Recipe: Crispy Sheet Pan Gnocchi and Veggies

Photos by Joe Lingeman

A package of gnocchi from the store has always been one of our favorite easy dinners, but now it just got a whole lot easier. That’s because we discovered you don’t even actually have to boil the gnocchi in order to make it for dinner. Toss them directly from the package onto a sheet pan with a slew of veggies, roast them for 20 minutes, scoop into bowls, and dig in. Seriously — that’s it. It’s a game-changing way to make a go-to weeknight meal even more of a win.

The Easiest Way to Make Gnocchi Dinner

Make this sheet pan dinner an immediate addition to your weeknight roster. Roasting the gnocchi instead of boiling them won’t give you that light, dumpling texture you’re used to, but it arguably makes them even better. They get crispy and browned on the outside — almost like roasted potatoes — while remaining chewy and tender on the inside. The tomatoes are crucial here, as they pop while they roast, creating just a little bit of juicy sauce for the whole mix. Give everything a toss or two before scooping the mix into bowls, and serve with plenty of grated cheese and chopped fresh basil.

Crispy Sheet Pan Gnocchi and Veggies

Yield: Serves 4

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 18 minutes to 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 pound fresh, shelf-stable, or frozen potato gnocchi
  
• 1 (12-ounce) bag mixed baby bell peppers (or 2 medium bell peppers), cut into 1-inch chunks
  
• 1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes
  
• 1 small red onion, cut into 1-inch chunks
  
• 4 cloves garlic, smashed
  
• 1 teaspoon coarsely chopped fresh rosemary leaves
  
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  
• Freshly ground black pepper
  
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
  
• 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh basil leaves
  
• Grated Pecorino Romano or Parmesan cheese, for serving
  

Instructions

1. Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat to 450°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Place the gnocchi, peppers, tomatoes, onion, garlic, rosemary, salt, and a few generous grinds of black pepper in a large bowl. Drizzle with the oil and gently toss to combine. Spread the gnocchi mixture out evenly on the prepared baking sheet.

3. Roast, stirring halfway through, until the gnocchi are plump and the vegetables are tender and caramelized, 18 to 20 minutes total.

4. To serve, spoon the gnocchi and vegetable mixture into individual bowls and garnish each bowl with the basil and grated cheese.

Sheela received her master's degree from the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Italy and is also a Registered Dietitian. Her first cookbook is “Mediterranean Every Day.”