15+ BEST Sauces for Gnocchi

Wondering what the best sauces for gnocchi are? There are so many great options! From pesto sauces, to creamy sauces, tomato sauces and more! Here are some of the BEST gnocchi sauces to try tonight! Buon appetito!

Having gnocchi for dinner tonight? Let’s sauce things up!

Pick one of your favorite gnocchi sauces from the list below, add a couple gnocchi side dishes, and you’re guaranteed an amazing dinner!

PS – Don’t forget about the best wine with pasta (or gnocchi) options too.

🥣 The BEST Sauces for Gnocchi

Note: Many of these sauces are photographed with pasta. But they’re equally as delicious served with gnocchi!

Overhead close up of blue cheese gnocchi tossed with prosciutto and spinach.
This is a great cheese sauce for gnocchi. This Gnocchi with Frizzled Prosciutto and Blue Cheese is pure decadence. A rich blue cheese sauce coats the gnocchi which is tossed with a bit of fresh spinach and topped with some crispy prosciutto. 
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Creamy Gnocchi is an irresistible Tuscan-inspired dish that tosses pillowy-soft potato gnocchi in a rich, creamy, and cheesy sauce. It’s Italian comfort food at its best!
Creamy Gnocchi
Spoonful of creamy garlic sauce.
This 5-minute Creamy Garlic Sauce recipe is an easy go-to sauce you can serve with pasta, chicken, shrimp, and so much more. The flavors are rich and savory, and will keep you coming back for more!
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Overhead close up of bowl of pesto genovese with spoon.
This Pesto Genovese is flavored with parmesan, garlic, lemon zest and pine nuts. Use this pesto to dress up your favorite gnocchi!
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Close up of creamy sun dried tomato sauce on serving spoon.
This is a great creamy sauce for gnocchi! Sun Dried Tomato Sauce loaded with mozzarella & parmesan cheese.
Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Sauce
OVerhead shot of two bowls of baked gnocchi next to bottle of wine.
Cheesy Baked Gnocchi with Pumpkin & Kale. Made with gruyere, mozzarella and parmesan, this dish is a cheese lovers dream. And the addition of seasonal pumpkin & kale makes it perfect for the Fall.
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Sweet potato gnocchi in white bowl next to sage leaves and parmesan rind.
Dressed your sweet potato gnocchi up with a browned butter sage sauce that’s packed with flavor.
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Sun dried tomato pesto in small white bowl with spoon.
Sun Dried Tomato Pesto (Pesto Rosso) is delicious tossed with pasta or gnocchi, spread on crostini, or dolloped on chicken, steak or pork. Made with just a handful of simple ingredients in 5 minutes! 
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Overhead close up of bowl of pasta tossed with broccoli pesto.
Broccoli Pesto Pasta is a healthy-ish way to indulge in a big bowl of gnocchi. This homemade broccoli pesto with fresh basil, parmesan cheese, garlic, olive oil and lemon is rich, creamy and delicious.
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Hands holding bowl of pasta topped with slow cooker bolognese.
This Slow Cooker Bolognese Sauce would make my Nana Lamancuso proud. It’s silky and luscious with super tender meat and so much flavor. Crockpot bolognese is where it’s at! 
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KALE PESTO IN SMALL BOWL
This Kale Pesto is totally vegan, easy, and delicious! Made with fresh greens, walnuts, and Italian seasonings, you’ll want to add it to all of your favorite meals.
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Two bowls of pasta with white bolognese.
This White Bolognese Sauce combines beef & Italian sausage in this silky, rich & delicately spiced sauce that's perfect for topping a bowl of gnocchi.
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Hand holding jar of homemade marinara sauce.
This is a great tomato sauce for gnocchi. Easy 30 Minute Marinara Sauce offers rich and sweet flavors that can be enjoyed on plenty of dishes. Using basic ingredients & only 1 pot.
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Overhead shot of penne alla vodka in white bowl next to glass of red wine.
Vodka Sauce. Toss your gnocchi with a tomato vodka sauce that's deliciously creamy and kicked up with a sprinkling of red pepper flakes.
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Overhead shot of two bowls of garlic and oil pasta next to small bowls of chili flakes and parmesan.
Garlic and Oil (or Aglio e Olio) Sauce is a traditional Italian recipe that comes together in under 20 minutes. It’s made with a short list of flavorful ingredients, ensuring that it’s always simple, quick, and tasty.
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Overhead shot of bowl of pasta with roasted tomato sauce.
This Butter Roasted Tomato Sauce comes together easily, with no chopping or constant stove monitoring. Just pop it in the oven and let the roasting process intensify the flavor of canned tomatoes.
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Overhead shot of bowl of sunday gravy.
This Authentic Italian Sunday Gravy is what I grew up eating every week. Nana's tomato meat sauce holds a fond place in my heart, and her recipe lives on to this day in my recipe box. It's my most requested recipe!
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🥣 More Sauce Recipes

