Creamy Gnocchi Sauce

a cream colored plate with creamy sauce with gnocchi and a spoon. The bowl is surrounded by garlic clove, parmesan cheese, a microplane, red napkin, and glasses

This creamy gnocchi sauce recipe is a fusion of rich mascarpone, fragrant shallot, and robust garlic cloves, simmered together with heavy cream, cheese, and pillowy gnocchi for a quick and easy meal.

Course Dinner

Cuisine Italian

Keyword creamy gnocchi sauce, gnocchi sauce

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 10

Total Time 15

Servings

Calories 673kcal

Author Lisa Bass

Ingredients

2 tablespoons salted butter
3 garlic cloves minced
½ shallot finely diced
¾ cup heavy cream
½ cup mascarpone
¼ teaspoon pepper
¾ cup freshly shredded gruyere
½ cup freshly grated parmesan
Salt to taste
1 pound homemade or store-bought gnocchi

Instructions

Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. This will be for cooking the gnocchi, which will be added to the sauce immediately after. While waiting for the water to boil, move on to the sauce preparation.
‌Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced shallot and sauté for about 3 minutes until softened. Keep it moving with a spatula.
Add the minced garlic to the shallots and continue to sauté for another minute or so, until the garlic is fragrant.
Whisk heavy cream into the skillet in a steady stream, then spoon in the mascarpone and stir until smooth.
Add salt and pepper, then reduce the temperature to low and simmer the sauce for 2-3 minutes more.
Remove from the heat and add your gruyere and parmesan cheeses, whisking until they are fully melted and incorporated. Taste test and adjust the salt and pepper, as needed.
Add gnocchi to the boiling water and cook until the gnocchi floats to the top (or according to the package directions).
With a slotted spoon, transfer the cooked gnocchi to the sauce. Stir to combine, coating the gnocchi fully.
Garnish with more grated parmesan and black pepper, and serve immediately.

Notes

To make it a little different, toss in fresh spinach, fresh herbs, and diced or sun-dried tomatoes for added color and flavor. Sauté sliced mushrooms with the shallots for the mushroom lovers. Sprinkle with red pepper flakes to spice it up, or a splash of lemon juice to brighten.
This is a great meatless option meal that is still very filling and satisfying. However, if you want to bulk it up and add more protein, sauté some Italian sausage with the shallots in the beginning or add sliced, grilled chicken with the gnocchi at the end.
Sometimes the cream-based sauces will thicken too much while waiting to serve, as the gnocchi continues to absorb the liquids. If this happens, simply add a splash of heavy cream to thin it out before serving.
Use gluten-free gnocchi for an easy gluten-free meal option.

Nutrition