The Kid wanted this Baked Ricotta Gnocchi and promised to help me make it. He did not help. But it was still totally worth it.

Ricotta Gnocchi is something I’ve always wanted to make, with dreams of pillowy soft morsels oozing in mozzarella melt and tomato sauce. I never got around to it, though. Just thinking about the amount of the time and effort it might take had me waiting for when life was less busy. And when has that ever been the case recently…

It was a morning before school, and I had a cooking show on. The Kid was watching with me – an Italian chef making their version of ricotta gnocchi. All of a sudden, it was something The Kid absolutely had to eat, and as he headed off to school, he promised me that he would help me make it. He did not help…

Homemade Ricotta Gnocchi is Easier than You Think, even without Help

I’d bought all the ingredients, excited about some time with The Kid (and finally making something I had been thinking about for years). But he decided that sticky fingers were not his thing. Not to let everything go to waste, and without any better ideas for dinner, I did what any other mum would do. I made the gnocchi. And it was not as hard or time-consuming as I thought it would be. Even without the promised help, this is a recipe I will revisit sooner rather than later. In his defence, he did help stir the sauce from time to time. The sauce was probably what took the longest.

The gnocchi itself came together like a dream. Yes, messy and sticky fingers did ensue, but it was not hard or confusing or even that time-consuming. Just a few ingredients pulled together gently and before we knew it, we were eating pillowy soft gnocchi. I’m already looking forward to making this again.

Some Tips, if I May

1. Cook the sauce in a pan that has plenty of room and can go into the oven. I used my Staub Braiser but whatever you use doesn’t need a lid, so a baking tray would work as well. You would just need to transfer the sauce and then the cooked gnocchi into it.
2. Cook the gnocchi in batches so the pot is not overcrowded, and only give them a minute longer once they float because you don’t want a stodgy mess.

You can watch me put this homemade Baked Ricotta Gnocchi together on my Instagram Reels.

Download the Vanilla Beige Baked Ricotta Gnocchi Recipe Card here or continue to read the recipe below.

Baked Ricotta Gnocchi Recipe

Baked Ricotta Gnocchi

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Ingredients

• 500g full-fat ricotta, drained
• 1 egg
• 50g (½ cup) finely grated parmesan
• A pinch of salt and nutmeg
• About 1¼ cups (190g) plain flour, plus extra for dusting
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 onion, fine dice
• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 700g jar of passata
• 100g baby spinach
• 125g fresh mozzarella, torn (or 1 cup grated)

Instructions

1. Mix the ricotta, egg, parmesan, salt and nutmeg, then stir in the flour to make a soft dough. Bring the dough together (don't overwork) then tip it out onto a floured benchtop.
2. Roll the dough into 2cm thick ropes then cut into 2cm pieces. You can do this ahead and chill them on a floured tray.
3. To make the sauce, in a large ovenproof pan, soften the onion and garlic in the oil, add the passata and simmer for 10 minutes or more.
4. Just as you're about to cook the gnocchi, stir in the spinach until it wilts, and season.
5. In another large pot, bring salted water to boil. Once boiling, gently drop the gnocchi in (in batches so it's not overcrowded). Once they float, let them boil for another minute then lift them out with a slotted spoon, drain them slightly and gently fold the gnocchi into the sauce.
6. Top with the mozzarella and bake at 200°C for 15–20 minutes, until bubbling.

Notes

Make ahead: Shape the gnocchi and make the sauce in the afternoon. At dinner time, just boil, assemble and bake.

Disclosure: some links in this post are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. I only link to things I actually use in my own kitchen.

Use of AI: The recipe was generated by “Chef”, my Grok bot, at my request and is a general representation of baked ricotta gnocchi. I made it in my own kitchen and served it to my family for dinner. None were disappointed. This blog was written by me but I had AI edit it for SEO. Photos were taken on my phone, sorted and edited for size by AI.