This 15-minute pesto gnocchi is easy to make with only 4 ingredients! Crispy, pillowy gnocchi is tossed with a creamy pesto sauce that will be a new favorite weeknight dinner.

Looking for more easy dinner recipes with gnocchi? This sheet pan gnocchi recipe, Parmesan mushroom gnocchi and easy chicken gnocchi soup are other favorites.

Pesto gnocchi in a bowl.

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Table of Contents

Why You Will Love Gnocchi with Basil Pesto

  • Easy and comforting: With only 4 ingredients and 15 minutes from start to finish, this creamy pesto gnocchi dinner delivers amazing flavorful in a delicious sauce.
  • Family friendly: Both kids and adults love this dish! Serve it for a meatless main dish or as a side dish with pesto chicken; it’s a win on busy weeknights.
Pesto gnocchi ingredients on the counter.

Tips and Variations

  • Pesto: I love to use homemade basil pesto recipe when I have it on hand.
  • Tomatoes: Add 1/2 cup sun dried like I do in chicken pesto pasta or try some fresh cherry tomatoes.
  • Vegetables: Add sauteed bell peppers, zucchini and onions or try sun dried tomatoes like I do in chicken pesto pasta or fresh cherry tomatoes.
  • Vegetarian: Omit the Parmesan cheese or use a vegetarian cheese.
  • Protein: Keep it meat-free or add pancetta, bacon, salmon or grilled shrimp skewers.
  • Storage: Store leftover gnocchi refrigerated in an airtight container for 4 days. Reheat in microwave.

How to Make Pesto Gnocchi

Melting butter with gnocchi in a skillet.
Gnocchi in pan.

Boil large pot of salted water and cook store-bought potato gnocchi until it floats. Drain then add reserved pasta water and butter to a skillet. Add gnocchi and cook 3-5 minutes.

Gnocchi with cream sauce.

Add pesto and cream to the skillet with gnocchi, stir then bring to a light simmer. Let mixture simmer until sauce is slightly thickened, about 1 minute.

Gnocchi in a bowl.

Serve this pesto gnocchi recipe immediately with a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves if desired.

Pesto gnocchi in a bowl.

More easy dinner ideas include pink sauce pasta, caprese pasta bake and Tuscan salmon.

More Pesto Recipes

Pesto gnocchi in a bowl.

Pesto Gnocchi

5 from 5 votes
Recipe by: Jamielyn Nye
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4
This 15-minute pesto gnocchi is made with crispy, pillowy gnocchi tossed with a creamy pesto sauce that will be a new favorite weeknight dinner.
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Ingredients 

  • 16 ounces store-bought gnocchi
  • 1-2 Tablespoons butter
  • ⅓ cup pesto
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • Salt & Pepper , to taste

For serving: grated parmesan, fresh basil

Instructions

  • Cook gnocchi: Simmer a large pot of salted water and cook 1 pound gnocchi until it floats, about 2 minutes. Set aside 1/4 cup pasta water, then drain water.
  • Cook: Add 1-2 Tablespoons butter to a skillet and heat over medium heat. Add the gnocchi and cook for 3-5 minutes or until lightly golden.
  • Simmer: Add 1/3 cup pesto and 1/2 cup cream and to the pan. Bring to a light simmer. Let mixture simmer until sauce is slightly thickened, about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add a Tablespoon or two of pasta water if you need to thin.
  • Serve: Serve gnocchi immediately with a sprinkling of cheese and basil if desired. Season to taste with extra salt.

Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.

Notes

Veggies: This dish is a great way to sneak in extra veggies. We love to add in 1/2 cup sundried or fresh tomatoes when we have them. Also, when in season you can saute some bell peppers, zucchini and onions to mix in when you add the parmesan. 
Dairy free: If you’d like to omit the heavy cream you can just add a little extra pesto (it won’t be as saucy, but still delicious). 
Storage: Store leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator up to 4 days. 

Nutrition

Calories: 390kcal, Carbohydrates: 43g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 22g, Saturated Fat: 10g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 0.1g, Cholesterol: 43mg, Sodium: 608mg, Potassium: 29mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 941IU, Vitamin C: 0.2mg, Calcium: 76mg, Iron: 4mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.