Pan Fried Gnocchi with Spinach and Roasted Cherry Tomatoes, a delicious quick and easy weeknight dinner ready in under 30 minutes!
I know what’s it like when your weekdays are really busy, you’re tired when you get home but you still want something really tasty and satisfying to eat. This is my life. Always lots going on and sometimes not a lot of time for making complicated dinners. This is why this recipe for pan fried gnocchi with spinach came about. I had a packet of gnocchi sitting in my cupboard, and I had about half an hour to make dinner. I always have some spinach and tomatoes in the fridge so I started thinking of making a quick dinner with all of the above. Now, I know gnocchi can sometimes be a bit on the dull side, but if you pan fry that gnocchi, in butter, well that’s a whole other story!
How to Make Pan Fried Gnocchi
- 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. This should only take two minutes and they are so much better toasted.
- Next, cook the gnocchi. Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil then add the gnocchi to it. As soon as the gnocchi rises to the top remove it with a slotted spoon. Keep a 1/2 cup of the water from the pot.
- Pan fry the gnocchi, heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a large pan, mine was a 26cm/10 inch pan. Fry the gnocchi for about 5 minutes, tossing every now and again. You want the gnocchi to be a light golden brown, but try not to cook it longer than 5 minutes. After 5 minutes it will start to get tough. Once the gnocchi is done transfer it to a bowl for a minute.
- Add another tablespoon of butter to the pan then add the garlic and the spinach, cook for a minute until the spinach wilts then add 1/2 a cup of the water from the gnocchi and give it a quick stir.
- Finally, add the tomatoes to the spinach along with the chopped parsley, cheese and the pine nuts. Return the gnocchi to the pan and toss everything together. Serve immediately with some freshly cracked pepper and more grated cheese.
Tips for Making the Perfect Pan Fried Gnocchi:
- Store bought potato gnocchi works perfectly well for this and makes it a really quick meal. You can, of course, make your own gnocchi but it will take longer.
- I use salted butter for this dish, unsalted butter doesn’t give you the same result so please use salted butter.
- Try not to overcook the gnocchi, anything more than 5 minutes will make the gnocchi tough. You want it to be soft in the middle crispy on the outside, so make sure the butter is piping hot but not burning so a medium-hot heat will work best.
- Use a large pan to fry the gnocchi, you don’t want the gnocchi to be too overcrowded.
- I add some finely grated vegetarian parmesan cheese to the spinach, just make sure the cheese you use will melt well.
- This comes together really quickly at the end, as soon as you have added the final ingredients and added the gnocchi back into the pan serve it straight away.
What Makes this Recipe Great:
- Just 12 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, little potato dumplings! What’s not to love?
- Juicy, sweet, roasted cherry tomatoes. So good with the gnocchi and spinach!
- All that garlic!!
- Spinach to add a touch of healthy!
- So tasty, mouthwateringly good!
- Ready in 30 minutes
More Quick and Easy Weeknight Dinners:
- Vegetable Fajitas
- Spinach Strawberry Salad
- Pesto Pasta Bake
- Artichoke & Olive Naan Pizza
- Artichoke Spinach Flatbread Pizza
- Chickpea Lentil Curry
Pan Fried Gnocchi with Spinach and Tomatoes
Crispy, golden, pan fried gnocchi with spinach and roasted cherry tomatoes. A very tasty lunch or dinner, ready in under 30 minutes, so perfect for busy weeknights.
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Servings: 3
Calories: 529kcal
Ingredients
- 10 oz cherry tomatoes on the vine (280g/ 0.62lb)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1.2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 1.1 lb pack store bought gnocchi (500g)
- 3 tbsp butter
- 2 cloves garlic
- 4 cups spinach (90g/3.3oz)
- 2 tbsp chopped flat leaf parsley
- 1/4 tsp cracked black pepper plus more for serving
- 1/4 tsp sea salt plus more for serving
- 20 g parmesan cheese (vegetarian hard Italian cheese) Plus more for serving
- 2 tbsp pinenuts (25g)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200 degrees C/ 392 F Add the cherry tomatoes to a roasting tin, drizzle over 1/2 a tbsp of balsamic vinegar and 1 tbsp of olive oil, add 1/4 tsp each of salt and black pepper then roast them for about 15 minutes.
- While the tomatoes are roasting toast the pine nuts. Add 2 tablespoons of pine nuts to a dry hot pan and toast for about 2 or 3 minutes, tossing often. They should be golden brown. Remove from the pan and set aside until you are ready to use them.
- Next bring a large saucepan of salted water to the boil. Add the gnocchi to the water and as soon as they rise to the top, about 3 minutes, remove with a slotted spoon. Reserve half a cup of the water used to cook the gnocchi
- In a large frying pan add 2 tablespoons of butter, melt the butter over a medium to high heat then once the butter is bubbling add the gnocchi. Fry the gnocchi for a maximum of 5 minutes, tossing regularly. Once the gnocchi is golden brown remove it from the pan.
- Add I more tablespoon of butter to the pan then once that has melted add the minced garlic (2 cloves) cook for a minute then add the spinach and 1/2 a cup of the reserved water. The spinach will wilt quite quickly so now add the grated cheese, the cherry tomatoes along with any juices in the roasting tin. Stir gently then add the parsley and the pine nuts and return the gnocchi to the frying pan. Toss everything together. You should have a thin sauce in the pan now.
- Serve immediately with some cracked black pepper and a little more grated cheese if you wish.
Notes
- Nutritional Information is calculated by an online nutrition tool, it is based on a serving of 3 and is approximate.
- Serving size, this amount of gnocchi is perfect for 3 people for lunch, or a light dinner. If we have this for dinner I will sometimes serve it with a side salad or garlic bread.
