Description
Homemade Italian gnocchi bakes into a comforting pasta dish with golden crispy edges and creamy cheese. Pillowy potato dumplings nestled in rich marinara sauce create a simple yet satisfying meal perfect for family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein and Starch:
- 1 pound uncooked potato gnocchi
Dairy Components:
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella
- 2 tablespoons butter
Vegetables and Seasonings:
- ½ medium onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (24 ounces/680 grams) jar marinara sauce
- 1 handful fresh basil, torn
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Ignite the culinary journey by warming the oven to a robust 400°F (200°C), positioning the rack in the upper third of the cooking chamber.
- Select an oven-safe skillet and melt butter over medium flame, allowing it to shimmer and dance.
- Introduce chopped onions to the bubbling butter, coaxing them into a tender, golden embrace through gentle sautéing for 5-7 minutes.
- Sprinkle minced garlic into the skillet, stirring briefly to release its aromatic essence without scorching.
- Cascade marinara sauce over the softened vegetables, then nestle uncooked gnocchi within the crimson liquid, ensuring each pillow is lovingly coated.
- Scatter torn basil leaves across the surface, creating a verdant landscape atop the sauce.
- Blanket the entire dish with a generous layer of shredded mozzarella, promising a creamy, melted finale.
- Slide the skillet into the preheated oven, allowing the ingredients to meld and bubble for approximately 15 minutes.
- Activate the broiler for a final 2-3 minutes, watching intently as the cheese transforms into a golden, slightly crisp canvas.
- Extract from the oven and permit the dish to rest, letting flavors harmonize and settle.
- Season with a whisper of salt and pepper, then crown with freshly grated Parmesan and additional basil leaves if desired.
- Serve immediately, presenting a vibrant, comforting Mediterranean-inspired masterpiece.
Notes
- Elevate weeknight dinners with this one-pan wonder that transforms simple ingredients into a mouthwatering meal.
- Choose soft, pillowy gnocchi that captures sauce perfectly, creating a comforting dish everyone will love.
- Customize by swapping marinara for creamy alfredo or adding crispy pancetta for extra flavor complexity.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 54g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 16g
- Cholesterol: 50mg