Cheesy Baked Broccoli Gnocchi | Kathleen's Cravings (2024)

Cheesy Baked Broccoli Gnocchi is a comforting one-pan dinner! Creamy, cheesy, bubbly and comes together in about 30 minutes. Vegetarian friendly comfort food. Use your cast iron skillet for this easy gnocchi recipe.

Why I Love It:

• Cheesy - The homemade cheese sauce is simple to make but really makes the dish!
• Kid-Friendly Veggie Recipe - Have trouble getting kids to eat their veggies? This baked gnocchi with broccoli is the recipe to try!
• One-Pan Recipe - The entire recipe can be made in one oven-safe skillet for easy clean up! For another easy skillet recipe, try this Sun Dried Tomato Chicken Skillet.

Ingredients

• Gnocchi - also try this creamy sausage gnocchi soup!
• Broccoli Florets
• Chicken or Vegetable Broth or Stock
• Cream Cheese
• Shredded Mozzarella Cheese - you could substitute a different shredded cheese, but you'll want one that melts well.
• Spices: Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Red Pepper Flakes, Salt and Pepper

Step by Step Instructions

This broccoli gnocchi bake is an easy one-pan recipe that is ready in ~30 minutes. Perfect for a busy weeknight dinner that adults and kids will love!

1. Prep - Start by preheating your oven.
2. Pre-Cook Broccoli and Gnocchi - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and simmer the gnocchi and broccoli for 3 minutes then set aside.
3. Make Cheese Sauce.Heat a large, ovenproof skillet with the broth over medium-high. Bring the broth to a simmer then stir in the cream cheese. Add ½ of the mozzarella and the spices. Stir until smooth.
4. Add Broccoli and Gnocchi.Add the broccoli and gnocchi to the cheese sauce. Folding gently to combine. Top with the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.
5. Bake.Bake in preheated oven for until the cheese is bubbly and the top is golden brown. If desired, sprinkle with extra red pepper flakes.
6. Serve and Enjoy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Equipment Needed:

• Oven Safe Skillet OR Baking Dish - I like to make the sauce and bake the dish all in one oven-safe cast iron skillet. If you don't have an oven-safe skillet, you can make the sauce separately then bake in a different baking dish.
• Large Pot - For boiling the broccoli and gnocchi.
• Wooden Spoon or Rubber Spatula - For stirring together the cheese sauce.

Leftovers and Make Ahead

• Leftovers - Although it is best served immediately, leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days.
• Make Ahead - You can prep it up to a day ahead and then bake before serving. Prepare the cheesy sauce and prep the skillet or baking dish, place in the fridge until ready to bake.

Variations

• Add a Protein - I love adding some cooked chicken to the skillet for a boost of protein.
• Single-Serving - Instead of baking in one skillet, you can spoon the mixture into smaller baking dishes to make individual servings.
• Crispy Topping - For extra crunch, mix some breadcrumbs with a little melted butter then sprinkle on top with the remaining shredded cheese before baking.

Tip - How to Clean a Cast Iron Skillet

Cleaning cast iron is so simple. The main rule is do NOT use soap and do NOT put it in the dishwasher.

After using, especially while it is still warm, warm/hot water and a scrub with a standard dish brush is all it should need. Then dry thoroughly – this is KEY!

I recommend placing it back on the stove over medium-low for a few minutes to ensure that it is fully dry and then wipe a very thin layer of a neutral oil to maintain the seasoning.

Stubborn Bits? Here is how to remove them from your skillet:

1. Bring a thin layer of water to a simmer in the skillet and use a wooden spoon or spatula to scrape any bits off the bottom.
2. Use an ‘exfoliant’ such as salt to scrub off any bits.

Looking for other cast iron skillet tips? Check out this post.

Other gnocchi recipes:

• Creamy Spicy Gnocchi - Easy enough for a weeknight but decadent enough for date night! It comes together in less than 30 minutes and is a great meatless dinner recipe.
• Cheesy Sausage Baked Gnocchi - Loaded with comforting Italian flavors and made in under 45 minutes with less than 10 minutes of hands on time.
• Creamy Mushroom Bacon Gnocchi - from Tastes of Homemade
• Brown Butter Sage Gnocchi - from In Fine Taste
• Vegan Sheet Pan Gnocchi - Roasted peppers and onions, bursting tomatoes, and tender gnocchi all tossed with some simple staple spices.

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