Are you looking for a truly decadent, restaurant-quality comfort food meal that you can have on the table in under 20 minutes? A dish so rich, so creamy, and so incredibly satisfying, you won’t believe how easy it is to make? This stunning, one-skillet Cheesy Gnocchi is that perfect recipe. Imagine soft, pillowy potato gnocchi, swimming in a luscious, velvety garlic cream sauce, all blanketed under a golden, bubbly crust of melted Gruyère cheese. It’s pure, elegant comfort in a skillet.
This isn’t just a recipe; it’s your new secret weapon for the busiest of weeknights when you’re craving something truly special. We’ll show you the simple secrets to a flawless cream sauce and how to use your oven’s broiler to create that irresistible, cheesy crust. This is a show-stopping meal that is as perfect for a quick weeknight dinner as it is for an impressive date night in.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Recipe Overview: The Ultimate 20-Minute Comfort Food
What makes this Cheesy Skillet Gnocchi so spectacularly delicious is its incredible speed and its simple, yet sophisticated, flavor profile. The secret to this fast meal is using high-quality, store-bought potato gnocchi. The sauce is a masterpiece of simplicity: a quick, 5-minute cream sauce infused with fresh garlic and a hint of warm nutmeg. The entire dish is made in one ovenproof skillet and finished under the broiler for a beautiful, golden-brown, and perfectly bubbly cheese topping. It’s an unbelievably luxurious meal with minimal effort.
| Metric | Time / Level |
| Total Time | 20 minutes |
| Active Prep Time | 10 minutes |
| Difficulty Level | Easy |
| Servings | 2-3 |
The Essential Ingredients for This Decadent Dish
This recipe uses a handful of simple, high-impact ingredients to create its signature rich and creamy flavor.
- The Gnocchi (The Shortcut is Key!):
- Store-Bought Potato Gnocchi: This is the ultimate shortcut that makes this recipe a true 20-minute meal. A package of shelf-stable or refrigerated potato gnocchi provides the perfect, soft, and pillowy base for our rich sauce.
- Starchy Cooking Water: This is a crucial, “liquid gold” ingredient! The starchy water left over from cooking your gnocchi is a natural emulsifier that is the professional secret to a perfectly smooth and cohesive sauce that clings beautifully to every piece of gnocchi.
- The Simple, Elegant Cream Sauce:
- Heavy Cream: The key to a truly rich, luscious, and satisfying sauce.
- Garlic & Nutmeg: This classic, sophisticated flavor pairing is absolutely divine. A clove of freshly minced garlic provides a savory, aromatic base, while a small pinch of freshly grated nutmeg adds a wonderful, warm, and fragrant note that is a classic complement to cream sauces.
- The Cheesy Topping:
- Gruyère Cheese: The perfect cheese for this dish! Gruyère is a classic Swiss cheese that has a wonderful, complex flavor that is nutty, slightly sweet, and earthy. Most importantly, it melts beautifully into a smooth, gooey, and bubbly crust that browns perfectly under the broiler.
Step-by-Step to Perfect Cheesy Skillet Gnocchi
This delicious meal comes together in just a few simple stages.
Step 1: Cook the Gnocchi (and Save That Water!)
Step 1: Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Add the 17.5-ounce package of potato gnocchi.
Step 2: Cook the gnocchi according to the package directions. It will cook very quickly! You’ll know it’s done when the little pillows of dough float to the surface of the water, which typically takes about 2-3 minutes.
Step 3 (The Most Important Step!): Before you drain the gnocchi, be sure to reserve at least 1/4 cup of the starchy cooking water. This is a key ingredient for your sauce! Drain the cooked gnocchi and set it aside.
Part 2: The 5-Minute Creamy Garlic Sauce
Step 1: While the gnocchi is cooking, prepare your sauce. In a large, ovenproof skillet, add the 1 cup of heavy cream, the 1 minced garlic clove, the 1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt, a few grinds of fresh black pepper, and a small pinch of freshly grated nutmeg.
Step 2: Place the skillet over medium heat and bring the cream to a gentle simmer. Let it cook for 5 to 8 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly and for the garlic to infuse its flavor into the cream.
Part 3: Combine and Broil to Cheesy Perfection
Step 1: Stir the cooked and drained gnocchi directly into the simmering cream sauce in your skillet.
Step 2: Add a splash of your reserved, starchy cooking water to the skillet and stir to combine. This will help the sauce to become even more creamy and to cling beautifully to the gnocchi.
Step 3: Preheat your oven’s broiler.
Step 4: Top the gnocchi and sauce evenly with the 1/2 cup of shredded Gruyère cheese.
Step 5: Place the entire skillet under the broiler and broil for 3 to 4 minutes, until the cheese is completely melted, bubbly, and a beautiful golden brown.
Pro Tip: Keep a very close eye on the skillet while it is under the broiler! The cheese can go from perfectly golden to burnt in a matter of seconds.
Garnish the finished dish with fresh, chopped chives and serve immediately while it is hot and bubbly.
