Gnocchi marinara is a simple, one pan meal that cooks in just 10 minutes and is so easy to make. This gnocchi with marinara sauce is quick, easy and a delicious simple meal. Made with pantry ingredients and minimal prep, this is the recipe to make when you don’t have a lot of time for dinner.
If you love this gnocchi in sauce recipe, you have to try these beans with marinara (serve with toast or crackers) or this creamy tomato pasta without cream.
Gnocchi alla marinara spotlight
- Easy to make
- Use store-bought, shelf stable gnocchi
- One pot meal
- Packed with flavor
- Hearty & filling (thanks to the white beans)
- Gluten free and dairy free (using gluten free gnocchi and vegan parmesan)
Ingredients
- Shelf stable gnocchi – I used chickpea gnocchi to make this gluten free and as a way to add more protein and fiber However, this recipe will work with any shelf-stable gnocchi.
- Marinara – use your favorite store bought or homemade marinara
- Baby spinach – this adds color and more veggies to the dish
- White beans – unlike a traditional gnocchi with tomato sauce, this recipe adds white beans as a way to make this recipe more filling.
- Parmesan cheese – use regular, vegetarian or dairy free to make this recipe vegan.
- Fresh basil – this adds more flavor to the end dish
Cooking gnocchi in sauce
Add gnocchi and marinara in a large skillet (with a tight fitting lid). Turn heat to medium high.
Once the tomato sauce is bubbling, stir the skillet well then cover and cook for 2 minutes (this will help fully cook the gnocchi quickly).
After 2 minutes, take off the lid, stir well then add the baby spinach, and half the parmesan cheese. Stir well. Add ½ – ¾ cup of water to help thin out the sauce.
When sauce has reached your desired consistency and spinach is wilted, turn off the heat and add the rest of the parmesan and chopped fresh basil. Serve hot.
Top tips
- Stir gnocchi often to ensure they don’t stick to the bottom of the pot when cooking
- The starch from the gnocchi will thicken the sauce, so you will need to add water or the sauce will be too thick.
- You don’t have to pre-cook the gnocchi, it cooks quickly in the sauce.
Other additions
- Spicy: Add crushed red pepper flakes
- More fresh herbs: Add flat leaf parsley, oregano
- Make it cheesy: mozzarella cheese
Common questions
What is gnocchi?
Gnocchi is a type of pasta that look similar to a dumpling but is typically made with potatoes and flour.
I used these chickpea flour gnocchi, they are gluten free and packed with protein and fiber, making this dish more filling
What to serve along with gnocchi and white beans
Simple green salad with creamy balsamic dressing
Greek Salad with Kalamata Olive Dressing
Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs or Italian Chicken Chunks
Don’t have marinara on hand?
Make your own pasta sauce with 5 simple ingredients
Storing leftovers
- Fridge: Store in a well sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Store in a freezer tight container for up to 3 months. I like to store in ½ cup portions using Soupercubes, then transferring to a Stasher bag.
If you gnocchi, you should try
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- 16 oz shelf-stable gnocchi – I used Delallo Chickpea Gnocchi
- 16 oz marinara
- 2 cup chopped baby spinach
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
- 3 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
- 3/4 cup water – start with 1/2 cup
- 15.5 oz can white beans – great northern white, cannellini beans
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Add gnocchi and marinara sauce to a skillet with a tight fitting lid. Turn the heat on medium and allow the sauce to start to bubble. Stir regularly (this typically takes 3-4 minutes).
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Once the marinara sauce is bubbling, place the lid on the pot and cook 2 minutes.
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After 2 minutes, remove the lid, stir the pot and add the drained and rinsed white beans, chopped spinach and 1/4 cup of the parmesan cheese. Stir well. Add 1/2 cup of water to the pot. Stir well. Add up to 1/4 cup more water as the gnocchi continues to cook, until the sauce reaches your desired consistency.
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Once the spinach is wilted, turn off the heat, chop the basil and serve by topping with remaining parmesan cheese and fresh basil.
Tips:
- Stir gnocchi often so they don’t stick to the bottom of the pot
- The starch from the gnocchi will thicken the sauce, so you will need to add water or the sauce will be too thick.
- You don’t have to pre-cook the gnocchi, it cooks quickly in the sauce.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition Facts
Amount per Serving
Where does nutrition info come from? Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy, sourced from the USDA Food Database.
