Creamy Red Pesto Gnocchi

Saucy tomato and red pesto gnocchi garnished with basil on a plate.

5 from 1 vote

This simple yet flavor-packed red pesto gnocchi makes for an amazing 30-minute easy weeknight dinner your whole family will love. It features a luscious sauce made by pairing canned tomatoes and red pesto, chewy potato gnocchi, plus a touch of plant-based cream for more richness. 100% vegan and dairy-free.

Cook Time30

Total Time30

Course: dinner

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: healthy dinner, quick dinner, vegan dinner

Servings: servings

Calories: 275kcal

Author: Jessica Laroche

Equipment

Medium pot
Colander or slotted spoon
Stirring spoon

Ingredients

16 oz potato gnocchi
½ small yellow onion finely diced
2 cloves of garlic crushed
15 oz canned diced tomatoes
¼ cup dairy-free red pesto sauce I used the vegan red pesto from Whole Foods
¼ cup plant-based cream I used the dairy-free plain cream from Nutpods
salt and black pepper to taste
fresh basil and red pepper flakes to garnish, optional
vegan parmesan cheese to garnish, optional (I used this vegan almond parmesan recipe)

Instructions

Bring a medium pot of water to a boil, then add the gnocchi and cook according to the packaging. Drain well and set aside.
Warm up a little oil in the same pot you used to cook the gnocchi and then add the onion with a pinch of salt. Cook on medium heat for about 5 minutes, then add the garlic. Cook for 1-2 minutes stirring often.
Add the pesto and canned tomatoes and simmer for about 10 minutes stirring once in a while. Once the sauce is done simmering, I recommend blending it using an immersion blender (optional). Then, add the vegan cream and stir to combine.
Add the cooked gnocchi to the pot with the sauce, stir to combine, adjust salt and serve garnished with fresh basil and vegan parmesan cheese.

Video

Notes

Use your hands to separate the gnocchi in the package if they stick together, this can help cook them evenly.
Adjust the amount of red pesto you want to add to the sauce. The pesto is essential in creating an overall amazing flavor in this dish, so feel free to add more if you wish!
Pan-frying the gnocchi is also a good way to cook them before adding the sauce. You can do this directly in the pan with a little oil and watch the gnocchi carefully so they turn crispy and golden brown without burning! Check out this pan-fried gnocchi marinara skillet recipe for more inspiration!
Nutrition: please note that the nutritional information is an estimate per serving provided for informational purposes only (calculated by software) and accuracy is not guaranteed. Consult with your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if you need precise nutrition calculations for health reasons.

Nutrition