🍽 Side Dishes for Gnocchi

📋 Is Homemade Gnocchi Easy to Make?

Yes! My homemade gnocchi recipe is basically foolproof and requires just 4-simple ingredients – potatoes, flour, salt and egg. You also don’t need any fancy equipment to make gnocchi!

You can also make sweet potato gnocchi.

🕛 How to Cook Gnocchi

Boiled Gnocchi

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
  • Add gnocchi and cook until they begin to float (meaning they are done). It should take about 90 seconds. Scoop them out with a slotted spoon.
  • Toss with one of the amazing sauces below!

Pan-Seared Gnocchi

  • Boil the gnocchi following the steps above.
  • Melt 1 Tablespoon butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Arrange the gnocchi in the skillet in a single layer (work in batches if needed).
  • Cook for 2-3 minutes, until the gnocchi are lightly browned and crispy.
  • Toss with one of the gnocchi sauces below!
Bowl of uncooked gnocchi.

ℹ️ Gnocchi FAQs

Do I Have to Boil Gnocchi Before Frying?

It’s not necessary to boil the gnocchi before pan frying. However, by boiling them first, you will guarantee that they are fully cooked throughout.

Why Are My Gnocchi Mushy?

If your gnocchi are mushy, they were probably boiled for too long. To ensure that you don’t overcook them, remove the gnocchi with a slotted spoon as they float to the top of the pot. Once they float, they are fully cooked.

Is Gnocchi Healthier Than Pasta?

Nutritionally speaking, gnocchi and pasta very similar. While gnocchi is made with potatoes, and pasta is made with wheat, they are both high in carbohydrates, and low in protein.

Skillet filled with gnocchi topped with blue cheese and frizzled prosciutto.

15+ BEST Sauces for Gnocchi

Wondering what the best sauces for gnocchi are? There are so many great options! From pesto sauces, to creamy sauces, tomato sauces and more! Try this This Gnocchi Blue Cheese sauce. It's pure decadence. A rich blue cheese sauce coats the gnocchi which is tossed with a bit of fresh spinach and topped with some crispy prosciutto. 
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 pound gnocchi
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 4 ounces prosciutto (thinly sliced)
  • 6 ounces spinach
  • 1 shallot (minced)
  • ½ cup milk
  • 4 ounces blue cheese (crumbled)
  • 1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg

Instructions

  • Bring a pot of salted water to a boil.
  • Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Add the prosciutto, and cook until crispy. Remove from pan with slotted spoon and allow to drain on paper towels.
  • To the same pan, add the shallot and sauté on medium heat, until softened. Add the spinach to the pan with the softened shallots, and allow to wilt, 2-3 minutes.
  • Add the gnocchi to the boiling water and cook 2-3 minutes, until the gnocchi float to the top. Drain.
  • Add the gnocchi to the skillet with the spinach and shallot. Add the milk, blue cheese, and nutmeg and stir until the cheese is melted and the gnocchi are coated. Serve immediately.
Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!

Nutrition

Calories: 310kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 28mg | Sodium: 676mg | Potassium: 284mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 2835IU | Vitamin C: 8.3mg | Calcium: 166mg | Iron: 3.7mg
Picture of blue cheese gnocchi with text overlay - best sauces for gnocchi.

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