I don’t know about you, but I am a sucker for good ol’ traditional Italian baked pasta. It’s a staple in my house, and for good reason. It’s easy to make, and it’s the ultimate comfort food. Plus my kids love pasta and I can always rely on it for a quick family dinner! I can’t remember a time when we’ve gone a week without eating at least one Italian dish. One of our favorites is Mozzarella Baked Gnocchi. If you love gnocchi and cheese, you will LOVE this recipe!

What You’ll Need To Make Mozzarella Baked Gnocchi:

2 Tbsp olive oil
½ Onion, chopped
1 Pound mushrooms, sliced
2 Pounds fresh gnocchi (you can substitute boxed)
1 Tsp salt
1 ½ Tsp Italian seasoning
1 Large jar pasta sauce
8 oz fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced

How To Make Mozzarella Baked Gnocchi:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Heat the olive oil in an ovenproof pan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until translucent, around 5 minutes.
Add the mushrooms and cook until golden brown, around 2 minutes per side.
Add the fresh gnocchi, salt and Italian seasoning and stir to combine, cook for 2 more minutes or until the gnocchi is coated in the olive oil.
Stir in the pasta sauce and remove from heat. Top with the fresh mozzarella slices and take to the oven.
Bake for 25 minutes or until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly. Serve topped with Parmesan cheese and cracked fresh pepper.

Why This Recipe Hits a Home Run:

It’s quick and simple – With only 5 minutes of prep work, this literally couldn’t be any quicker! One thing I try to do when I’m cooking is limit my prep work as much as possible. With this recipe, it’s already so short that you can make dinner in under an hour! You also only need one dish for this recipe. Instead of adding vegetables to the side, throw them in the dish instead! It saves time, and tastes oh so yummy!
It’s delicious – You can’t go wrong with mozzarella, gnocchi, and pasta sauce. All great Italian dishes start with this kind of base – cheese, sauce, and some kind of pasta. If you don’t like something in the recipe, just switch it out! In the end, it’s up to you and your preferences.
There’s no crazy ingredients – It’s basically ingredients you can find around your house or at a local grocery store. You don’t need to go to an ethnic food store or a fancy Whole Foods to find this stuff.

Some cheesy Q&A:

What kind of pasta sauce works best with Mozzarella Baked Gnocchi?

I recommend a pasta sauce that has basil and garlic in it, so you don’t have to add those things in as extra. I also love Ragù Traditional Sauce, which is a sweeter, thinner sauce.

What if I don’t like mushrooms?

Don’t sweat it; not everyone likes mushrooms! You can either leave them out, or substitute for a vegetable you do prefer. I also like to add spinach to get my greens in without having to eat them on the side!

Can I add some garlic to Mozzarella Baked Gnocchi?

By all means, yes! Garlic is a fantastic addition to any Italian dish, in my opinion. Just mince it up, or put whole cloves in to let the flavor ruminate while baking!

Can I add basil to Mozzarella Baked Gnocchi?

Of course! Since the recipe doesn’t call for it, you can totally add it in! I prefer adding basil to mine because it gives it that classic Italian flavor, and really brings the dish together.

Mozzarella Baked Gnocchi

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Ingredients

2 Tbsp olive oil
½ Onion chopped
1 Pound mushrooms sliced
2 Pounds fresh gnocchi can substitute boxed
1 Tsp salt
1 ½ Tsp Italian seasoning
1 Large jar pasta sauce
8 oz fresh mozzarella cheese sliced

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Heat the olive oil in an ovenproof pan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until translucent, around 5 minutes.
Add the mushrooms and cook until golden brown, around 2 minutes per side.
Add the fresh gnocchi, salt and Italian seasoning and stir to combine, cook for 2 more minutes or until the gnocchi is coated in the olive oil.
Stir in the pasta sauce and remove from heat. Top with the fresh mozzarella slices and take to the oven.
Bake for 25 minutes or until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly. Serve topped with Parmesan cheese and cracked fresh pepper.

Notes

You can also add fresh spinach and sauté with the mushrooms if you want to incorporate some greens.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

If you’re an Italian-lover like me, this dish will certainly hit a home run, and become a staple in your household! With only 5 minutes of prep work and 35 minutes of cook-time, you can’t beat this home-style Mozzarella Baked Gnocchi!

Agnes Hsu

Agnes Hsu is a mom of three and has been inspiring parents and kids to get creative with easy activities and family friendly recipes for over 10 years. She shares her love for creative play and kids food to her 2MM+ followers online. Agnes' commitment to playful learning and kindness has not only raised funds for charity but also earned features in prestigious nationwide publications.