Baked Gnocchi

This dish is my go to meal when I have pretty much run out of almost everything in the fridge. This is an excellent pantry meal, no fresh ingredients needed. You can whip this up from staples you have in your pantry in no time flat and save the day.

This meal has saved the day more often over the years then I care to admit. Hey, being a working mom is hard. Who knew that the single hardest thing in my adult life would be coming up with delicious meals for my family every single day! It’s not easy!

File this one away for those days when you need something tasty and you need it fast. A meal that everyone will love and comes together quickly in-between school, soccer practice and homework.

You could use any pasta that you have on hand in your pantry, but Gnocchi are filling pillowy mouthfuls of goodness so I always pick up a package when I am at the grocery store.

Only 4 ingredients and 30 minutes is pretty much all it takes to get dinner on the table.

To start cook get a pot of water going so you can cook the gnocchi according to the package directions. Add some salt to the water.

Once the salted water comes to a boil add the gnocchi, stir gently to make sure they aren’t sticking together and cook until they float to the surface. Gnocchi cook quickly, it shouldn’t take more than about 3 – 4 minutes.

Drain the gnocchi and place them in a large bowl. Add a jar of your favorite marinara sauce and about a 1/2 cup of grated parmesan cheese.

Stir cooked gnocchi, marinara sauce and grated Parmesan cheese together until well combine.

Transfer to a casserole dish. Top with a generous layer of Mozzarella cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes until cheese is melted and casserole is hot and bubbly.

Doesn’t that dish of cheesy goodness look wonderful? If you have fresh produce in the fridge serve this with a green leafy salad and a freshly baked loaf of bread.

You can learn all about how easy it is to bake you own bread here. Give it a try! You will be amazed at how easy it is and everyone will think you are a bread goddess baking your own bread.

Baked Gnocchi

• 1 lb Gnocchi
• 1/2 jar marinara sauce
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 cups grated Mozzarella cheese

Cook gnocchi according to package directions.

Combine marinara sauce, Parmesan cheese and cooked gnocchi.

Spread out in a casserole dish.

Top with grated Mozzarella cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes until heated through and cheese is melted and bubbly.

Whip up this tasty casserole in no time flat. I hope you give this recipe a try, I think you are going to be pleasantly surprised at how tasty it is. Sometimes the simplest ingredients come together to make the most delicious meals.

Let me know if you give this recipe a try. Just a little bit of Italy on a busy weeknight.