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Cauliflower Gnocchi with Pesto

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Have you tried cauliflower gnocchi before? Cauli gnocchi is gluten-free and surprisingly delicious!

We've combined pesto, pepitas, spinach, and parmesan with cauliflower gnocchi for a super simple, 10-minute dinner recipe.

It's ready in 10-minutes, we're not even kidding!

two bowls of cauliflower gnocchi with pesto

Why You Should Make This Recipe

Beyond the fact that this easy dinner recipe only takes 10 minutes to make, it's gluten-free, vegetarian, and delicious. It's a great weeknight meal or lunch for two people.

We make this recipe when we're short on time but don't want to order takeout!

cauliflower gnocchi with pesto ingredients

Ingredients for Easy Cauliflower Gnocchi

Here's what you'll need to make this recipe.

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 package cauliflower gnocchi*
  • 3 tablespoons pesto
  • 2 cups baby spinach
  • 2 tablespoons pepitas or walnuts
  • 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese

*We used the 1 pound box of cauliflower gnocchi from Whole Foods. You can also use the 12-ounce package of frozen cauliflower gnocchi from Trader Joe's. We've made this recipe with both kinds and it works great. Trader Joe's cauli gnocchi tends to be a bit lighter and puffier, the Whole Foods gnocchi is denser with a deeper flavor.

How to Make Cauliflower Gnocchi with Pesto

  1. Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the gnocchi to the pan. Cook for 3 minutes or until one side of the gnocchi is browned, then flip the gnocchi and cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes. 
  2. Turn off the heat and add the pesto. Stir to combine. 
  3. Add then spinach and stir till wilted. 
  4. Plate the gnocchi and top with nuts and parmesan. 
closeup of a bowl of cauliflower gnocchi with pesto and spinach

More Super Fast Weeknight Meals

If you like this recipe, check out some of our other popular dinner recipes.

  • White Bean Soup - a delicious, healthy vegan recipe with loads of flavor. It's ready in 28 minutes.
  • Stuffed Avocado with Tuna - an easy light lunch or dinner. It’s so quick to make and leaves you feeling sated and full! It's ready in just 5 minutes.
  • Baked Salmon with Lemon - a healthy pescatarian recipe that’s easy to make on a weeknight. It’s ready in less than 30 minutes.
  • Creamy Zucchini Pasta - made with spiralized zucchini noodles and linguini noodles. It has a rich, decadent sauce made from cream, butter, and lemon that’s brightened up with fresh herbs. It’s a delicious meal that’s ready in 25 minutes.
  • Avocado Egg Salad - a delightfully creamy recipe with eggs, avocado, mayo, paprika, mustard, spring onion, and S&P. It's ready in 10 minutes.

Tips for Making this Recipe

  • Make sure to use a pan large enough to spread the gnocchi out flat. It won't brown evenly if it's on top of each other.
  • If you don't have spinach, substitute it for baby arugula or some fresh herbs.
  • If you'd like to make your own pesto, try our pesto for pasta recipe.
  • If the pesto you're using is quite dense, loosen it up with a tablespoon of warm water so it spreads evenly over the gnocchi.
Yield: 2 servings

Cauliflower Gnocchi with Pesto

Cauliflower Gnocchi with Pesto

A super quick weeknight meal, this cauliflower gnocchi with pesto is ready in just 10 minutes!

Prep Time 3 minutes
Cook Time 6 minutes
Additional Time 1 minute
Total Time 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 package cauliflower gnocchi*
  • 3 tablespoons pesto
  • 2 cups baby spinach
  • 2 tablespoons pepitas or walnuts
  • 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the gnocchi to the pan. Cook for 3 minutes or until one side of the gnocchi is browned, then flip the gnocchi and cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes. 
  2. Turn off the heat and add the pesto. Stir to combine. 
  3. Add then spinach and stir till wilted. 
  4. Plate the gnocchi and top with nuts and parmesan. 

Notes

*You can use either the Whole Foods Cauliflower Gnocchi (1 pound) or Trader Joe's Cauliflower Gnocchi (12 ounces).

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

2

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 441Total Fat: 27gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 19gCholesterol: 29mgSodium: 289mgCarbohydrates: 40gFiber: 8gSugar: 6gProtein: 15g

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