This easy Gnocchi with Meat sauce is a stove-top dinner that brings together potato gnocchi with a hearty meat sauce for a dinner recipe that the whole family will love.
If you love a good meat sauce, you also need to try this Easy Spaghetti Meat Sauce.
I love to share recipes with you all that are easy and are made from pantry staples. This is one of those recipes that I always remember on crazy busy days, because it’s an easy meal that doesn’t require much thought. Or planning.
We are huge gnocchi fans. It’s easy, it’s fast, and the whole family loves it. Ok, if you were making your gnocchi from scratch, it may not be easy and fast, but we take the shortcut and use packaged gnocchi. 🙂
This Gnocchi with Meat Sauce is so easy, and if your kids like spaghetti and meat sauce like mine do, they will also love this change. An easy meat sauce is made from ground beef, onions, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and lots of spices. The sauce cooks down a bit on the stovetop, and then you add in some boiled gnocchi. Finish it off with some fresh basil, and you’re good to go.
It’s so simple, yet so delicious. And it’s perfect now that the weather has cooled down, as a big bowl of this Gnocchi with Meat Sauce is definitely comfort food!!
Ingredients
- Ground Beef: I like to use a leaner ground beef so that I don’t have to drain the fat.
- Onions & Garlic: These are both for flavor.
- Tomatoes: You will need both tomato sauce and diced tomatoes. The tomato sauce is just plain tomato sauce – nothing added.
- Spices: You will spice this up with sugar, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Feel free to change things up and add in other spices you might love!
- Gnocchi: I just buy the dry, package gnocchi that is available in the pasta section of the grocery store.
- For Serving: I like to add parmesan and basil for extra flavor before serving.
How to Make Gnocchi with Meat Sauce
- Cook your ground beef in a skillet with the onion and garlic, breaking the meat up as it cooks.
- Once the beef is cooked through, add the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, as well as all of the seasonings. Let this simmer for about 20 minutes.
- While the sauce is simmering, boil your gnocchi.
- Add the cooked gnocchi to the meat sauce, then stir to coat and serve!
More Gnocchi Favs
Baked Gnocchi with Ricotta
Chicken and Gnocchi Soup
Creamy Slow Cooker Tomato Soup with Gnocchi
Gnocchi with Pesto, Shrimp and Asparagus
Baked Gnocchi with Ricotta
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Gnocchi with Meat Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 1/2 cups diced onion
- 2-3 cloves garlic, minced or grated
- 24 oz no salt added tomato sauce (3 8-oz cans)
- 14.5 oz no salt added diced tomatoes
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 2 lb gnocchi
- freshly grated parmesan cheese, for serving
- shredded basil, for serving
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, onion and garlic and cook until the beef is cooked through, breaking up the beef as it cooks.
- Add in the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, sugar, oregano, basil, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the gnocchi and cook until the gnocchi rises to the surface of the water. Remove with a slotted spoon.
- Add the cooked gnocchi to the meat sauce and stir to combine. Serve topped with freshly grated parmesan cheese and shredded basil, if desired.
shana says
Hi From Australia
I am just wonder with the canned “tomato sauce”…is that a pre-made pasta sauce style sauce or is it like straight tomato sauce – like one would squirt into a burger or on a hotdog/sausage
Deborah says
Hi Shana – the canned tomato sauce is simply just tomatoes that are made into a sauce, no seasonings or anything. It is different than ketchup, which we use for burgers, and it’s not seasoned like most pasta sauces. Hope that helps!!
Paula says
Going to make this next week for a midweek meal. love gnocchi.
Dani @ The Adventure Bite says
Oh girl I so feel ya. My house is just finally clean after hubby jumped in and helped me last night after like 2 weeks of insanity. Easy dinners are the best and this one looks awesome!
Pinned and stumbled <3
Joanne says
We have been eating out once a week lately (although the fastest the food gets is sushi), and it is definitely because I feel too exhausted to cook at some point! I need more easy meals like this!
Lindsey @ American Heritage Cooking says
I love gnocchi and this easy weeknight dish looks like the perfect way to kick the Drive Through Habit! I haven’t had gnocchi at home in probably 8 years (whhhatt?!) and clearly I need fix that! Pinned.
Ashley@blondegirlcravings says
this looks delicious, I will be trying this for sure. Its so hard to find meals that are fast and little kid approved. This looks like one my family will love!
BusyWorkingMama says
I love to cook but sometimes life and other activities do get in the way! The drive-through option isn’t as bad as it was a decade or so ago. If I have to resort to it, at least the kids meal has healthy options like fruit cups or a fruit squeeze to go along with the grilled chicken nuggets!
Christina @ The Beautiful Balance says
This has such a perfect balance of flavors together and nothing is better than fresh basil on top. Love your honesty. I’ve read a lot of these posts lately from bloggers I’ve followed for years where they state they are burnt out at times and still need inspiration. I love it and think it’s awesome to be honest.
Annie @ Annie's Noms says
Over 1900 posts! Wow, I so hope that I still enjoy blogging and feel as inspired in 5 years time – this looks so delicious. I love easy dinner ideas, I’m guilty of getting stuck in a rut of the same 7 or so on rotation – never had gnocchi in meat sauce, but I love them both separately, so imagine I’d adore this! 🙂
Beth - Slice of Southern says
Great comfort food! I’ve actually never had gnocchi with a meat sauce. ..brilliant! !
Chels R. says
Trader Joe’s has Gnocchi and it’s really good and cheap. This might be the next thing we try with Gnocchi. 🙂
Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction says
Love easy, hearty meals like this!
Liz @ Tip Top Shape says
We’re all guilty of going drive-through sometimes! If not for the convenience, sometimes you just need a burger (or insert whatever your favorite fast food is!). This gnocchi looks delicious!! I don’t cook it nearly enough.
Rachel @ Baked by Rachel says
It is so easy to get in a dinner rut – whether it be the same stuff or fast food but I’d happily take this gnocchi any day over all the rest!
Joanna @ Everyday Made Fresh says
Gnocchi is something that we want to try. I always see it at the store and across blogs but have never actually decided “ok, let’s give this a go!”. I may have to change that after seeing this recipe. And, I feel the same way this time of year!
Tori@gringalicious.com says
I love gnocchi but I’ve never tried it in meat sauce. Thanks for such great recipe inspiration!