23 Decadent Italian Gnocchi Recipes for a Cozy Dinner Party

Carmen Eldridge

October 13, 2025

Kickstart your culinary journey through Italy’s picturesque countryside with these 21 mouth-watering gnocchi recipes. From rich and creamy sauce-drenched dishes to hearty soup options and indulgent takes on classic comfort food like cheesy gnocchi mac and cheese, you’re in for a treat that will leave your taste buds singing!

Creamy Chicken & Gnocchi

Creamy Chicken & Gnocchi

Just like the perfect Italian dish, this recipe boasts delectably creamy notes of garlic and an earthy flavor from kale, making it a showstopper at dinner time. The tender chicken paired with fresh thyme beautifully complements the gnocchi, creating a well-rounded meal that’s sure to become a weeknight staple.

Creamy Pesto Gnocchi

Creamy Pesto Gnocchi

Yielding to your cravings for a comforting and delicious meal, the Creamy Pesto Gnocchi is an ideal choice for meatless Mondays or any day of the week when you need a hassle-free option. Whether you’re short on time or just looking for a satisfying dish that’s easy to prepare, this classic recipe will become a go-to solution for your quick but fulfilling meal needs!

Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi

Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi

With just a few simple ingredients and minimal cooking time, you can replicate the flavors of your favorite restaurant’s creamy gnocchi soup from scratch. In fact, this copycat recipe can be prepared in under 30 minutes using store-bought ingredients, making it an ideal option for a quick weeknight dinner. Serving this comforting dish with warm breadsticks on the side adds to its appeal, allowing you to enjoy a satisfying meal in the comfort of your own home instead of going out for dinner.

Chicken Bacon Gnocchi

Chicken Bacon Gnocchi

Keen eaters will agree that adding crispy bacon to the classic chicken gnocchi recipe takes it to a whole new level of flavor. The combination of tender gnocchi, juicy chicken, and smoky bacon in a rich creamy garlic sauce is truly irresistible. Baked in one pot with aromatic Italian herbs and topped with a generous sprinkle of fresh parmesan cheese, this dish is sure to become a family favorite.

Lemon Chicken Gnocchi

Lemon Chicken Gnocchi

Elevate your dinner game with a creative twist on traditional Chicken gnocchi, courtesy of the talented team at Salt & Lavender. Their Lemon Chicken Gnocchi recipe is a masterclass in balancing rich and tangy flavors, with golden pan-fried chicken paired perfectly with pillowy gnocchi smothered in a creamy lemon parmesan sauce that’s simply irresistible.

3 Cheese Gnocchi Mac & Cheese

3 Cheese Gnocchi Mac & Cheese

Keep in mind that traditional mac and cheese is getting a gourmet makeover. This creative adaptation brings together two beloved dishes – macaroni and cheese, paired with soft gnocchi – resulting in a rich and satisfying twist on a comforting classic.

Baked Pumpkin Gnocchi with Thyme and Parmesan

Baked Pumpkin Gnocchi with Thyme and Parmesan

Highlighting the ease and elegance of this oven-baked one-pot dish, it’s an ideal choice for entertaining guests. The combination of roasted pumpkin, fragrant thyme, and nutty parmesan cheese adds a delightful rustic touch to your meal, making it perfect for special occasions or everyday gatherings alike.

Potato Gnocchi in Bacon Spinach Cream Sauce

Potato Gnocchi in Bacon Spinach Cream Sauce

Versatile as it may seem, gnocchi is often overlooked in favor of more familiar pasta options. This creamy, indulgent recipe adds a twist to your weekly dinner rotation, elevating the classic dish with the subtle kick of red pepper flakes and the burst of flavor from diced fresh tomato.

Gnocchi with Bacon Cream Sauce

Gnocchi with Bacon Cream Sauce

Gnocchi lovers will appreciate the creative take on the Italian classic from Sweet Tea & Thyme, which infuses it with a Southern charm. The addition of eggs and cornstarch as thickeners in the sauce gives this dish a rich and creamy texture, perfectly balanced by the pungency of garlic. To finish it off, crispy bacon, fresh parmesan, kosher salt, and cracked black pepper add a delightful depth of flavor.

Creamy Spinach Chicken Gnocchi

Creamy Spinach Chicken Gnocchi

Brimming with flavor, the combination of chicken, spinach, and gnocchi is perfectly balanced by a rich and creamy garlic sauce in this delectable recipe.

