Easy Sheet Pan Gnocchi

Created On: March 18, 2024 | By Debbie | Leave a comment

As a toddler mom, quick and easy dinner options are my go-to these days. This easy sheet pan gnocchi is a reliable winner in our house. Use store bought gnocchi and pesto to make this vegan gnocchi recipe even simpler.

Getting a healthy dinner on the table when crunched for time during the week is a struggle. Luckily, sheet pan meals like this delicious vegan sheet pan gnocchi recipe can be a lifesaver. With just a few minutes of chopping and a few store bought shortcut ingredients, this simple sheet pan gnocchi can be on the table with minimal effort.

We also love how this recipe can be adapted to the individual preferences of your family since it’s easy to swap out the veggies. It’s also a great option for using up random veggies that are leftover in the fridge at the end of the week. If we’re not making this gnocchi, our other favorite sheet pan dinners are this southwest sheet pan meal and this sausage pesto sheet pan are other family favorites!

Why You’ll Love this Gnocchi Recipe

A weeknight dinner hero! Just add a protein and this easy meal is ready to go on busy weeknights.
Truly one pan – no boiling required!
Easily customizable so you can make it for a variety of eaters: vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, or even meat-eaters.

Sheet Pan Gnocchi Recipe Ingredients

easy sheet pan gnocchi ingredients in small bowls on a white background.

Potato Gnocchi: it hasn’t been too difficult to find brands of store-bought gnocchi that are vegan, but they occasionally include eggs so just double check the ingredient list. Both shelf stable and frozen gnocchi work well for this recipe. (If using frozen gnocchi, no need to thaw – just add it to the sheet pan still frozen.)
Vegetables (zucchini, red onion, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers): this is our favorite combination of veggies for this crispy sheet pan gnocchi. The tomatoes are key because they break apart with baking and create a sauce for the gnocchi.
Olive Oil: a drizzle of olive oil helps brown the veggies and gnocchi as this sheet pan meal cooks in the oven.
Seasoning (Italian seasoning, garlic): since we’re adding pesto, you don’t need a lot of extra seasoning for this recipe. We keep it simple and add some Italian seasoning and garlic. You can use garlic powder in place of the garlic powder if you prefer – I’d use about 1/2 teaspoon.
Vegan Parmesan: did you know that traditional parmesan cheese isn’t actually vegetarian? It normally uses rennet which is animal-based. So if you are making the gnocchi for vegan or vegetarian eaters, use a vegan parmesan. We really like Violife’s vegan parmesan.
Vegan Pesto: to reduce the prep work needed for this recipe, we usually just use our favorite brand of store-bought pesto (Gotham Green’s vegan pesto!), but you could also make your own. This pistachio pesto is delicious with this dairy free gnocchi sheet pan dinner.

Variations and Substitutions

Use different gnocchi: use different varieties of gnocchi like cauliflower gnocchi or sweet potato gnocchi.

Add a protein: We like adding some sliced vegan Italian sausage or frozen veggie meatballs to this for some protein. You could also add white beans or cooked lentils during the last few minutes of cooking.

Try different veggies: you can use other veggies for this dish like eggplant, cabbage, butternut squash, green beans, baby spinach, or potatoes.

Switch up the cheese: if you don’t have parmesan, you could also use shredded mozzarella or crumbled feta or goat cheese for this recipe.

Gluten Free: make it gluten free by using gluten free gnocchi or try with Trader Joe’s cauliflower gnocchi.

How to Make Sheet Pan Gnocchi

One of the reasons I love sheet pan meals so much is that after you chop everything up and put it in the oven, you’re free to do other things around the house until the oven beeps! There’s no need to juggle or babysit a bunch of different pots and pans on the stovetop for this easy recipe.

sheet pan gnocchi on a sheet pan with spoons of pesto on top.

Step one: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step Two: On a large sheet pan, add the gnocchi, bell pepper, red onion, cherry tomatoes, olive oil, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Use your hands to combine everything together, making sure everything is well coated in the oil and spices and then spread out into a single layer. (You can also use a large bowl to toss everything together if you prefer.)

Step Three: Bake for ~30 minutes in a preheated oven, stirring halfway through. Five minutes before the gnocchi is finished, remove the sheet pan from the oven. Add the shredded vegan parmesan evenly over top of everything on the sheet pan. Return to the oven for the remaining 5 minutes.

Step Four: Spoon the pesto over top of the gnocchi and vegetables. Use a spatula to toss everything to coat in the pesto and garnish with fresh basil to serve.

What to Serve with Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Pesto

Once you add a protein, this sheet pan recipe is an entire meal but if you want to serve something else alongside- here are our suggestions:

a serving of sheet pan gnocchi in a bowl with veggie meatballs.

Storage

Fridge: leftovers can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave for a couple minutes.

Freezer: store in an airtight container int he freezer for up to 6 months. Allow to thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Recipe FAQs

Can I bake gnocchi without boiling it first?

Yes! The gnocchi for this easy vegetarian sheet pan meal is baked without boiling first. As long as you bake it long enough to be cooked through, there’s no need to boil the gnocchi before baking.

Is it better to bake or boil gnocchi?

Both options will yield a delicious, pillowy gnocchi. For this recipe, we love saving dishes and baking the gnocchi with some seasonings and vegetables on a sheet pan.

Is gnocchi vegan?

Some brands of gnocchi include eggs so just double check the ingredients before purchasing. It hasn’t been hard to find a vegan gnocchi at my grocery.

Did you love this recipe? Make sure to leave a ⭐️ rating and tag #dietitiandebbie on instagram!

Sheet Pan Gnocchi

Created by: Deborah Murphy

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 35

Total Time 40

As a toddler mom, quick and easy dinner options are my go-to these days. This easy sheet pan gnocchi is a reliable winner in our house. Use store bought gnocchi and pesto to make this vegan gnocchi recipe even simpler.

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Add the chopped veggies (peppers, onion, zucchini), cherry tomatoes, and gnocchi to the sheet pan. Add the olive oil, garlic Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Use your hands to toss everything together until it is all evenly coated in the oil and seasoning.
Bake for 25 minutes, stirring halfway through. Then, remove from the oven and add the parmesan. Bake another 5-10 minutes until vegetables are tender.
Spoon pesto over top and season with salt and pepper. Use a spatula to toss everything together. Serve with your choice of protein and sides!

Notes

Add a protein: halfway through baking, I will sometimes add some sliced vegan sausages or frozen plant-based meatballs for a protein. You could also serve this with white beans or lentils.
Leftovers: store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave.

Nutrition

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