Homemade Potato Gnocchi Recipe (2024)

This Gnocchi recipe is a fun project, and the results are positively perfect! Soft pillowy potato pasta, this needs just a few ingredients you likely have on hand like potato, egg, and flour.

Simply make a dough, roll and boil!

Homemade Potato Gnocchi Recipe (1)

Potato gnocchi has just a few easy to find ingredients and, while it takes a bit of time, it’s not difficult to make. This particular gnocchi recipe is one I learned attending classes at our local culinary school and have made it ever since.

What Is Gnocchi?

Gnocchi is an Italian homemade pasta that resembles a little dumpling. At its most basic level, it’s made with potato, egg, and flour. Several regions in Italy have their own variations with combinations of ricotta cheese, herbs, or spinach, the possibilities are endless.

Homemade Potato Gnocchi Recipe (2)

Shaping Gnocchi

The dough is rolled into ropes and cut into pieces. Each rope of dough is about 1/2″ to 3/4″ thick and then cut into 1/2″ pieces. The gnocchi dough is soft and delicate, so be gentle when working with it.

Homemade Potato Gnocchi Recipe (3)

Once cut into pieces, roll each gnocchi along the back of a fork to create ridges (you can purchase a gnocchi board but unless you make gnocchi frequently, a fork works just fine).

The purpose of creating ridges is to help the gnocchi “grab” the sauce it is mixed with.

Homemade Potato Gnocchi Recipe (4)

How To Make Gnocchi

It’s really simple to make these pillowy little dumplings.

  1. Mix all the ingredients together except flour. Add flour a little at a time, until dough forms.
  2. After “resting” the dough, roll it out into long “ropes,” and cut per recipe instructions.
  3. Use a gnocchi board or even just a fork to create ridged pasta!

Tips for Perfection

  • Boil your potatoes but drain them very well. Baked potatoes work in this recipe too.
  • Leftover mashed potatoes aren’t ideal as they have other additives such as cream etc that will affect the consistency of your dough.
  • Ensure the potatoes are perfectly smooth once mashed
  • Add just enough flour to make a dough, excess flour can make tough gnocchi
  • Don’t overwork the dough, these should be soft and pillowy. Use a delicate touch.

Homemade Potato Gnocchi Recipe (5)

How To Cook Gnocchi

It takes just a few minutes to cook potato gnocchi!

  1. Bring a pot of salted water to a rolling boil.
  2. Gently add pasta and wait until it floats to the top (about 90 seconds).
  3. Transfer to a skillet with a bit of butter/olive oil and sauce if you’re using one. Toss the gnocchi and serve.

It’s that simple!

How To Serve It

It can be served as a soup, side dish, or as the first course in a full Italian-style meal! For a very special experience, gnocchi can be served as the primo, or first course, in a full Italian meal consisting of several courses.

Sauces for Gnocchi:

  • Serve it with butter, parmesan, and fresh herbs
  • A simple marinara sauce
  • Homemade pesto
  • Baked into a gnocchi casserole
  • Topped gnocchi with a creamy mushroom sauce

Of course, it’s always a treat to have homemade pasta as a side dish with chicken, beef, or fish!

More Perfect Pasta

  • Baked Gnocchi Casserole
  • Roasted Vegetable Lasagna
  • Caprese Pasta Salad
  • Pasta Primavera
  • Cheese Cannelloni

You can’t go wrong with homemade potato gnocchi! No matter how you choose to serve it up, there is one thing you can count on: you won’t have any leftovers!

Homemade Potato Gnocchi Recipe (6)

5 from 32 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
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Homemade Potato Gnocchi Recipe

This easy pasta recipe is made with just 4 simple ingredients!

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Homemade Potato Gnocchi Recipe (8)

Servings 4 servings

Homemade Potato Gnocchi Recipe (9)

Author Holly Nilsson

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ lbs potatoes cooked and riced
  • 2 tablespoons butter melted
  • 2 egg yolks
  • ¾- 1 cup flour
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • Combine riced potatoes, butter, and eggs in a bowl. Slowly mix in ¾ cup flour and knead until dough forms adding additional flour as required until the dough holds together (it will still be slighlty sticky). You may not need all of the flour.

  • Dust counter with flour and roll out a ½" to ¾" thick rope of dough. Cut into ½" slices.

  • Gently roll gnocchi pieces on a gnocchi board or the back of a fork to create ridges.

  • Cook in boiling salted water, about 3 minutes, or until it begins to float.

  • Remove from boiling water and transfer to an ice bath for about 1 min.

  • Toss with oil and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Notes

A potato ricer is a tool that will produce perfectly fluffy lump-free potatoes. If you don't have a ricer, be sure to mash your potatoes well so they are very smooth.

Recipe updated 3/8/2021

5 from 32 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 413 | Carbohydrates: 73g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 113mg | Sodium: 209mg | Potassium: 779mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 306IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Homemade Potato Gnocchi Recipe (10) Course Main Course, Pasta

Homemade Potato Gnocchi Recipe (11) Cuisine Italian

© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.