The Best Creamy 20-Minute Cheesy Skillet Gnocchi
A quick, rich, and cheesy one-skillet gnocchi dish. This recipe features store-bought potato gnocchi that are briefly boiled and then tossed in a simple yet elegant cream sauce infused with fresh garlic and a hint of nutmeg. The entire dish is prepared in an ovenproof skillet, topped with shredded Gruyère cheese, and finished under the broiler until the top is golden brown and bubbly. It’s garnished with fresh chives for a final touch of flavor.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 2-4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Boiling, Broiling, Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- One 17.5-ounce package potato gnocchi
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 minced garlic clove
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Pinch of nutmeg
- 1/2 cup shredded Gruyère cheese
- Chopped fresh chives, for topping
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the potato gnocchi and cook according to the package directions (typically until they float).
- Before draining, reserve 1/4 cup of the starchy cooking water. Drain the gnocchi.
- While the gnocchi cooks, simmer the heavy cream, minced garlic, 1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt, a few grinds of pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg in a large, ovenproof skillet for 5 to 8 minutes.
- Stir the cooked gnocchi into the cream sauce. If the sauce is too thick, thin it with a splash of the reserved cooking water.
- Top the gnocchi with the shredded Gruyère cheese.
- Place the skillet under the broiler and broil for 3 to 4 minutes, until the cheese is melted, golden, and bubbly.
- Top with chopped chives before serving.
Notes
- Using an ovenproof skillet is essential for this recipe, as it goes from the stovetop to under the broiler for the final step.
- Reserving some of the starchy gnocchi cooking water is a key technique to help adjust the consistency of the sauce if it becomes too thick.
- Keep a close eye on the skillet while it is under the broiler, as the cheese can go from golden to burnt very quickly.
How to Make it a Meal
This Cheesy Skillet Gnocchi is an incredibly rich and satisfying dish on its own, but it pairs beautifully with a simple side to cut through the richness.
- A Simple Green Salad: A crisp green salad with a bright and zesty lemon vinaigrette is the perfect, fresh counterpoint.
- Roasted Vegetables: Simple, roasted asparagus or broccoli adds a wonderful, healthy, and earthy component.
- Crusty Bread: A side of warm, crusty bread is a must-have for sopping up every last drop of that incredible cream sauce.
Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
This dish is at its absolute best when it is served fresh, hot, and bubbly, right from under the broiler.
- Make-Ahead: For a super-fast meal, you can cook your gnocchi and make the cream sauce a day in advance. Store them in separate, airtight containers in the refrigerator. When you are ready to eat, simply reheat the sauce in your skillet, stir in the cooked gnocchi and the pasta water, top with cheese, and broil as directed.
- Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: The best way to reheat this dish is in a 350°F oven until it is hot and bubbly.
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Creative Recipe Variations
- Add a Savory Protein: For a heartier, all-in-one meal, you can stir in some crispy, crumbled bacon or pancetta, some shredded rotisserie chicken, or some sautéed mushrooms.
- Add a Fresh Vegetable: For a pop of color and extra nutrition, you can wilt a few large handfuls of fresh baby spinach or stir in about 1/2 cup of frozen peas into the cream sauce along with the gnocchi.
- Use a Different Cheese: If you’re not a fan of Gruyère, this dish is also absolutely fantastic with an equal amount of shredded white cheddar, fontina, or a classic blend of Parmesan and mozzarella.
Enjoy Your Ultimate Comfort Food Meal!
You’ve just created a truly special dish that is a perfect harmony of rich, creamy, and sophisticated flavors. This Cheesy Skillet Gnocchi is a testament to the power of a simple, technique-driven meal to create something truly extraordinary. It’s a rewarding and deeply satisfying recipe that is sure to become a new favorite for a quick and impressive dinner.
We hope you enjoy every last, perfect, and delicious bite!
If you enjoyed making this recipe, please leave a comment below or share it with a friend who loves an easy and impressive meal!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is the best way to cook store-bought gnocchi?
The most important rule is to not overcook them! Gnocchi cook very, very quickly. The absolute best way to know when they are done is to watch for them to float to the surface of the boiling water. As soon as they float, they are ready to be scooped out with a slotted spoon.
Q2: What is Gruyère cheese, and is there a good substitute if I can’t find it?
Gruyère is a classic, hard, Swiss cheese that has a wonderful, complex flavor that is nutty, slightly sweet, and earthy. It is also an incredible melting cheese, which makes it perfect for dishes like this one. If you can’t find it, a great substitute would be another good melting cheese like fontina, a high-quality white cheddar, or even a French Comté.
Q3: Can I make this dish ahead of time?
This dish is at its absolute best when it is served immediately. However, for a fantastic time-saving trick, you can prepare the cream sauce and cook the gnocchi up to a day in advance. Store them separately in the refrigerator. When you are ready to eat, you can simply reheat the sauce in your skillet, stir in the cooked gnocchi, top with cheese, and give it the final broil.
Q4: My sauce seems too thick or too thin. How can I fix it?
This recipe is very easy to adjust! If your sauce seems too thick after you have added the gnocchi, that’s what your reserved starchy cooking water is for! Simply stir in another tablespoon or two until it has reached your desired, luscious consistency. If the sauce seems too thin, you can let it simmer for an extra minute or two on the stove to reduce and thicken slightly before you add the gnocchi.
Q5: Can I make this in a regular skillet if I don’t have one that is ovenproof?
Yes! Simply prepare the entire dish on the stovetop as directed. Then, you can transfer everything to a small, greased baking dish or a casserole dish for the final broiling step.