Crispy Pan Fried Gnocchi with Spinach & Tomatoes

This crispy pan-fried Gnocchi with Spinach and Roasted Cherry Tomatoes, is a delicious quick and easy weeknight dinner that is ready in under 30 minutes!

Jump to:

• 🛒 Ingredients
• 🔪 How to Make Pan-Fried Gnocchi
• 👩‍🍳 Top Tips
• ❤️ Why You'll This
• 🔄 Variations
• 🍴More Quick and Easy Weeknight Meals
• Pan Fried Gnocchi Recipe

I know what it's like when your weekdays are busy, you're tired when you get home but still want something tasty and satisfying for dinner.  This crispy gnocchi dish is a great recipe for busy nights. It's easy to make and takes about 30 minutes to pull it all together.

Made with a pack of store-bought gnocchi and some simple ingredients this is an easy midweek meal that doesn't skimp on flavour. I mean, what's not to love, little potato dumplings fried in butter and garlic and served with burst cherry tomatoes and plenty of cheese! We love this as a main meal but it's great as a starter or as a side dish too.

🛒 Ingredients

• Gnocchi- Store-bought gnocchi is fine for this recipe. You will need one package of shelf-stable gnocchi, the type you find in the pasta aisle. You can, of course, make your own gnocchi if you like. However, homemade gnocchi will increase the cooking time of this recipe.
• Spinach - I use baby spinach for this recipe. Fresh spinach is best here.
• Cherry Tomatoes - fresh cherry tomatoes on the vine will give you the best results here. They have more flavour so I recommend using them if you can.
• Butter - I use salted butter for this dish, unsalted butter doesn't give you the same result so please use salted butter.
• Cheese - Grana Padano is the cheese I like to use with this, however, you can use any similar vegetarian hard Italian cheese or parmesan cheese.
• Herbs - I use fresh flat-leaf parsley for this recipe. You will also need a couple of cloves of garlic. I use two cloves of garlic here but you can easily add extra garlic if you like!
• Pine nuts - These are a great addition to this recipe. Once toasted they add a lovely warm nutty flavour to the dish which goes very well with that delicious gnocchi!
• Other ingredients - You will also need olive oil, salt and freshly ground black pepper.

🔪 How to Make Pan-Fried Gnocchi

Please see the recipe card below for full instructions and an ingredient list.

1. Start by roasting the cherry tomatoes, add the cherry tomatoes to a roasting tin, drizzle over the balsamic vinegar and olive oil, add the salt and pepper then roast them for about 15 minutes in a hot preheated oven. While the tomatoes are roasting toast the pine nuts. 

2. Add to a dry pan and cook over medium heat for a couple of minutes. Give the pine nuts a shake every minute or so to ensure they are toasted all over. Transfer to a bowl until you are ready to use them.

3. Heat a little olive oil in a large skillet add the spinach and cook until the spinach has wilted. Transfer to a medium bowl and cover to keep the spinach warm. Pan fry the gnocchi, heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a large pan, mine was a 26cm/10-inch pan. Add the uncooked gnocchi in a single layer on the frying pan.

4. Fry the gnocchi for about 16 -20 minutes, tossing now and again. You want the gnocchi to be a light golden brown. Add the chopped garlic to the pan and cook for a minute or two. Once the gnocchi and garlic are cooked add the tomatoes to the spinach along with the chopped parsley, to the pan. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Toss gently then add the pine nuts and sprinkle the grated cheese over everything. Serve immediately.

👩‍🍳 Top Tips

• Try not to overcook the gnocchi, anything more than 20 minutes will make the gnocchi tough. You want it to be soft in the middle and crispy on the outside, so make sure the butter is hot when you add the gnocchi to the pan.
• Use a large frying pan to fry the gnocchi, you don't want the gnocchi to be too overcrowded. You want crispy gnocchi here, if the pan is too crowded you run the risk of the gnocchi being soggy.
• This is a quick recipe and comes together really quickly at the end, as soon as you have added the final ingredients serve it immediately.

❤️ Why You'll This

• Just a few simple ingredients to perfect pan-fried gnocchi! Most of which you probably already have in your cupboard or fridge.
• Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, delicious little potato dumplings! What's not to love?
• Juicy, sweet, roasted cherry tomatoes. So good with the gnocchi and spinach!
• So tasty, mouthwateringly good!
• Ready in 30 minutes!

🔄 Variations

• Make it spicy - I love adding a little spice to this dish. Try adding a pinch of red pepper flakes for a little heat!
• Swap the herbs up - I love this with fresh parsley but you could easily swap it for fresh basil, or oregano or try it with a couple of sage leaves for a more earthy flavour.

🍽 More Tasty Gnocchi Recipes

• Creamy Gnocchi with Sun-Dried Tomatoes - this is the ultimate comfort food. Gnocchi cooked in a creamy cheesy sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach!
• Pesto Gnocchi - made with peas and courgettes this gnocchi dish is perfect for Spring.
• Creamy Spinach and Mushroom Gnocchi - one of my favourites, this is a lovely cosy dish with earthy mushrooms and spinach in a creamy sauce.

🍴More Quick and Easy Weeknight Meals

• This recipe has been updated in April 2024 with new photos and an improved recipe.