This gnocchi with lighter tomato cream sauce only takes about 10 minutes to prepare and is so simple, quick and delicious.
I’ll get back to actual baked stuff next week, but for now, I just had to share this gnocchi with you.
Gnocchi is something I only discovered recently and I love it. What I do not love is my failed attempt at making it. So many people say it’s really easy, but mine was just a disaster. So this recipe uses the kind you find in the refrigerated or frozen section. Hooray!
This cream sauce recipe is so quick and easy that Mr. Texanerin made it for me. This was actually supposed to be one of his Even He Can Do It! posts but he’s a bit tied up. Hopefully next week, you’ll find out why. ;)
I saw this lighter tomato cream sauce recipe a few weeks ago and sent it to Mr. Texanerin. Kind of as a joke. Kind of not.
But he actually made it for me a few days later.
Looking at the ingredients, you’d probably never figure that this is so delicious. But it really is!
The red pepper flakes add just a little spiciness and the cream cheese? Wow.
I wish I would have known about this cream cheese in pasta sauce business sooner! I’ve been missing out. I also recently made some healthier fettuccine alfredo with cream cheese and that was pure heaven. I don’t often make sauces with heavy cream (not that I mind fat) but I don’t see any reason to ever again.
Don’t like or can’t find or don’t want to make homemade gnocchi? Use pasta! 8 ounces will do it.
The recipe calls for crushed tomatoes, but if you have a lot of tomatoes to use up and you need to preserve them, here’s how to can tomatoes. Then you’ll have them on hand for whenever you’re in the mood for this gnocchi.
I hope you’ll enjoy the recipe! If you try it out, I’d love to hear how it goes in the comments below. Thank you!
Gnocchi with Lighter Tomato Cream Sauce
- Prep Time:
- Cook Time:
- Ready in:
- Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 22 ounces (600 grams) gnocchi (use this gluten free potato gnocchi recipe for a GF version)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil
- 4 teaspoons garlic, minced
- 1 28-oz (800 grams) can of crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 4 ounces (125 grams) cream cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
- 4 tablespoons Parmesan or Pecorino Romano
Directions
- Prepare the gnocchi according to the instructions on the package. For the kind I buy, all you do is put them in boiling water and let them boil about 2 minutes until they're floating.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the oil. Then add the garlic and stirring occasionally, cook for 2 minutes or until fragrant.
- Stir in the can of crushed tomatoes, salt, and red pepper flakes and cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the cream cheese and basil, stir, and then add in the prepared gnocchi. Top with Parmesan and serve.
Adapted from Cooking Light
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67 comments on “Gnocchi with Lighter Tomato Cream Sauce (gluten-free option)” — Add one!
Do you have any recommendations for store bought gnocchi?
I wish I did but I live in Germany so unfortunately I’m no help. All of the refrigerated ones here are awesome and weirdly enough, the ones at Aldi are my favorite (though I’m sure the ones at Aldi in the US are different). Sorry I couldn’t be more helpful!
Made this tonight….quick, easy and OMG soooooo good!! Thanks so much for posting this!!!
There are few things I love more than gnocchi. Can’t wait to try it with a light-ish cream sauce. Mmmmmm!!!
I agree with you making gnocchi is not as easy as it seems. Ironically the first time I made it years ago was perfection the rest disasters so I gave up. Your Mister did a great job with this vibrant and flavorful looking sauce.
Love gnocchi! Wonder what would happen if I sent this to my husband. He would probably say – "yeah, looks good, when are we having it for dinner." :)
Love gnocchi and that tomato cream sauce sounds incredible! This is a perfect weeknight meal!
I really like the simplicity of this dish. Simple is often best. I haven't had gnocchi in for ever but maybe now I will :-)
I can already tell I am going to be obsessed with this. That photo is perfect!
Thanks, Jessica! :) And this sauce is a good thing to be obsessed with. Better to be obsessed with tomato sauce than the bacon beer bread I'm about to post. ;)
My kids adore gnocchi. It's such a fun and fast dinner idea and so good with a cream sauce:)
I love them with any kind of sauce! I wish my mom would have introduced me to gnocchi. You're a good mom. :D
Oh yummy! I've never attempted making gnocchi, probably because I quite like the store-kind ;)
Hehe. I know, right? Why bother?! But I guess there are people out there who say, "Who bother with making a cake? Cookies? Brownies? The ones at the store are fine!"
Nice! This takes me back to a vacation in Rome :) Definitely worth a place in my weekly repertoire of family meals. So easy to make and so delicious to eat! Gnocchi is such a joy to eat – whether pre-made or homemade (but I usually reserve home made for weekend projects!).
Ah, Rome. I've never been there. I've been to Tuscany twice and LOVE it but I've heard so many mixed things about Rome. I suppose I need to go and find out for myself!
Just got home from work and I am hungry. Now I am even more hungry after reading your post and admiring this dish. Gnocchi are my favorite pasta dish and your sauce is perfection.
Thank you, Lisa! I think gnocchi might be my favorite pasta now too. So easy to make and ah… those little pillows of goodness! Yum. :)
Mmm, this looks awesome! And I cant wait to hear the news about the hubs! On the edge of my seat now haha! In the meantime, Ill go make me some of this pasta!
Haha. I think you might actually already know what he's up to! If not, I really need to catch up with our emailing. Yikes.
