Description
Creamy cheesy bolognese gnocchi bake delivers comfort straight from Italian kitchens, blending rich meat sauce with pillowy potato dumplings. Melted cheese and hearty layers promise a satisfying meal that draws hungry diners into pure culinary bliss.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (454 grams) potato gnocchi (store-bought or homemade)
- 1/2 pound (227 grams) ground beef (or ground turkey)
- 1 can (14 ounces/400 grams) crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) shredded mozzarella cheese
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 1/2 onion (diced)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
Additional Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) marinara sauce
- 1/4 cup (30 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil (for garnish)
Instructions
- Craft a robust Bolognese foundation by sizzling ground beef in olive oil over medium heat, methodically crumbling the meat until achieving a rich, caramelized texture. Incorporate aromatic onions and garlic, sautéing until translucent and fragrant.
- Elevate the sauce with crushed tomatoes, marinara, and a harmonious blend of dried herbs. Allow the mixture to gently simmer for 10 minutes, developing deep, complex flavors.
- Fire up the oven to a blazing 400F (200C), preparing for the final transformation of the dish.
- Simultaneously, immerse gnocchi in rapidly boiling water, cooking until these pillowy dumplings gracefully float to the surface, indicating perfect doneness.
- Rescue the gnocchi from their watery bath, then lovingly fold them into the waiting Bolognese sauce, ensuring each morsel is luxuriously coated.
- Transfer the saucy gnocchi into a waiting baking dish, creating an inviting canvas for the cheese layer.
- Generously blanket the surface with a lavish combination of mozzarella and Parmesan, promising a golden, molten cheese crust.
- Slide the dish into the preheated oven, allowing 15-20 minutes for the cheese to transform into a bubbling, bronzed masterpiece.
- Emerge with a final flourish of fresh basil, adding a vibrant, aromatic finish to this comforting Italian-inspired creation.
Notes
- Maximize sauce flavor by letting Bolognese simmer longer, which deepens the rich meaty taste and allows herbs to fully develop.
- Choose fresh store-bought or homemade gnocchi for best texture, ensuring they’re soft yet slightly chewy when cooked.
- Create gluten-free version by using gluten-free gnocchi and checking marinara sauce ingredients for potential wheat-based additives.
- Enhance protein content by adding extra ground beef or mixing in plant-based protein crumbles for vegetarian adaptation.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 48 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg