Creamy Pesto Gnocchi

If you’re looking for a super easy gourmet dinner recipe, we’ve got you covered with this creamy pesto gnocchi. Made with fresh basil pesto, you can have an impressive and delicious dinner on the table in less than 20 minutes! It’s pillowy, creamy, and melt-in-your-mouth decadent. So basically, everything you want in a gnocchi dish.

This is one of our favorite types of recipes to share with you because our goal at The Candid Cooks is to make cooking accessible no matter what level you’re at. While this pesto gnocchi may taste like it came from your favorite Italian restaurant, you can easily make it at home following a few simple instructions. And we promise, it’s far easier than you may think!

What This Recipe Entails

You only need 4 ingredients and 10 to 20 minutes to make this unforgettable Italian dinner at home. Whether it’s for your whole family or for a special date night, you will be sure to impress whoever you’re cooking for!

• Prep time: 5 minutes, or 15 minutes if you’re making homemade pesto!
• Cook time: 4 minutes

This pillowy gnocchi with fresh will quickly become your new favorite upscale comfort food, perfect for a cozy winter night or a lazy dinner after a hard day’s work. There really isn’t much better than a super easy dinner that’s both flavorful and satisfying.

Ingredients

• Gnocchi – Making gnocchi from scratch is surprisingly easy! But if you don’t want to take that on we don’t blame you. If you choose to use store-bought gnocchi, cook them until they are tender when stabbed with a fork, or take it a step further and taste test them. We find store-bought gnocchi almost always takes longer to cook than what the package directions claim. 
• Freshly made basil pesto – Our homemade pesto is perfect for this recipe because it’s extra creamy and less oily than many store-bought options. The thicker, creamier pesto makes for a better pasta sauce in our opinion. 
• Pasta water – Pasta water is the secret ingredient that makes the pesto extra creamy and makes sure it clings to the gnocchi. This way you have plenty of delicious pesto in every bite!
• Grated parmesan cheese – Yes there is parmesan in pesto already, but you can never have too much parmesan. Try freshly grated parmesan for an even better flavor. 

How To Make Pesto Gnocchi

The trick to gnocchi is making sure it is fully cooked. That means testing it with a fork to make sure it’s tender, or better yet, taste it! Here’s everything you need to know for this recipe:

1. Boil the gnocchi in a large pot of salted water until they float to the top and are fork-tender. Taste testing is the best way to make sure your gnocchi is done! Reserve some of the pasta water, and transfer the gnocchi to a large bowl. 
2. Add the pesto and pasta water to the gnocchi and stir to combine.
3. Serve hot, topped with freshly grated parmesan.

Serving Suggestions

Take this recipe up a notch with some of our favorite sides! Make your date night worthy of a fancy Italian restaurant with any of the following:

• Italian bread and dipping oils
• Roasted tomato and garlic bruschetta
• Garlic bread
• A garden salad or Caesar salad
• A glass of white wine

Try our creamy pesto gnocchi recipe next time you need a quick and easy weeknight dinner! If you like this recipe please comment, rate, and share below to help us out.