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Creamy Parmesan Baked gnocchi in a rich cheesy sauce baked in a black cast iron skillet.
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5 from 6 votes

Creamy Parmesan Baked Gnocchi

Baked Gnocchi is a creamy and easy one-pan dish consisting of tender gnocchi, coated in rich parmesan sauce, shredded cheese topping, and baked until golden-brown!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
0 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Meatless Main Dish, pasta dish - side
Cuisine: American-Italian
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 329kcal

Ingredients

  • 3 ounces Parmesan cheese 1 ½ cups freshly grated, or ¾ cup store-bought grated
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 4 fresh chives optional
  • 32 oz fresh, frozen, or shelf-stable potato gnocchi about 2(16-oz. packages)
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 3 cups whole or 2% milk
  • 1 ¼ teaspoons kosher salt plus more as needed
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Arrange a rack 6 to 8 inches below the broiler element and heat the oven to 400°F. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil.
  • Grate 3 ounces Parmesan cheese on the smaller holes of a box grater into fine shreds (about 1 ½ cups), or measure out ¾ cup store-bought grated. Grate 2 garlic cloves on the same holes of the box grater, or mince. Finely chop 4 fresh chives if desired.
  • Add 2 (about 16-ounce) packages gnocchi to the boiling water and stir to separate the gnocchi. Cook until just tender, 2 to 3 minutes or according to package instructions. Drain the gnocchi.
  • Melt 3 tablespoons unsalted butter in a 10-inch broiler-proof high-sided skillet or 12-inch cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
  • Sprinkle in 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour and whisk for 1 minute to cook the floury taste out.
  • While whisking constantly, slowly pour in 3 cups whole or 2% milk and continue whisking, scraping along the edges of the skillet with a flexible spatula occasionally, until smooth. Stir constantly until the sauce comes to a simmer.
  • Remove the pan from the heat. Add 1 ¼ teaspoons kosher salt and two-thirds of the Parmesan (1 cup freshly grated or ½ cup store-bought grated), and stir until melted and smooth.
  • Add the gnocchi and stir gently until the gnocchi is evenly coated with sauce. Taste and season with kosher salt as needed.
  • Sprinkle evenly with the remaining Parmesan (½ cup freshly grated or ¼ cup store-bought grated).
  • Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake until the sauce bubbles around the edges for 7 to 12 minutes.
  • Turn on the broiler to high and broil until the top is golden-brown in spots, 2 to 7 minutes. Let cool for 3 minutes.
  • Top with a few grinds of freshly ground black pepper and the chives if desired before serving.

Notes

Storage: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Fettuccine Alfredo is a favorite in our household (especially for my daughter) when we want an easy, comforting meal. We love the creamy, cheesy sauce and how it coats every strand of pasta. But Alfredo-type Parmesan sauce doesn’t have to be relegated to regular pasta. 
I like to make a similar Parmesan cheese sauce, toss it with pillowy store-bought potato gnocchi, and bake it all together in a cast iron skillet until browned and bubbling. To make this too, you only need six ingredients (most of which you might have on hand) and 30 minutes total before you’re sitting down to a delicious dinner.

Nutrition

Calories: 329kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 954mg | Potassium: 156mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 384IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 265mg | Iron: 4mg