Gnocchi with Pesto Sauce (Just 5 Ingredients)

I’m just a busy mom, who needs to feed her family every single day! And sometimes I just don’t want to make pasta for the 3rd night in a row. So I started thinking about how I could do a mash up of two family favorites. My kiddos love gnocchi and my Creamy Pesto Pasta, so why not make Gnocchi with Pesto Sauce?

Not that gnocchi is soooooo different, but somehow it feels like I’m being adventuresome when I swap pasta for gnocchi.  As if a potato is something exotic🤣.

This super simple, 5 ingredient dish is a weeknight winner.  Just as simple as other stovetop pasta dishes like Pink Sauce Pasta, Creamy Zucchini Pasta, and Gnocchi with Peas, you’ll find yourself making this time and time again.   

Why you’ll love it

It’s versatile: Use homemade basil pesto when your garden overflows with basil leaves in the summer or use your favorite store bought pesto.  Any flavor pesto will work meaning the flavor combos are endless.

It’s budget friendly:  Using just pantry ingredients, you can make this dish and feed your family for less than $10.

It’s a super quick: In less than 15 minutes and using only the stovetop, you’ll have this recipe done from start to finish. Hungry kiddo’s during the witching hour will have nothing on you!

Ingredients

• Pesto: Homemade pesto or store bought will work equally well.
• Heavy Cream:  I like to use the heavy cream for the richness it gives the pesto sauce, but you can also use half and half or whole milk.
• Gnocchi: I like the Trader Joe's potato gnocchi, but grab whatever brand you like. You'll find the gnocchi in the pasta aisle at the grocery store.
• Cooking Water: Save some of the gnocchi cooking water to add to the pesto sauce.

💡Tool Tip

The best way to drain the pasta while retaining the pasta water is by using a spider strainer.  Simply scoop, drain over the pot you cooked in and drop the gnocchi right into the pesto sauce.

How to make Pesto Gnocchi

Bring the water to a boil, salt the water and then add your gnocchi.  Cook according to package directions. You'll typically know that the gnocchi is cooked when it floats to the top of the pot. Drain the gnocchi and reserve the cooking water.

While the gnocchi cooks, place a skillet onto your stove over medium to medium-low heat.  Add the pesto and heavy cream to the pan and whisk to combine, then stream in the pasta water whisking while you do. 

Add the gnocchi directly into the skillet and toss to combine.  Sprinkle the parmesan over the top and stir again until it's melted an combined. If the sauce it getting to thick, add a bit more pasta water.

Season with salt and pepper to taste and enjoy!  If you are feeling fancy, garnish with basil leaves and an additional sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.

Additions and Variations

While this creamy gnocchi with pesto sauce is awesome on its own, here are a few ideas to add to it if you are a feeling more adventuresome:

• Add cut cherry tomatoes for color.  They can be fresh or blistered under the broiler.
• Add in baby spinach or steamed broccoli with the gnocchi.
• Flake Pesto Salmon and stir it in at the end.  Not only is it a great added protein but it’s a real bump in the basil flavor from the pesto.
• Make it spicy by adding a Tablespoon of crushed red pepper flakes.
• Swap the basil pesto for other types of pesto.  Try red pepper pesto, mint pesto, spinach pesto or pistachio pesto.  This gnocchi with pesto sauce is so versatile and can take on lots of different flavor profiles.

Swaps for Special Diets

• Make it Vegan: Swap the heavy cream for Almond Milk, Cashew Cream or Nut-Pods and be sure to choose a vegan pesto.
• Make it Gluten Free: simply use your favorite gluten free pasta in place of the regular pasta.

Storage and Reheating Tips

You can store leftovers of gnocchi with pesto sauce in the fridge for up to 4 days.  I would not recommend freezing it.

To reheat the creamy pesto gnocchi, warm it on the stovetop with a little bit of added cream or water to help retain the creaminess as it heats through. Once warmed through, be sure to stir it up well, and then enjoy!

Other Stove Top Pasta Dishes you’ll love

Some pasta dishes are thought of as comfort food and reserved for the colder months, but try out these lighter stove top pasta dishes that we love!  They are light, made on the stove top and the perfect addition to your easy dinner rotation.

📖 Recipe