2012. Updated July 2020.