Creamy Chicken Gnocchi with Spinach

Creamy Chicken Gnocchi with Spinach

Uncomplicate your dinner plans by utilizing convenient shortcuts like pre-cooked rotisserie chickens and store-bought gnocchi. These time-saving ingredients allow for a quick and effortless preparation of this dish. The creamy, garlicky Alfredo sauce provides an indulgent and comforting element to the meal, while the addition of spinach introduces a refreshing twist that balances out the richness of the sauce.

20-minute Creamy Pesto Gnocchi

20-minute Creamy Pesto Gnocchi

Among the many benefits of this vegetarian pesto gnocchi is its incredible convenience. Once mastered, the recipe can be adapted to suit individual tastes by adding, swapping, or omitting ingredients as desired. As a result, it has become an essential base for effortless yet satisfying meals that can be enjoyed on any night of the week.

Baked Chicken Gnocchi with Garlic Asiago Cream Sauce

Baked Chicken Gnocchi with Garlic Asiago Cream Sauce

Naturally, it’s the distinctive nutty flavor of Asiago Cheese that elevates this Chicken Gnocchi recipe to new heights. The rich, savory flavors are perfectly balanced by the creamy cheese sauce and the tender chicken thighs.

Easy Gnocchi with Butter, Garlic & Parmesan

Easy Gnocchi with Butter, Garlic & Parmesan

Taking its cue from classic Italian cuisine, this easy gnocchi dish is a straightforward yet satisfying meal option. With a focus on simplicity, this recipe combines just a few key ingredients – butter, garlic, and parmesan cheese – to create a flavorful and aromatic sauce that complements the soft gnocchi perfectly. This no-fuss approach makes it an ideal choice for those looking to save time and money in the kitchen without sacrificing taste.

Fried Butter Gnocchi with Garlic & Parmesan

Fried Butter Gnocchi with Garlic & Parmesan

Creating a delicious twist on traditional gnocchi dishes, this ‘skillet gnocchi’ recipe offers a fun and flavorful take on a classic favorite. Cooked in garlicky butter and finished with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese, the result is a delightful contrast of textures – slightly crispy on the outside and soft and pillowy within – making it an undeniably addictive dish that’s sure to satisfy even the most discerning palate.

Creamy Garlic Parmesan Gnocchi

Creamy Garlic Parmesan Gnocchi

Just as any home cook would be thrilled to have a new skillet gnocchi recipe up their sleeve, this creamy garlic parmesan gnocchi is a perfect fit for a quick weeknight dinner. The addition of fresh sage gives it a special touch that elevates the dish from ordinary to extraordinary. Plus, the subtle kick from cayenne pepper adds a cozy warmth to the sauce, making it an ideal choice for a chilly evening in.

Gnocchi Mac & Cheese

Gnocchi Mac & Cheese

Zeroing in on a creative twist to this classic comfort dish, replacing traditional pasta with tender gnocchi is a game-changer. The result is an elevated version of mac and cheese that still delivers on all fronts: rich, creamy cheese sauce, crunchy panko topping, and the soft, pillowy texture of gnocchi.

Gnocchi Mac & Cheese Skillet

Gnocchi Mac & Cheese Skillet

With just a few simple steps, you can create a mouth-watering Gnocchi Mac & Cheese Skillet that’s perfect for your cast iron skillet. Unlike traditional macaroni and cheese recipes, this one uses sharp cheddar to add a deeper, richer flavor to the cheesy sauce – a twist that’s sure to become a favorite among family and friends alike.

Ricotta Gnocchi

Ricotta Gnocchi

Relying on a clever twist to traditional recipes can yield impressive results, as is the case with this innovative homemade Gnocchi recipe. By substituting ricotta cheese for potatoes, you’ll create a dish that’s both soft and pillowy, yet surprisingly light in texture. And the best part? This entire process takes a mere 20 minutes from start to finish!

Cheesy Eggplant Gnocchi Caprese

Understanding the versatility of gnocchi, this Italian-inspired dish combines the classic flavors of Caprese – tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil – with a delicious twist. This cheesy eggplant gnocchi recipe brings together authentic Italian taste sensations that are sure to please even the most discerning palates. Gnocchi’s convenience is one of its greatest strengths: it cooks up quickly for a multitude of meals.

Whether you store it fresh, dried, or frozen, this pantry staple will elevate your culinary repertoire. With gnocchi as a versatile base, the possibilities are endless – serve it as a side dish or let it take center stage as the main event, and we hope these recipes provide the inspiration you need to spice up your menu planning.

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