Ham and Cheese Gnocchi | Quick and Easy Family Dinner Recipe (2024)

This delicious Ham and Cheese Gnocchi is essentially baked mac and cheese! A mouth-watering dish that’s made in about 15 minutes – it doesn’t get better than that!

Ham and Cheese Gnocchi

Oh my goodness you guys, this Ham and Cheese Gnocchi is one of our new favorite, favorite dinners!! Right after Christmas I was looking for a way to use up some of our leftover ham, and I wanted something ultra cheesy, creamy, warm and comforting. This super cheesy Ham & Cheese Gnocchi nailed it! It’s kinda like a dreamy baked mac and cheese, but way more grown up and a million times more decadent. First of all, gnocchi are basically like little pillows of dumpling goodness sent straight from heaven. Heaven, I tell you! I love gnocchi! Gnocchi and pasta are two things I think I could eat every day for the rest of my life. And when they’re surrounded by a cheesy, creamy sauce and beautiful, crispy ham?? It’s like I’ve died and gone to comfort food heaven. :)

The best part about this meal is that it all cooks in one skillet and it can be made in 15 minutes or less. Plus it uses easy ingredients you can always keep on hand. Yes to lightening-fast dinners and super easy clean up! :)

Here’s all you’ll need: 1 package Potato Gnocchi — We love the DeLallo brand, and you can also buy gnocchi in bulk at Costco! Perfect for always keeping on hand. :) Cheese — Swiss, Monterey Jack, or Gruyere would be beautiful here, but I used Pepper Jack to give this dish a kick. Butter, chicken broth, whipping cream. Diced onion — I love buying frozen diced onions so I can always have them on hand. Baby sweet peas. And diced ham. I diced and portioned out all of our leftover ham from Christmas, so I just grabbed ours from the freezer. Easy peasy!

How to Make Ham and Cheese Gnocchi

Start by melting a tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium heat.

When the butter is melted and foamy, add 2 cups diced onion. You don’t even have to thaw them first if you are using frozen onions like me. (That’s about 1 whole onion if you’d prefer to dice your own :)).

Cook onions until softened and golden brown.

Add ham and continue to cook until the ham is lightly browned, then pour in chicken broth and bring to a simmer.

Add the gnocchi, stir well, and cover and cook for 5 minutes.

Then stir in the peas (if your peas are frozen, go ahead and dump them in frozen!), whipping cream, and plenty of salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle the cheese over the top and broil until golden and bubbly, about 3 minutes.

Swoon!

It could not be any easier! Creamy, cheesy, crispy, gooey perfection. We love this one!! Hope you enjoy!! :)

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Ham and Cheese Gnocchi | Quick and Easy Family Dinner Recipe (13)

Ham and Cheese Gnocchi

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 2 reviews

  • Ham and Cheese Gnocchi | Quick and Easy Family Dinner Recipe (14) Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Ham and Cheese Gnocchi | Quick and Easy Family Dinner Recipe (15) Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Ham and Cheese Gnocchi | Quick and Easy Family Dinner Recipe (16) Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Ham and Cheese Gnocchi | Quick and Easy Family Dinner Recipe (17) Yield: 4 Servings 1x
  • Ham and Cheese Gnocchi | Quick and Easy Family Dinner Recipe (18) Category: Dinner
  • Ham and Cheese Gnocchi | Quick and Easy Family Dinner Recipe (19) Method: Stove
  • Ham and Cheese Gnocchi | Quick and Easy Family Dinner Recipe (20) Cuisine: Italian

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Description

This delicious Ham and Cheese Gnocchi is essentially baked mac and cheese! A mouth-watering dish that’s made in about 15 minutes – it doesn’t get better than that!

Scale

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 2 cups diced onion (about 1 whole onion)
  • 12 oz ham, diced
  • 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 1 (16 oz) package potato gnocchi
  • 1 cup baby sweet peas, frozen
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 cup shredded cheese (Swiss, Monterey Jack, Gruyere, or Pepper Jack)

Instructions

  1. Melt the butter in a large ovenproof skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until softened and golden brown. Add the ham and continue to cook until lightly browned.
  2. Add the chicken broth and water and bring to a simmer. Add the gnocchi, stir well, and cover and cook for 5 minutes until the gnocchi is tender. Stir in the peas, cream, and plenty of salt and pepper to taste.
  3. Sprinkle the cheese over the top and broil until golden and bubbly, about 3 minutes. Enjoy!!

More Easy One-Dish Dinners!

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  • Cream Cheese Chicken Enchiladas

  • Creamy Shrimp Pasta

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  • Dinner Ideas
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  • Quick and Easy
Ham and Cheese Gnocchi | Quick and Easy Family Dinner Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is traditionally served with gnocchi? ›

The Gnudi, or spinach and ricotta gnocchi, is a typical recipe from Tuscany, usually served with a simple tomato sauce or with butter and sage. In fancy restaurants, sometimes these are served with very special aged parmesan cheese like pecorino or with a slice of lard that melts in contact with the hot gnocchi.

What goes with gnocchi main course? ›

Top 10 ways to serve gnocchi
  • Gnocchi with roasted squash & goat's cheese. ...
  • Gnocchi bolognese with spinach. ...
  • Gnocchi with mushrooms & blue cheese. ...
  • Gnocchi with lemon & chive pesto. ...
  • Swede gnocchi with crispy sage. ...
  • Gnocchi with roasted red pepper sauce. ...
  • Gnocchi with two cheeses & bacon.

Is gnocchi better with or without egg? ›

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.

Is gnocchi healthier than pasta? ›

Nutritional Value

Believe it or not, regular pasta is actually more carb-heavy than gnocchi, coming in at around 2 times the amount of carbs per serving. Gnocchi is also notorious for having a lot more sodium, with over 200 grams of it per serving. Regular pasta doesn't have nearly as high of a sodium content.

Is gnocchi a main or side dish? ›

Gnocchi are commonly cooked in salted boiling water and then dressed with various sauces. They are usually eaten as a first course (primo) as an alternative to soups (minestre) or pasta, but they can also be served as a contorno (side dish) to some main courses.

What meat do you eat with gnocchi? ›

Beef and gnocchi is such a good combo! There's also no need to pre-cook the gnocchi. It cooks right in the sauce, which is convenient and helps with cleanup. This hamburger gnocchi recipe makes plenty of delicious sauce.

What day do Italians eat gnocchi? ›

The custom of gnocchi Thursday became part of the post-war gastronomic culture when supplies were still scarce and people aimed to feed the whole family as substantially as possible while spending as little as possible.

Is gnocchi easy on the stomach? ›

The famous pasta is usually made from potatoes, but could also be prepared from breadcrumbs, risotto, or even just flour. Many people argue that the potato-made gnocchi is a bit easier on the digestive system and all around the most delicious.

How do you eat store bought gnocchi? ›

What can I make with store-bought potato gnocchi? Boil them in salted water until they float to the surface. Stir with tomato sauce, or ragù, or butter and freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano, or a fondue. Eat.

How do you spice up store bought gnocchi? ›

After your gnocchi is cooked and drained, you can toss it with any sauce and/or vegetables you want. Store bought gnocchi is great with marinara, pesto, bolognese ragu, sun-dried tomato sauce – and this tomato-mushroom sauce, of course.

Is it better to boil or fry gnocchi? ›

The downside is that boiling can result in gummy, waterlogged gnocchi if you cook them too long. This is more of an issue when boiling store-bought gnocchi than with homemade ones. Frying gnocchi in a little butter or oil takes more effort, and the dumplings will be crisp on the outside, chewy and soft on the inside.

What should you not do when making gnocchi? ›

Don't overwork the dough: When making gnocchi dough, it's important not to overwork it. Overworking the dough can make the gnocchi tough and chewy. Mix the ingredients together just until the dough comes together, and then stop mixing! You're not kneading bread here.

Can I eat gnocchi and lose weight? ›

Gnocchi is made primarily from potatoes which are less fattening than pasta. It also has more fiber and fewer calories than traditional pasta dishes. It also contains fewer carbohydrates, which can help people who are trying to lose weight or prevent diabetes.

Why do Italians eat gnocchi? ›

There is another story going back to year 1690 in a small town from Piamonte, where the wheat crop had been spoiled. Even though potatoes were used to feed the animals, misery was so rampant that [potatoes] were cooked for eating and mixed with flour, and that is how gnocchi originated.

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