If you have 20 minutes, you have the easiest, cheesiest recipe for Quick Gnocchi with Crispy Garlic.
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I’m all for the labor of love that is homemade gnocchi. All the mixing, and the kneading, and the rolling and the shaping. But sometimes you only have 20 minutes to satisfy those gnocchi cravings. Enter Quick Gnocchi with Crispy Garlic, the fastest, most flavorful solution for potato dumpling lovers everywhere.
The real secret to transforming store-bought gnocchi into something extra special is the addition of thinly sliced garlic cloves, which are browned in butter until they’re golden and crispy.
It’s that contrast between the crispy garlic and the pillowy gnocchi that gives this dish its textural intrigue and keeps those taste buds guessing!
Toss in some grated Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh chives, and a quick-fix main dish or garlicky side is suddenly the star of your dinner table.
It’s just as easy to stir in some shredded rotisserie chicken (store-bought or homemade) to add protein to your dinnertime lineup. And you can complete your fast and fresh feast with a simple side salad topped with Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing or a batch of veggie-packed 5-Ingredient Zucchini Fritters.
- Gnocchi: If you can find it, I highly recommend using refrigerated gnocchi. It cooks faster and has a fresher, more pillowy texture than shelf-stable versions.
- Butter: You can’t have a delicious brown butter sauce without it! Using unsalted butter gives you control over the saltiness of the dish.
- Garlic: Thinly slice the cloves for crispy garlic chips that pack a flavorful punch.
- Parmesan cheese: I use grated here because it melts right into the gnocchi, creating the perfect cheesy coating. Freshly grated is best, but pre-grated will do in a pinch.
- Fresh chives: Add a pop of color and mild oniony brightness to this dish.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
- Cook the gnocchi. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the gnocchi and cook until they float to the surface, about 2-3 minutes. Overcooking can make them mushy, so watch closely. Drain and set aside. Kelly’s Note: Salt your water generously—it should taste like the ocean. This is your only chance to season the gnocchi itself.
- Prepare the crispy garlic and brown butter sauce. Heat butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Once the butter has melted, reduce the heat to medium-low, add the sliced garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until golden and crispy, about 1-2 minutes.
- Pan-fry the gnocchi. Reduce the heat to low. Add the cooked gnocchi to the pan. Let them cook undisturbed for 2-3 minutes per side, or until golden and slightly crisp.
- Finish with Parmesan cheese and chives. Cook an additional minute until the cheese has melted. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Serving Ideas
This easy gnocchi dish is great on its own, but if you’re looking for some inspiration for what to serve with it, I’ve got you covered! For added protein, cooked shrimp, pan-seared chicken or crispy pancetta would all be delicious. Want to boost the veggies? Add wilted spinach, roasted cherry tomatoes or sautéed mushrooms. And for some tasty sides, here are my favorites:
- Caprese garlic bread or homemade focaccia, plus some bread dipping oil
- Kale salad with warm bacon vinaigrette or a lemon vinaigrette for a vegetarian option
- Honey roasted carrots or bacon-wrapped asparagus
- Cheese-stuffed meatballs for the ultimate comfort food pairing
Ready to see just how easy this cheesy dish is to make? Tune in to the video below and get those forks ready!
Ingredients
- 1 (16-oz.) package store-bought (refrigerated) gnocchi
- 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 large cloves garlic, cut into thin slices
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 Tablespoons chopped fresh chives
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the gnocchi and cook them until they float to the surface, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain the gnocchi and set them aside.
- Add the butter, plus a pinch of salt and pepper, to a large sauté pan set over medium heat. Once the butter has melted, reduce the heat to medium-low, add the garlic slices and cook them, stirring constantly, until they are deep golden brown and slightly crisped.
- Reduce the heat to low. Add the cooked gnocchi to the pan, stirring to combine. Add the Parmesan cheese and chives and cook an additional 1 minute until the cheese has melted. Serve immediately.
Kelly’s Notes
- Add your favorite protein! Shredded rotisserie chicken, cooked shrimp or crispy pancetta are a few of my favorites.
- ★ Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
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Recipe by Kelly Senyei of Just a Taste. Please do not reprint this recipe without my permission. If you'd like to feature this recipe on your site, please rewrite the method of preparation and link to this post as the original source.
I like to make my own gnocchi .
Feel free to use homemade gnocchi, Bob!
My daughter wanted to try this out as she is very picky and asked me to make it. We tried it together and she was so proud of our accomplishment not to mention ate it for dinner and had the leftovers the next day. Recipe was precise, easy to follow and tasty. We have already saved this to make it again. Thanks for sharing it.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
My first time making gnocchi and wasn’t sure what kind of sauce to use. Chose this recipe and glad I did. The garlic added so much flavor to the dish as did the chives and the Parmesan. I don’t like complicated recipes, this was very easy to follow and execute. I topped it off with garlic cheese bread. A winner that I will make again.
Love reading this, Ray! I’m so thrilled you enjoyed the recipe!
I just tried this recipe with Trader Joe’s cauliflower gnocchi. I didn’t have parmesan, but it was still delicious with Smart Balance Butter/Olive Oil Spread, salt, pepper and dried chives. A nice, health(ier) version of traditional gnocchi with plenty of flavor! Will definitely be keeping this recipe and will have parmesan on hand next time. Thank you for sharing!
You are so welcome, Angela! I’m thrilled you enjoyed the recipe!
Young adults and I liked it more than expected. Tasty and just enough crispiness. We actually used cauliflower gnocchi
YUM! I’m so happy to read this, Melissa!
I made this for supper tonight. It was easy and delicious. Since there was no Parmesan cheese in the house, I used Gouda, instead, twice as much garlic as was called for, and chives from my garden. This recipe is a keeper, for sure! Maybe I will even try making my own gnocchi.
I’m so thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Sherry! DIY gnocchi can be a tricky endeavor, so I devised a shortcut version that uses leftover mashed potatoes. Here’s the link to my recipe: https://www.justataste.com/leftover-mashed-potato-gnocchi-recipe/
This is a definite keeper! So good! Thanks for sharing such a delicious and easy recipe!
You are so welcome, Kylie! I’m thrilled you enjoyed the recipe!
A DISHLICIOUS DISH! This is a great base dish that can be altered is so many ways! I added roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts and sundried tomatoes along with fresh snips of herbs from my garden, yum! Thanks for posting!
You are so welcome! I’m thrilled you enjoyed the recipe!
Super fast and easy. Delicious too. I didn’t have parm so I left that out. I just cooked a duck this weekend and had some duck fat so I used that in place of butter. It is a very flexible recipe.
Amazing! I’m so thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Josh!
Loved the results! I was only boiling them. This was a very nice addition, thanks for sharing!
You are so welcome! I’m thrilled you enjoyed the recipe!
I have a package in the fridge right now. Was trying to decide how to prepare them, now I know! The only way I’ve used gnocchi in the past is in a copy cat Olive Garden, chicken and gnocchi soup. It’s delicious but I really don’t want to go to the trouble involved in making it.
This recipe is so quick and simple it sounds good so I have to try it.
Looking forward to reading your results, Linda! Enjoy!
So simple and good. Perfect beginner recipe for the bag of gnocchi we purchased. Thanks!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe, Samantha!
Easy and exactly what I wanted on this fridge clean out day! Roasted brussels sprouts and a trader joe’s chicken italian sausage to go with it.
Awesome! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe, Lauren!
This was easy and so delicious!
I’m so thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Heather!
Good and easy,for a quick lunch…..
YES! So thrilled you enjoyed the recipe!
Easy, tasty. Perfect!
I’m so thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Linda!
Delicious!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Jenny!