This creamy tomato gnocchi is the ultimate easy, comforting weeknight dinner. It’s made with just 7 fresh ingredients, comes together in 30 minutes, and is fancy enough to serve when entertaining guests. Rich, cozy, and full of flavor, this dish is sure to become a go-to favorite.
🍅 Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Fast & Easy – Ready in just 30 minutes
- Made with simple ingredients – Everything is easy to find and incredibly flavorful
- Restaurant-quality at home – Thanks to creamy burrata and a garlicky tomato sauce
- Customizable – Add meat, veggies, or make it gluten-free
🌿 Ingredients You’ll Need
- Olive oil – To sauté the garlic and tomatoes
- Garlic – 6 to 8 cloves for a bold, aromatic base
- Cherry tomatoes – Fresh and juicy, they break down into a jammy sauce
- Red pepper flakes (optional) – For a subtle kick
- Heavy cream – Adds richness and balances the tomato’s acidity
- Gnocchi – Soft, pillowy, and cooks in just minutes (DeLallo brand is a great option)
- Burrata cheese – Creamy, dreamy, and perfect for topping
- Fresh basil – Adds a burst of freshness to finish the dish
See recipe card below for full measurements and instructions.
🍽️ How to Make Creamy Tomato Gnocchi
1. Make the Sauce
In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-low. Add garlic and cook until fragrant (about 2 minutes).
Add cherry tomatoes and increase heat to medium. Cook until the tomatoes begin to burst and break down—about 10 minutes. Stir in cream, salt, pepper, and optional red pepper flakes.
2. Cook the Gnocchi
While the sauce simmers, cook gnocchi in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package directions.
Reserve ½ cup of the pasta water, then drain.
3. Combine
Add gnocchi and reserved pasta water to the skillet. Toss gently until the sauce becomes thick and glossy (about 2 minutes). Stir in most of the basil.
4. Add Burrata & Serve
Break the burrata into pieces and place on top of the hot gnocchi. Remove from heat and garnish with remaining basil. Serve immediately.
🧀 Recipe Tips & Variations
Add Protein
Top with grilled chicken, shrimp, or meatballs for a heartier meal.
Go Gluten-Free
Use gluten-free gnocchi like chickpea or cauliflower gnocchi (often found in the freezer section).
Add Veggies
Wilt in fresh spinach, or toss in sautéed mushrooms, zucchini, or fennel for extra flavor and nutrition.
Spice It Up
Add ½ to 1 tsp of red pepper flakes for a spicy twist.
🥗 What to Serve with Tomato Gnocchi
Because this dish is rich and creamy, pair it with something crisp and refreshing:
- Shaved Brussels & Pear Salad
- Warm Brussels Sprout Salad
- Spicy Artichoke Salad
🥡 Storage & Reheating
- Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Reheat: Warm gently on the stovetop or in the microwave. Add a splash of broth or water to loosen the sauce if needed.
- Don’t reheat burrata: It’s best added fresh after reheating the gnocchi.
- Freeze: Freeze the gnocchi and sauce (without burrata) for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight before reheating.
📸 Made This Recipe?
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🍝 30-Minute Creamy Tomato Gnocchi with Burrata
By: Jamie Vespa, MS, RD
Servings: 6
Total Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 6 to 8 garlic cloves, peeled and lightly crushed
- 2 pints cherry tomatoes
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp freshly cracked black pepper
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 2 (16-oz.) packages potato gnocchi
- 2 (4-oz.) balls burrata cheese
- ½ cup fresh basil leaves, sliced or torn
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-low. Add garlic and cook for about 2 minutes until fragrant.
- Add tomatoes and increase heat to medium. Cook 10–12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes break down. Stir in cream, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.
- Meanwhile, cook gnocchi according to package instructions. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain.
- Add gnocchi and reserved pasta water to the tomato sauce. Toss for 2 minutes until thick and glossy. Stir in most of the basil.
- Break burrata into pieces and add on top. Remove from heat, garnish with extra basil, and serve.
Nutrition (Per Serving)
- Calories: 466
- Carbs: 64g
- Protein: 12g
- Fat: 18g
- Fiber: 6g
- Sodium: 990mg