I love gnocchi! I'm always looking for new recipes to go with it and this looks great, I love that you use cream cheese in the sauce too :) I have made my own gnocchi, but most of the time I need a quick dinner and they're way too fiddly so I end up buying it! Definitely be having a gnocchi night here soon! :)
I love the word fiddly. :D I hope you can try out this recipe. It's quick and easy and super yummy. :)
I've had great luck with Michael Chiarello's recipe. I wasn't much of a fan of gnocchi until I tasted his version and now his is the only one I use (posted on the blog). That said, if I can save myself the time of making them and end up with these, I'm all for it. Love the sauce. :)
Oh! I'll check out that recipe. Thanks for the tip. :) I'm not against homemade gnocchi… just scared of it! But if you say it works, I'll try. :D
Yum! I just made some homemade gnocchi over the weekend, and this will be the perfect complement! Thanks for sharing :)
Ooh, homemade gnocchi! I'm jealous. I hope you try and like this sauce. :)
I have yet to make gnocchi. What's up with that? Your version looks absolutely delish!
Eh, the stuff in the bag is cool. But you have to try the sauce! It's sooo yummy.
Oh yes, when it comes to Italian food I'm all in :D… can't wait to try this myself!
I hope you'll enjoy it! Let me know how it comes out. :)
Love it! Thanks :)
You're welcome! :D
I love gnocchi – it's one of my staple weeknight suppers and really like the sound of this sauce to go with it!
It's lovely, isn't it? And so quick when it comes out of a bag. :)
This looks so delicious, thank you for the recipe!
Oh, you're welcome! It's not often I hear that. Thanks. :)
I've only made gnocchi at home a few times, and while I love it, my husband wasn't impressed so we don't have it much these days. I'll have to come to your house next time instead, this looks fantastic!!
Haha, yes. I make the gnocchi and you bring that lemon cake of yours that I LOVE. :D
i made gnocchi at home and turned out pretty ugly looking ha ha…but covered in this sauce none is the wiser.
Yeah, mine totally fell apart. It was a mess! I suppose we should tr y again. :)
Uh… how would NOT figure this is delicious by looking at the list of ingredients?! Great find! As always, I love your photos :)
Thanks, Rose! I thought that the ingredient list is kind of bla. But I guess that's just me. ;)
Erin…this looks like what I should be eating for lunch today! I love gnocchi, but have yet to attempt it for myself! Maybe one day! I bet that cream cheese adds such a richness to this dish! Beautiful photos! Happy to have discovered you! : )
Thanks, Anne! I'm happy to have discovered you as well. :) And you have to try this sauce, even if you get the gnocchi from the store like me. :D
This is so lovely! What an awesome recipe!
I've never tried gnocchi, but it does look really good. And this recipe looks so cream and great. I've never heard of putting cream cheese in pasta sauce!
Oh, Becca! You have to try gnocchi. And this sauce! It's super easy. Totally doable in your dorm (or wherever you're living now :))
I ready to hop a plane to your house for dinner! This looks amazing, lady!
Haha. Come on over! I'll tell Mr. T to go buy some more gnocchi. :D
Yummy bowl of gnocchi Erin! I wish I could get my husband to make me dinner-now that would be something to look forward to…can't wait to get fresh basil out of the garden-will bookmark this recipe (for my Hubs,ha-ha!) for this Summer, thanks for sharing;-)
Oh darn. Is this more of a summer recipe?! I'm awful at this whole seasonal thing. Berries, I know. Pumpkin spice and gingerbread…. sure. But I need to learn some more about the other seasonal things. :)
It's so unbearably frustrating when something that's supposedly easy – fails. Grrr. :D Looks like you made a speedy recovery with this beautiful dish! Just in time for dinner too!
Thanks, Valerie! And I agree. SO frustrating!
My husband introduced me to gnocci, and I just love it too! Thanks for the great sauce recipe, I can't wait to make this :)
I hope you'll like it, Kristi! :)
Mr T is a cool guy, you're lucky he's cooking. I'm curious what's going on that he's so tied up. You can make gnocchie in a very easy way, I hope I'll make it for you one day or better, Mr T. will make it for us :D
You saw what he's up to. And he's STILL doing it! Oh my gosh. Never… ending. And yes, let's put Mr. T to work. :D
Yum! We made this tonight and it was so fast and easy. And SO delicious, I think you just found my new go-to pasta sauce.
You made it already?! That's awesome. :) I'm happy that you enjoyed it! Thanks a ton for leaving feedback. :D
Don't feel bad Erin. I've made gnocchi and had it turn out wonderful and I also had a total disaster once. I made it in advance for a dinner party and when I put it into the boiling water, it disintegrated. I had to very quickly come up with a plan B as the guests were waiting for dinner! Love your sauce – it sounds wonderful!
Oh wow. That sounds awful with the dinner party situation. Exactly why I do not like dinner parties. I'm impressed you came up with something else! :)
Oh wow this looks yummy, and I like a light cream sauce. I will have to try this recipe out for my family who loves Italian food.
I hope you'll like it, too! :)
I've never tried to make gnocchi at home… I just know it'd be a disaster. Totally love the premade stuff I can get at the store — this sauce sounds amazing for it! I love cream cheese in a tomato sauce. Question though, you have cream cheese listed twice in the ingredients, is that right?
Oh goodness. Thanks for catching that! The one time Mr. T doesn't check my post and look what I did. ;) And I agree, the stuff from the store is delicious. I can't imagine it being even better! Thanks again for pointing that out. :)
I *love* gnocchi, can't wait to try this! :)
I hope you'll enjoy it, Laura! :)