Description
This easy Skillet Gnocchi with Browned Butter is a gourmet-feeling, quick comfort food meal, perfect for busy family dinners. It offers maximum flavor and minimal cleanup, featuring golden, pillowy gnocchi with crispy edges.
Ingredients
- 16 oz shelf-stable potato gnocchi
- 6 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 10–12 medium fresh sage leaves
- 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Gather all ingredients. Grate Parmesan cheese and wash and dry sage leaves thoroughly.
- Brown the Butter: Melt 6 Tbsp unsalted butter in a large, heavy-bottomed 10-inch skillet over medium heat. Swirl occasionally until it turns golden brown and nutty, about 3-5 minutes. (If it smells burnt or turns dark, discard and start fresh; browned butter happens quickly and needs attention.)
- Add Sage Leaves: Immediately add fresh sage leaves to the browned butter. Let them crisp for 30-60 seconds, infusing their distinctive, earthy flavor.
- Cook Gnocchi: Add the 16-oz package of gnocchi directly to the skillet. Cook, stirring gently every 1-2 minutes, until golden brown, slightly crisp on the outside, and tender throughout, about 8-12 minutes.
- Finish and Serve: Remove skillet from heat. Toss gnocchi with 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese until evenly coated. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
Notes
To avoid common mistakes, do not walk away from browning butter; it can go from perfect to burnt in seconds. Avoid overcrowding the pan; cook gnocchi in two batches if your skillet is not large enough to ensure even browning. For variations, consider fresh gnocchi (reduce cook time), adding baby spinach or cherry tomatoes, a pinch of nutmeg, or minced garlic. High-quality butter makes a noticeable difference, and dried sage can be used (about one-third less) if fresh is unavailable.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 112.5 g (approx. 1/4 recipe)
- Calories: 388 calories
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
Keywords: easy dinner, gnocchi, browned butter, skillet meal, comfort food, quick recipe, parmesan, sage, family dinner