How Long Should You Cook Gnocchi

A graphic with a photo of pan fried gnocchi with the recipe name over it

Pan fried gnocchi are soft and fluffy on the inside and crispy and delicious on the outside. These delicious little bites are incredibly easy to make and make a great quick side dish, appetizer or snack. Simply fried with salt, pepper, rosemary and so easy to adapt.

The easiest alternative to fries or roast potatoes...

An overhead shot of fried gnocchi on a plate with a dip on the side

Did you know you CAN fry gnocchi straight out of the bag? Oh yes, you don't always have to boil them and toss them with a sauce.

You can pan-fry them to crispy, soft-centered delicious little bites that make a great alternative to fries or roasted potatoes which can take the best part of 40 minutes to 1 hour to prepare.

These little beauties, however, are ready from start to finish in only 8 minutes! Yup, I've been making fried gnocchi this way for years now and I LOVE them.

I like to serve them as a side dish to go with steak and parmesan cream sauce which is such a perfect date night dinner!

I also use fried gnocchi to create a super fun little appetizer of Fried Gnocchi, Prosciutto and Pecorino! They are so delicious and easy to make.

How to make Fried Gnocchi - step by step

Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large frying pan. Add the fresh gnocchi and toss so they are covered in the oil and add the rosemary.

Fry the gnocchi tossing every now and then so they get crispy on all sides for around 8-10 minutes.

step by step pgotos for making pan fried gnocchi

Tip: The gnocchi should be just crispy on the outside. Don't fry them for too long or the centre will firm up on you'll lose the soft, fluffy centre.

Once the gnocchi are crispy on all sides, season them with a good pinch of salt and pepper. Serve them as a side for dinner or as an appetizer with dips.

Do I need to boil gnocchi first before frying?

The simple answer is NO.

I've tried it this way a few times but it makes no difference to the cooking time (it actually takes longer because you have to boil them first) or the taste or quality. Simply toss them straight from the bag into a pan and fry.

Other ways to enjoy fried gnocchi

Add garlic and parmesan
Add pancetta/bacon, parmesan and fresh basil
Drizzle with basil pesto
Add sauteed onions
Serve with steak and drizzle with parmesan cream sauce (my absolute favourite)

A close up of fried gnocchi on a plate with rosemary and a sour cream dip

Top tips for making this recipe

Any kind of store-bough gnocchi will work well for this recipe.
It's best to serve these immediately as leftovers tend to dry out and go stale quickly.
Serve these with anything you would serve fries or roasted potatoes with they are a great alternative.

More easy side dishes to try

Italian green beans in tomato sauce
Roasted asparagus with gorgonzola
Beans in tomato sauce
White bean mash with rosemary and lemon
Sauteed Brussels sprouts with date and walnuts
Crispy Baked Polenta Fries

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Pan Fried Gnocchi

Pan fried gnocchi are soft and fluffy on the inside and crispy and delicious on the outside. These delicious little bites are incredibly easy to make and make a great quick side dish, appetizer or snack.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Italian

Cook Time 8 minutes

Total Time 8 minutes

Servings 4 people

Calories 215 kcal

▢ 1 lb store bought fresh gnocchi *see notes (500g)
▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
▢ 1-2 large sprig rosemary
▢ 1 pinch salt and pepper

Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large frying pan. Add the fresh gnocchi and toss so they are coated in the oil, add the rosemary.
Fry the gnocchi tossing every now and then so they get crispy on all sides for around 8-10 minutes.
Once the gnocchi are crispy on all sides, season them with a good pinch of salt and pepper. Serve them as a side for dinner or as an appetizer with dips.

*Store bought gnocchi are found in the refrigerated pasta section. Not to be confused with the dried pasta gnocchi variety.
The gnocchi should be just crispy on the outside. Don't fry them for too long or the centre will firm up on you'll lose the soft, fluffy centre.
Serves 4 as a side dish or 6-8 as an appetizer

Other Ways To Enjoy Fried Gnocchi

Add garlic and parmesan
Add pancetta/bacon, parmesan and fresh basil
Drizzle with basil pesto
Add sauteed onions
Serve with steak and drizzle with parmesan cream sauce (my absolute favourite)

I always use extra virgin olive oil in all of my recipes unless stated otherwise
When I use canned or jarred tomatoes of any kind I always use this brand for the best results and flavour
All vegetables are medium sized unless stated otherwise
All recipes are tested and developed using a fan (convection) oven
Find out more about how nutrition is calculated.
Check out our must have Italian Pantry Staples.
You can also find all our Essential Kitchen Tools for Italian Cooking.

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