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This gnocchi with tomato sauce recipe is a simple one pan meal that takes store-bought gnocchi to the next level! Plenty of melty Parmesan and mozzarella make this dish extra delicious.

Try my Easy Baked Gnocchi next for another simple, cheesy recipe.

one pan gnocchi with tomato sauce in a white bowl

If you’ve read this blog for any length of time, you will have seen that I make a lot of gnocchi recipes. They’re easy, popular with readers, made in one pan, and crazy delicious. Usually they have a cream-based sauce, but I wanted to do a simple tomato sauce without any cream. I figured it was high time we had gnocchi with red sauce. 

I ended up testing this recipe 3x. The first time I used tomato sauce and it ended up being a little too ketchup-y for my liking. The second time I was close; the tomato sauce was subbed for diced tomatoes, and I also decided to add some mozzarella and Italian seasoning to the mix. The taste was almost there, but there was just way too much sauce. Also, I had an issue with the gnocchi sticking to the bottom of the pan, so I decided to cook it entirely uncovered for the next test. Third time’s the charm…

gnocchi with pomodoro sauce in a skillet

I’ve been using the last of my fresh garden basil up, and this recipe calls for a small handful. Fresh basil is one of my favorite cooking ingredients ever. I just want to throw it in everything. 

This recipe can be a main course or a meatless side depending on what you’re feeling.  It’s easily made vegetarian if you sub the chicken broth for veggie broth. 

As we head into the cooler months, I’m looking forward to making more soups with gnocchi such as my Parmesan, Mushroom, and Spinach Gnocchi Soup, this Sausage, Kale, and Gnocchi Soup, my Creamy Tomato Gnocchi Soup, or this Easy Chicken Gnocchi Soup.

close-up of gnocchi with tomato sauce

What kind of gnocchi to use?

I use the shelf-stable gnocchi that you can find in the dry pasta aisle. I’ve had readers test similar recipes with fresh homemade gnocchi, and the one pan technique does not seem to work as well (it’s delicate and can fall apart). The refrigerated gnocchi you can find in some supermarkets should work as well. 

Recipe notes:

  • You can definitely add a splash of cream if you want to make the sauce a little richer.
  • Have some fresh herbs on-hand? Feel free to throw them in along with the basil. 
  • Want to make it a spicy tomato sauce? Add 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper or some red pepper flakes.

Other one pan gnocchi recipes you may like:

tomato gnocchi in two white bowls

Hope you will enjoy this easy tomato sauce for gnocchi!

Questions? Ask me below in the comments.

one pan gnocchi with tomato sauce in a white bowl
4.75 from 48 votes

Gnocchi with Tomato Sauce

This gnocchi with tomato sauce recipe is a simple one pan meal that takes store-bought gnocchi to the next level! Plenty of melty Parmesan and mozzarella make this dish extra delicious.
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 25 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients 

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 (14 fluid ounce) can diced tomatoes with juices
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1/4 cup chicken broth or veg broth
  • 1 dash Italian seasoning
  • 1 pound potato gnocchi
  • 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
  • Small handful fresh basil sliced thin
  • Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions 

  • Add the oil and butter to a deep skillet over medium heat. Once it's hot, add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
  • Add the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, chicken broth, and Italian seasoning to the pan. Give it a stir.
  • Stir in the gnocchi. Let it cook, stirring fairly often so it doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan, until it's cooked through (about 5-7 minutes). The sauce will thicken as the gnocchi releases starch.
  • Give the gnocchi a taste, and if it's cooked, stir in the mozzarella, parmesan, and basil until the cheeses melt. Season with salt & pepper as needed and serve immediately.

Notes

  • There is no need to pre-cook the gnocchi. It'll cook in the sauce.
  • Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

Nutrition

Calories: 364kcal, Carbohydrates: 48g, Protein: 14g, Fat: 14g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Cholesterol: 30mg, Sodium: 948mg, Potassium: 315mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 581IU, Vitamin C: 13mg, Calcium: 274mg, Iron: 6mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Hi! I’m Natasha.

Salt & Lavender is a recipe blog with a focus on delicious comfort food using everyday ingredients. Beat the weekday grind with hundreds of easy-to-follow and hassle-free recipes!

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137 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I just made this, I was starving & it was so quick, easy, simple & delicious. I used baby gnocchi so cooked it separately from fear of overcooking it.