Categories:

Meatless Main Dishes, Pasta and Pizza Recipes, Recipes

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Holly is a wine and cheese lover, recipe creator, shopping enthusiast and self appointed foodie. Her greatest passion is creating in the kitchen and making deliciously comforting recipes for the everyday home cook!
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Homemade Potato Gnocchi Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the best flour to use for gnocchi? ›

Italian flour

Plus, it has too much protein: High-protein wheat results in chewy gnocchi. If you want to be true to Italian gnocchi, look for imported Italian flour marked "00 tenero," which is milled from soft wheat with a low protein content.

What are the best potatoes for gnocchi? ›

I find baking potatoes to be dry and floury. My favorite potatoes for gnocchi are Yukon gold or other yellow potatoes. They have a rich, buttery flavor and a creamy, fluffy texture. Flour: A judicious amount of unbleached all-purpose flour helps to turn the potatoes into dough.

Why did my homemade gnocchi fall apart? ›

Gnocchi can disintegrate for a few reasons. You might not have added enough flour or egg, or you may have overboiled them.

Is gnocchi better with or without eggs? ›

Egg yolk added to your gnocchi dough helps improve texture, and keep it together while cooking. Gnocchi is traditionally made with eggs in Veneto and no eggs in Piedmont, the two Northern Italian regions famous for gnocchi. We vote for egg yolks at the rate of 1 per (500g) 1 lb of uncooked potatoes used.

What should you not do when making gnocchi? ›

Try not to knead it as kneading will develop the gluten and make your gnocchi chewy. Keep some flour in a cup for dusting the board and your hands as you work to stop the dough sticking. Cut your dough into 6 pieces and roll them each into fat ropes about as thick as your thumb.

Is it better to boil or bake potatoes for gnocchi? ›

The best gnocchi are made with baked potatoes rather than boiled. You get lighter gnocchi because the spuds don't absorb as much water. That means you won't need as much flour in the dough, which can make the dumplings heavy.

Why are russet potatoes best for gnocchi? ›

Russets are dryer and hold less water, making them ideal for gnocchi making. Because of their dry and starchy texture, they may require less flour than other varieties, yielding an airier texture, and making them an excellent choice for a beginner or anyone who wants a no-fuss gnocchi experience.

Is there a difference between gnocchi and potato gnocchi? ›

Unlike potato gnocchi, Roman gnocchi (Gnocchi alla romana), are made with semolina instead of potatoes and flour, that's why they are also called Semolina gnocchi. Roman gnocchi are shaped differently than potato gnocchi.

Do you need to let potatoes cool before making gnocchi? ›

After baking the potatoes, peel and rice them (or use a potato masher on them) when they're just cool enough to handle. Then let them release steam and fully cool before making the gnocchi dough. Prepare the gnocchi dough by mixing the egg yolks, salt, and flour with the cooled riced potatoes.

Why is my homemade gnocchi chewy? ›

Chewy gnocchi are the result of too much flour and over kneading the dough. It's important to knead the dough just until it comes together into a smooth ball and no more. This is because you don't want to encourage too much gluten development which makes them tough, chewy and rubbery.

What happens if you put too much flour in gnocchi? ›

It is very easy to add too much flour to gnocchi dough, which can make these dumplings glutinous, gummy, and sticky. If you dump all of the flour into your gnocchi dough at once, you won't have the same texture as a gnocchi that has just enough flour to bring it together.

Which flour is best for gnocchi? ›

Tipo 00 Flour is a soft, fine milled flour from Italy. It's a must-have for light and tender gnocchi and homemade pasta. Small(er) Batch Recipe ensures a higher success rate with just enough practice.

How does Gordon Ramsay cook gnocchi? ›

Bring a large pan of water to the boil. Add the gnocchi, tilting the pan from side to side briefly to stop them sticking together, then simmer for about 1½–2 minutes until they start to float. Drain the gnocchi and leave them to steam-dry for 1–2 minutes. Meanwhile, start to make the sauce.

What kind of potatoes are good for gnocchi? ›

Floury potatoes like Carisma or Desirees potatoes are generally considered the best. Floury potatoes help the gnocchi pillows hold their shape and cook evenly.

Why use 00 flour for gnocchi? ›

What is the best flour for making gnocchi? I always suggest using 00 double zero flour. For most Italian dishes, this soft-wheat flour creates a delicate texture that's easy to bite through. Double zero is perfect for the light, pillowy texture you want for gnocchi.

What is a substitute for all-purpose flour in gnocchi? ›

This vegan gnocchi recipe only requires three ingredients: Potatoes: I used Yukon Gold potatoes here, but you can also use russet potatoes if that's all that you can find in your stores! Flour: I recommend using Tipo 00 or oat flour (if you're gluten-free, use oat flour!).

What is gnocchi dough made of? ›

Traditionally, gnocchi dough is made of semolina or plain wheat flour, egg, and mashed potato. That being said, gnocchi ingredients may vary, with the additional ingredients or substitutions including cheese, vegetables, and herbs.

What happens if you use self-raising flour in gnocchi? ›

For guaranteed lightness in potato gnocchi, try replacing 25g of the plain flour with self-raising. Flattening the gnocchi helps them cook evenly, while the grooves from the fork pick up sauce.

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