- Store bought gnocchi works perfectly well for this and makes it a really quick meal. You can, of course, make your own gnocchi but it will take longer.
- I use salted butter for this dish, unsalted butter doesn't give you the same result so please use salted butter.
- Try not to overcook the gnocchi, anything more than 5 minutes will make the gnocchi tough. You want it to be soft in the middle crispy on the outside, so make sure the butter is piping hot but not burning so a medium-hot heat will work best.
- Use a large pan to fry the gnocchi, you don't want the gnocchi to be too overcrowded.
- I add some finely grated vegetarian parmesan cheese to the spinach, just make sure the cheese you use will melt well. It's totally fine to omit the cheese at the cooking stage if you can't find a good vegetarian parmesan, I have made this with and without the cheese and both are totally acceptable.
- Freezing and storing, I don't recommend freezing this dish. You really need to consume this dish as soon as you make it, the gnocchi gets tough as it cools and it is not suitable to reheat it for the same reason.
- Make it Vegan, you can easily make this vegan by omitting the cheese, and just make sure you buy or make vegan gnocchi.
- Make it Gluten-Free, just make sure the gnocchi you buy is gluten-free and you're good.
Nutrition
Calories: 529kcal | Carbohydrates: 74.9g | Protein: 13.7g | Fat: 21.4g | Saturated Fat: 9.8g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 767mg | Potassium: 483mg | Fiber: 4.1g | Sugar: 3g | Calcium: 110mg | Iron: 1.8mg
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This was such an awesome recipe for dinner last night! So flavorful and perfect for busy nights!
Thank you so much Sara, I’m glad you enjoyed it Xx
Loved all of your tips and tricks to really nailing this dish! Thank you so much.
You are so welcome Demeter Xx
First time preparing a gnocchi at home, so I appreciate all the tricks to get that perfect dish. And this dish is so colorful too, on top of being super delicious. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Thank you so much Anita x
Pan-fried gnocchi is already the way to my heart, but a 30-minute recipe is the cherry on top.
OMG this looks soooo good. I absolutely love roasted tomatoes – especially in the summer when they’re at their peak and the sugars get all concentrated and delicious. I can’t wait to try this. Also, your photos are gorgeous!
This looks so comforting and I love how easy it is to assemble.
Oh I love gnocchi! Can’t wait to try this for a quick weeknight meal. Thanks for the step by step photos too 🙂 super helpful!
You’re very welcome Heather, I hope you enjoy it x
Such a gorgeous dish! So simple yet so well put together. I would pay money for that in a restaurant any day!! Thanks so much for sharing (:
Oh wow, thank you so much, Nicolas 🙂
I have been a huge fan of gnocchi lately, so I am really looking forward to trying your recipe – all that garlic you are using – it must give the dish so much flavor! Can’t wait.
Thanks Danielle, I’m definitely a fan of garlic 😉 I hope you enjoy it x
I think I just heard my tummy growl. lol! Must print the recipe.
It’s been too long since I’ve had gnocci! Definitely craving it now…yours looks fantastic!
I am completely in love with the idea of making this recipe! I love Italian food and sometimes make my own gnocchi. But this fast solution for everyday meals is what I need right now. Great recipe, thanks for sharing!
I have a package of gnocchi in my pantry right now that needs to be cooked so this will make the perfect meal for tonight. This will be a great recipe to have on hand when the day is busy and all I want is a comforting meal.
Big gnocchi fan here. I generally prefer very moist servings, like cheese sauces, and never tried pan frying them. I have to try this as soon as possible, I really like roasted tomatoes!
This looks like my kind of dinner. Roasted cherry tomatoes, spinach and pine nuts make such a great flavor combo. It’s just perfect with gnocchi but I bet this would work just as good with pasta, too!
This looks so delicious and easy! And I love that it’s perfect as a side dish with meat, or even as a light vegetarian meal. Thanks for the super easy to follow instructions too
Great presentation, And this recipe is so easy to make ! I almost cant believe it. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Wow this gnocchi recipe sounds delicious and your images are stunning!!! I love how the cherry tomatoes look with their stems on… so beautiful! Cant wait to make this :)!
Thanks Daniela, I hope you enjoy it x
I’ve had the store-bought gnocchi, and was surprised at how good they were. Maybe not like the real thing, but still enjoyable, and perfect for pan frying or baking. Love this recipe. Perfect and simple.
Thanks Mimi, you’re so right store-bought is perfect for panfrying. I also think it’s handy to have a pack in the cupboard in case you need a super quick dinner 😉
Made this today. Simply delicious!
Hi Nicola, I’m so glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Loved it! amazing work. Also added chroizo, was a nice touch
Thanks Chaz, I’m glad you liked it.
So easy and absolutely delicious
Thanks Trish, I’m so glad you liked it.
I would like to make this, but I noticed that you have the oven is pre-heated @ 392…my oven doesn’t get to that, but will 395 degrees work? Also, I noticed in your pictures that the tomatoes have vines on them! I’m sure you would peel the tomatoes off of them, cause you can’t eat the sticks!!
Hi Leslie, I would preheat your oven to 390F. Yes, I would definitely not eat the vines the tomatoes are attached too. The tomatoes are roasted on the vine but are easy to peel off when you serve them. In fact, some of them will just fall off the vine when you come to add them to the gnocchi. I hope this helps.
Great! Thank you! Will let you know how it turns out!
Even though I did not add the Pine Nuts (too expensive), this dish was bursting with flavor!! Thanks for the recipe! This one’s a keeper!
Hi Leslie, you’re so welcome I’m really glad you enjoyed it.