Vegan Baked Gnocchi

⭐️ Why You Should Try This Recipe

• Hearty & family-friendly. This restaurant-quality gnocchi recipe is satisfying and packs a lot of flavors. It’s garlicky, herby, and has chunks of tomatoes for extra texture. Everyone will love this baked gnocchi skillet!
• No need to boil the gnocchi. Simply add them to the sauce, pop into the oven, and bake for 20 minutes. The gnocchis come out perfectly chewy and tender!
• Just one pan is required. Except for the cheese sauce, which is done in a blender, the whole gratin is made in one skillet. Meaning it’s easy to make and easy to clean.

🍅 Ingredient Notes

This vegan baked gnocchi recipe requires minimal ingredients that are easy to find. Here is what you will need to prepare the gratin:

• Gnocchi – You can use store-bought or homemade gnocchi. If using store-bought, make sure to check the ingredients, as some brands may contain milk.
• Diced tomatoes – I went with two 14-ounce cans of diced tomatoes, but you can replace them with your favorite tomato sauce (in that case, reduce the seasonings).
• Garlic – Three cloves of garlic for plenty of garlic flavor.
• Onion – Or shallots.
• Italian seasoning – You can find Italian seasoning mix in almost every supermarket. The one I used included dried garlic, dried tomatoes, dried peppers, oregano, basil, paprika, and pepper.
• Fresh basil – Optional, but highly recommended. You will be using basil leaves in the gratin as well as a garnish before serving.

Then, for the cheese sauce, you will need:

• Cashews – Raw cashews make the base of the sauce, bringing creaminess and richness.
• Nutritional yeast – For a cheesy flavor.
• Vinegar – To add tanginess. You can use apple cider vinegar or regular white vinegar.
• Tapioca starch – This helps thicken the sauce slightly during baking. If you don’t have tapioca starch, you can use cornstarch.
• Salt and sugar – To season.

🥣 How To Make Vegan Baked Gnocchi

Prepare the cheesy sauce

Start by making the cheesy sauce that will go on top of the baked gnocchi:

1. Drain the soaked cashews and transfer them to a blender.
2. Add the water, vinegar, nutritional yeast, salt, sugar, and tapioca starch.
3. Blend on high speed until smooth. At this point, you can taste the sauce and adjust the saltiness and tanginess to your liking.

Prepare the filling

Now that the sauce is ready let’s prepare the gnocchi!

1. Sauté the aromatics. Heat the oil in an oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the diced onion and garlic and sauté for 2-3 minutes.
2. Add the tomatoes, seasonings, and gnocchi. Pour in the diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, sugar, and pepper. Next, add the uncooked gnocchi and stir to combine.
3. Cover and bake. Cover the skillet with aluminum foil and bake for about 20 minutes.

Finally, remove the foil and pour the cashew cheese sauce on top of the baked gnocchi. Place under the broiler for 3-5 minutes or until slightly golden brown.

Top with fresh basil leaves, and serve!

🥖 What To Serve With Gnocchi Skillet

You can serve this gnocchi skillet as is or with this kale & carrot salad on the side. It’s also delicious served with air fryer garlic bread or caramelized zucchini!

💬 FAQ

If you are looking for a simple yet satisfying family dish, you are going to love this baked gnocchi! It’s flavorful and filling, and everyone, including kids, loves it!

🍝 More Simple Pasta Recipes

• Easy Spaghetti Arrabbiata Pasta
• Vegan Ragu Pasta
• Vegan Stuffed Shells

Let me know in the comments if you try this recipe!