Description
This comforting cheesy baked gnocchi casserole combines tender potato gnocchi with a rich tomato-meat sauce, topped with bubbly, golden cheese. It’s an easy, hearty, and incredibly satisfying dish perfect for any weeknight.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage (or lentils for vegetarian)
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- ½ tsp salt, or to taste
- ¼ tsp black pepper, or to taste
- Pinch of sugar (optional)
- 1 (16 oz) package shelf-stable gnocchi (or fresh)
- 1½ cups shredded low-moisture mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley or basil, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
- Step 2: Add ground meat (or lentils) and cook, breaking it apart, until browned. Drain any excess fat. Add diced onion and cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Step 3: Pour in crushed tomatoes, oregano, basil, salt, pepper, and optional sugar. Stir, bring to a simmer, then reduce heat and cook, covered, for 15-20 minutes, allowing flavors to meld. Taste and adjust seasonings.
- Step 4: Stir gnocchi directly into the sauce, coating well. If using an oven-safe skillet, skip to the next step. Otherwise, transfer the gnocchi and sauce mixture to a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Step 5: Sprinkle the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses evenly over the top of the gnocchi and sauce.
- Step 6: Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden-brown. For a crispier topping, broil for the last 2-3 minutes (watch carefully!). Let rest 5-10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh herbs if desired.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins