Easy Baked Pizza Gnocchi

This pizza gnocchi bake is a simple, cheesy casserole dinner that’s perfect for busy nights. Made with tender gnocchi, homemade pizza sauce, and lots of gooey mozzarella, it’s a crowd-pleaser the whole family will enjoy. This easy baked gnocchi recipe can be adapted for vegetarian or gluten-free options, making it versatile for any family. It’s one of the best gnocchi recipes to bake in the oven for a comforting and satisfying meal!

Pin

Pizza and gnocchi are two beloved Italian dishes on their own, but have you ever thought about combining them? Baked pizza gnocchi is a delicious and unique twist on the classic comfort food. Made with homemade pasta sauce, pepperoni, cheese, and pillowy gnocchi, this dish is sure to satisfy your cravings for both pizza and pasta.

Why this is the best baked gnocchi

This recipe tastes amazing! Something magical happens when you mix tomatoes and Italian herbs. Add tender gnocchi and lots and lots of Italian cheeses, and you have a big winner that everybody's going to rave about.

Pin

This recipe uses simple pantry staples. I'm willing to bet you already have everything you need to make this meal. If not, a quick trip to the local grocery store will net you the rest of the ingredients.

This is an easy recipe that is quick to prep. This is a great weeknight meal because it's so easy. The longest part is making the homemade pasta sauce, and if you really need to, you can shortcut that by using your favorite jarred sauce. (If you have time, though, the marinara sauce is well worth it!) Otherwise, you mix everything together and bake. That's all there is to it.

This recipe is allergy friendly and can work for special diets. Baked gnocchi casserole as written is soy-free and nut-free. If you use gluten-free gnocchi, it can be gluten-free (some is and some is not, check the labels). You may be able to find egg-free gnocchi as well, or make your own. I don't think it's possible to make this dish dairy-free because the cheese is pretty foundational. You could make it vegetarian by omitting the pepperoni and using veggies in its place.

Pin

What you'll need to make pepperoni pizza gnocchi bake

Equipment

• Garlic press - I recommend using a garlic press to smash the fresh garlic cloves. If you must, you can use garlic powder, but your marinara sauce will lack the fresh bite that freshly pressed garlic brings to the table.
• Large cast iron skillet - Any oven-safe skillet will be fine, but I love my 12-inch cast iron for recipes like this.

Ingredients

Pin

See the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page for all measurements and nutritional information.

• Olive oil - This is to sauté the garlic, and it will become part of the homemade pasta sauce. Extra virgin olive oil is best.
• Fresh garlic - There is no substitute for the pungent bite of fresh garlic. If you must, you can substitute garlic powder, but you will lose flavor.
• Crushed tomatoes - You could use tomato sauce, but I think the crushed tomatoes have a better flavor.
• Tomato paste - This is a very small amount of tomato paste, but you need it to give your pasta sauce a robust flavor.
• Italian seasoning - This is what makes the pasta sauce taste like pasta sauce rather than like tomato sauce.
• Dried oregano - There is oregano in the Italian seasoning, but you need a little extra to really dial up the pizza flavor.
• Granulated sugar - This is plain white sugar. Tomatoes need a tiny bit of sugar to bring out their flavor.
• Onion powder - Ideally, you would dice a whole sweet onion and sauté it until it's caramelized, and then use that in your pasta sauce, but that takes quite a bit of extra time and energy. Like garlic powder and fresh garlic, onion powder doesn't taste like fresh onions, but it does give some complexity to the pasta sauce that you would miss if you didn't use it.
  Pin
• salt and black pepper
• Packaged gnocchi - You can use frozen or shelf-stable potato gnocchi or another variety. You could even make your own if you were so inclined.
• Shredded mozzarella cheese - Freshly shredded mozzarella melts better than the pre-shredded you can buy in the grocery store. That said, I buy the pre-shredded because I don't have a cheese grater and don't intend to buy one. The pre-shredded store-bought stuff gets melty enough for me.
• Sliced mozzarella cheese - You can buy slices, but I would recommend buying a ball of fresh mozzarella and slicing it yourself. I say this because it is nice to have really thick slabs of cheese on top of the casserole, and you'd have to use 4-5 regular slices to achieve that thickness.
• Grated Parmesan cheese - This is the slivered kind from the dairy aisle, not the powdery kind in a can.
• Pepperoni - This can be standard pepperoni, turkey pepperoni, or even vegetarian pepperoni. It is optional.
• Fresh basil - This is for garnish at the very end. It is optional but highly recommended.

How to make pizza gnocchi bake

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF.
2. In a large cast iron pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for for 30 seconds.
   Pin
3. Stir in the tomatoes, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, oregano, sugar, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Simmer pasta sauce over medium heat for 10 minutes.
   Pin
4. Add the uncooked gnocchi and cook for 5 minutes.
   Pin
5. Stir in the shredded mozzarella cheese.
   Pin Pin
6. Top with the sliced mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, and pepperoni slices.
   Pin
7. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with fresh basil before serving.
   Pin

Chef's tips for the best baked gnocchi

Gnocchi cooks quickly and does not need to be pre-cooked before adding it to the pasta sauce. 

Freshly shredded mozzarella melts better than the pre-shredded you can buy in the grocery store. That said, I buy the pre-shredded because I don't have a cheese grater and don't intend to buy one.

Instead of buying pre-sliced mozzarella cheese, you can buy fancy whole milk mozzarella balls and cut them into thick slices to lay over the top.

Pin

Variations and substitutions

Add all your favorite pizza toppings to this easy casserole. You can mix them in or layer them on top of (or underneath) the sliced cheese.

You can make this vegetarian by leaving off the pepperoni and adding some mushrooms, red onion, black olives, and green peppers instead.

You can brown a pound of ground beef or ground Italian sausage, drain it, and then add the garlic, tomatoes, and seasonings to the skillet to make the pasta sauce. This would make your gnocchi casserole considerably heartier.

Alternatively, you could shred some chicken breasts and throw those into the homemade pasta sauce when you add the gnocchi.

Regardless of whether you use meat or not, you could sprinkle some crumbled bacon on top or mix some in with the gnocchi.

Pin

How to serve pizza gnocchi bake

I like to serve baked gnocchi with cheesy garlic bread and a small BLT salad or a side of roasted asparagus.

Storing leftovers

Allow the baked gnocchi to cool fully to room temperature, then transfer the casserole to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

You can also freeze this dish. Store it in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2-3 months. To serve, allow the casserole to thaw overnight in the fridge and then proceed with reheating instructions.

To reheat stored gnocchi, bake in a 350ºF oven for 15-20 minutes or until hot throughout. You can also microwave the whole casserole or individual portions.

Pin

Try these other delicious Italian dishes:

• Chicken Bryan at Home - Copycat Carrabba's Recipe
• Chicken Piccata with Zucchini Noodles
• Balsamic Mushroom Chicken
• Ravioli with Alfredo Sauce
• Chicken Savoy
• Spinach Pasta with Creamy Red Sauce
• Hot Pepperoni Dip
• Chicken Crust Pizza - The Best Low Carb & Gluten-Free Pizza Recipe
• The Best Homemade Pizza Dough
• Grilled Pizza Dough

Recipe