One Pan Creamy Meatballs and Gnocchi
We’ve got some cozy comfort food on deck today! Creamy meatballs and gnocchi is a one-pan recipe with some of my favorite shortcut ingredients. It’s so easy to make and loaded with flavor.
Meatballs and gnocchi in a creamy sauce is the kind of dinner you want at the end of a busy day when only something cozy will do. Even better? It’s a one-pan recipe, so clean-up will be easy, too.
It has a Tuscan-inspired flair going on – the creamy sauce is flecked with pops of spinach and sundried tomatoes – and some meatballs and gnocchi make it so hearty and satisfying. If you’re craving something warm and cozy, you need to give it a try.
Ingredients
- Frozen beef meatballs: I use Italian-style meatballs. Storebought ones make the recipe super easy, but you can use homemade ones if you have some tucked away in the freezer.
- Gnocchi: Another shortcut! Use store-bought gnocchi to make it easy.
- Sundried tomatoes: I like marinated sundried tomatoes. They give this dish so much flavor.
- Chopped fresh spinach: You can also use chopped kale.
- Heavy cream: You don’t need much to make the sauce rich and creamy.
- Other ingredients: Grated parmesan cheese, chicken broth, olive oil, onion, garlic, and parsley.
How to Make It
This is an easy one pan recipe!
☑️ Heat the olive oil in a large pan or pot. Add the onion, garlic, and tomatoes and saute them for a few minutes.
☑️ Add the broth and bring it to a simmer.
☑️ Once the broth is simmering, add the frozen meatballs and chopped spinach. Stir, cover the pan with a lid, and cook the meatballs for five minutes.
☑️ Add the gnocchi and stir. The broth should cover the gnocchi – if it doesn’t, add a splash or two more of the broth. Cover the pan and cook the gnocchi for five to eight minutes or until tender.
☑️ Add the cream, and once it’s hot and lightly bubbling, stir in the cheese. Once the cheese has melted into the sauce, it’s ready to serve!
Scoop all of that creamy goodness into bowls or onto plates. I like to garnish each serving with some parsley and grated Parmesan cheese. It’s delicious all on its own, or add some garlic toast or a crisp green salad on the side.
More Easy Recipes with Gnocchi
One Pan Creamy Spinach Meatballs and Gnocchi
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup diced yellow onion
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- ½ cup chopped marinated sun dried tomatoes, drained
- 1 ¾ cup chicken broth (see note)
- 1 pound frozen beef meatballs
- 3 cups chopped fresh spinach
- 1 pound gnocchi
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese, plus extra for garnish
- Chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large pan (3.5-quart) over medium heat. Add the onion and cook it for a few minutes or until it’s softened.
- Add the garlic and sun dried tomatoes and cook them with the onions for a minute.
- Add the chicken broth and stir. Bring the broth to a simmer and add the meatballs and chopped spinach. Cover the pan and cook the meatballs for 5 minutes.
- Add the gnocchi and stir so the sauce covers them. Cover the pan and simmer the gnocchi until tender, about five to eight minutes. Stir occasionally.
- Stir in the heavy cream. Once the sauce is bubbling, add the grated cheese and stir until smooth. Garnish each serving with grated Parmesan, if using.
Notes
Nutrition Estimate
The nutrition is an estimate only. It was calculated using Nutrifox, an online nutrition calculator.
More Recipes with Frozen Meatballs
If you’re craving comfort food, meatballs and gnocchi are a great dish. I hope you enjoy it!
Happy cooking,
I made this last night after I saw this basic recipe on Your Barefoot Neighbor, who cooked it in a crockpot. My husband, who barely knows where the kitchen is, said “this would be good with chicken”. So next time I’ll add rot chic to it. I also added italian seasoning and a pinch of red pepper flakes.
So glad you enjoyed it!
Made this (without the spinach) for my picky kids, and everybody liked it! Thanks!
So glad they all loved it!