This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
This creamy pesto gnocchi recipe makes a fantastic side dish or meatless main course. It’s super easy (made in one pan) and takes only 20 minutes from start to finish!
If you like this method, try my Gnocchi with Tomato Sauce or Creamy Mushroom and Spinach Gnocchi next.
Why you’ll love it
The pesto parmesan sauce in this quick gnocchi recipe is very simple to make and really tasty. In fact, the whole dish has just six ingredients in total! Pesto is already delicious, but adding more garlic and a splash of cream turns it into a next-level delicious sauce.
Since the gnocchi cooks right in the sauce, there’s no pre-cooking involved in this one pan gnocchi with pesto. It releases starch to beautifully thicken up the creamy and bright sauce. That means fewer dishes to wash, which is a win on busy weeknights!
What you’ll need
- Pesto – since it’s the star of the sauce, choose a quality brand you love! My favorite is DeLallo.
- Heavy cream – it makes the sauce have a silky and luxurious texture
- Wine or chicken broth – use a dry white wine like pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc for a touch of elegance
- Garlic – for more savory flavor
- Gnocchi – for all my one pan gnocchi recipes I use shelf-stable gnocchi (find it in the pasta aisle). The refrigerated kind works too.
- Parmesan – grate your own for best results
Pro tip
I don’t recommend using homemade gnocchi because the one pan method can make it fall apart, so I would make the sauce separately if you want to go that route.
How to make pesto gnocchi
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
To a deep skillet, add the pesto, cream, white wine/broth, and garlic. When it gently bubbles, add in the gnocchi. Cover and cook for about 5 minutes.
Uncover, then stir. Continue to cook it for a few more minutes while stirring often. When desired consistency is reached, stir in the parmesan cheese. Season with salt & pepper.
Tools for this recipe
Check out Natasha’s favorite kitchen essentials, gadgets, and cookware!
- I’m big on grating my own parmesan cheese since it just tastes and melts better. I use this Microplane zester.
- Quickly mince garlic with a garlic press, and store leftover cloves in a garlic saver that’s shaped like a head of garlic.
- Here are the angled measuring cups pictured.
Substitutions and variations
- If you want to make pesto from scratch instead, here’s my Really Easy Pesto Recipe.
- Add some leftover/rotisserie chicken near the end of the cooking time if you’d like a protein. You could also make my similar Creamy Pesto Shrimp Gnocchi instead.
What to serve with pesto gnocchi
- Serve it with extra fresh parmesan and chopped fresh basil or parsley if desired.
- As a side dish, it’s great with my Chicken Milanese, Easy Pan Seared Pork Chops, Easy Pan Seared Salmon, or Simple Filet Mignon.
- If it’s a meatless main, a salad goes great along with fresh crusty bread. Try this Simple Parmesan Arugula Salad.
Leftovers and storage
- Store leftover gnocchi for 3-4 days fridge in an airtight container.
- Reheat over a low heat, and add splash of cream or broth to leftovers to revive the sauce.
- I don’t recommend freezing this one because it’ll change texture.
Questions about this easy pesto gnocchi recipe? Let me know in the comments! I’d love it if you left a star rating and review below, or tag me on Instagram.
Creamy Pesto Gnocchi
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup pesto
- 1 cup heavy/whipping cream
- 1/4 cup dry white wine or chicken broth
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 pound uncooked potato gnocchi
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add the pesto, cream, wine, and garlic to a deep skillet over medium heat.
- Once the sauce starts to gently bubble, stir in the gnocchi. Cover the pan and cook for 5 minutes.
- Uncover the pan and give it a good stir. Continue to cook it for a couple more minutes, stirring often (the sauce will thicken quickly as the gnocchi releases more starch).
- Once the sauce is thickened to your liking, stir in the parmesan cheese. If the sauce gets too thick at any point, add in another splash of wine or cream. Season with salt & pepper as needed and serve immediately.
Notes
- Serves 4-6 as a side dish.
- The gnocchi cooks right in the sauce. No need to pre-boil it! The starch released helps thicken the sauce up quickly.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
© Salt & Lavender Inc. Content and photographs are copyrighted. Sharing this blog post is much appreciated, but copying and pasting full recipes without authorization to social media is strictly prohibited.
This recipe was originally published on September 18, 2020. It’s been updated with new photos and better instructions but is the same great recipe!
I loveeee this recipe, it came out so tasty and creamy
My boyfriend loved it. Thank you so much for sharing.
Fantastic!! I’m so happy to hear that. Thanks for taking the time to write me a comment! 🙂
Is this something you could add some broken up italian sausage into? I had a creamy gnocchi with sausage dish at a restaurant the other night and have been searching for a way to recreate it!
Hi Stacey! I don’t see why not. But I do actually have a few similar gnocchi with sausage recipes on here. Just type “sausage gnocchi” into any of the search bars on my website and they’ll come up. This one’s my personal fav: https://bit.ly/3hvCR7y
Good recipe though I added 5 garlic cloves and 1.5 lbs of gnocchi. Would make it again!
So glad you enjoyed it!!
Another big hit in our household! I made the Lemon Chicken Gnocchi two weeks ago and couldn’t wait to try this one. I wanted a one pan meal, so I added pan fried chicken (used garlic powder and flour). Cooked that first and then set aside to follow your recipe. I substituted light cream for the heavy cream to make it a tad healthier, and used only 1/4 cup parm for the same reason. I had mistakenly bought spinach for this dish so used it anyway. I used half of a 5 oz bag and next time I will use the whole bag since it wilts down.
I have two more of your gnocchi recipes bookmarked and ready to try! 😀
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, and I love how you tweaked it to add the chicken and spinach. 🙂
I use this recipe all the time now. It was an accidental find and my oh my it’s a household fav!
I’m thrilled to hear that, Shelby! 😀 Thanks for letting me know.
This looks great as a side. What do you recommend as the main dish? We have some meat lovers coming over.
Thanks.
Hi! Hmm… maybe this Chicken Scallopini? https://bit.ly/395Ph1p baked chicken thighs: https://bit.ly/3lELX2k or you can browse thru all my main courses here: https://bit.ly/3r8pICZ
Love your main recipes – all look amazing. Too busy for tonight; I’m pretty much a beginner. Will try some other time. Chicken sounds great, though. Maybe some “fried” baked recipe; don’t want to crowd the stove top . Your Creamy Pesto Gnocchi should really impress our guests. I’ll let you know how it turns out. Thanks, Natasha.
Sure! Let me know 🙂 I hope it works out.
Super good and tasty! (Although I added a more pesto and cheese for flavour)
So glad you enjoyed it, Louis!
I just made it and love it!! Question tho- my husband hates gnocchi cause of the texture (I love it lol), but could this be made similarly with other fresh pastas? Like tortellini or ravioli from the refrigerated section?
Wonderful! I think it will work. Tortellini and ravioli still release starch, but I find they do release a little less, so you may need to tweak cooking time a tad or liquid measurements depending on the outcome.
Hi there! Any recommendation on modifying the cream and making it lactose free?
You could try the dairy-free whipping cream by Silk brand – other readers have tried it with success in some of my recipes with cream.
This recipe was so easy but SO tasty! Both my husband and I loved it and said this would be on our dinner rotation!
That makes me happy!! Thanks so much for commenting, Meghan!