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Creamy Spinach Parmesan Gnocchi Delicious Quick Meal

by on August 13, 2025
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Craving a quick and tasty meal? You’ll love this creamy spinach Parmesan gnocchi! Packed with flavors and simple to make, this dish comes together in just 30 minutes. With fresh spinach, rich cream, and cheesy goodness, it’s a satisfying choice for any night. Join me as we dive into the steps and tips that will make this delicious recipe a staple in your kitchen!

Here are the ingredients you need to make creamy spinach Parmesan gnocchi: - 500g potato gnocchi - 2 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped - 1 cup heavy cream - 1 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese - 2 tablespoons olive oil - 3 cloves garlic, minced - Salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste - 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg - Chopped fresh parsley for garnish Each ingredient plays a key role in crafting this dish. The potato gnocchi brings a soft and pillowy texture. Fresh spinach adds color and nutrition. Heavy cream creates a rich base, while Parmesan gives a salty punch. Garlic brings warmth and depth. Nutmeg introduces a subtle spice that lifts the flavors. Don't forget the salt and pepper to taste! Finally, parsley brightens the plate and adds freshness. Gather these items, and you’ll be ready to cook a delightful meal that impresses. - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. - Add the potato gnocchi to the boiling water. - Cook until they float to the top, which shows they are done. - Drain the gnocchi in a colander and set aside. - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. - Add the minced garlic and sauté for about one minute. - Cook until the garlic smells great but does not turn brown. - Stir in the roughly chopped spinach into the skillet. - Let the spinach cook for about 2-3 minutes until it wilts. - Pour in the heavy cream and reduce the heat to low. - Allow this mixture to simmer for five minutes until it thickens. - Gradually mix in the finely grated Parmesan cheese and nutmeg. - Season the sauce with salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste. - Carefully add the drained gnocchi to the creamy sauce in the skillet. - Gently toss the gnocchi to coat them well with the sauce. - Heat everything together for an extra two minutes. This process creates a rich and creamy dish that highlights the flavors of spinach and Parmesan. Enjoy the simple yet delicious steps to create your creamy spinach Parmesan gnocchi! To make your cream sauce just right, you can adjust its thickness. If it's too thick, add a splash of pasta water. This water has starch, which helps bind the sauce. If it’s too thin, let it simmer longer. This will help it thicken. For the best flavor, balance the salt and nutmeg. Nutmeg adds warmth, while salt brings out the cream’s richness. Taste as you go. This way, you can make sure the sauce is perfect. Be careful not to overcook the gnocchi. They cook fast, and you want them soft but firm. Once they float in the water, they are ready. Drain them quickly to prevent mushiness. Using fresh gnocchi makes a big difference. Fresh gnocchi has a light, fluffy texture that tastes great. Store-bought gnocchi can work too, but fresh is always best for this dish. To make your dish look even better, serve it in shallow bowls. This adds elegance to your meal. Sprinkle extra Parmesan on top for a cheesy finish. Chopped parsley is a great garnish. It adds color and a fresh taste. You can also drizzle a bit of good olive oil on top. This adds richness and makes the dish pop. {{image_4}} You can easily add protein to your creamy spinach Parmesan gnocchi. Chicken or shrimp both work well. For chicken, use bite-sized pieces. Sauté the chicken in olive oil before adding garlic. Cook until golden brown, then add the spinach. For shrimp, add them after the garlic. Cook until they turn pink. Both options boost flavor and make your meal more filling. Don’t stop with spinach! You can mix in other veggies for extra taste. Mushrooms add a nice earthiness. Sauté them with garlic until soft. Bell peppers give a sweet crunch. Chop them and add with the spinach. Feel free to experiment with your favorite veggies. Broccoli or zucchini could also be great choices. You can change this dish with the seasons. In spring, add fresh peas for a pop of color. In summer, cherry tomatoes bring a juicy burst. In fall, butternut squash adds sweetness and creaminess. Winter means hearty greens like kale. Adjust the ingredients based on what’s fresh. This keeps your meal exciting and full of flavor. To keep your Creamy Spinach Parmesan Gnocchi fresh, use airtight containers. Glass or plastic containers work well. Make sure they are clean and dry before adding the food. Store the leftovers in the fridge for up to three days. If you want to keep them longer, consider freezing. However, the creamy sauce may change texture when frozen. To freeze, place the gnocchi in a freezer-safe bag, removing as much air as possible. When it's time to enjoy leftovers, avoid the microwave if you can. Instead, use a skillet. Place the gnocchi in a skillet over low heat. Add a splash of cream or water to help refresh the sauce. Stir gently until heated through. This method helps keep the gnocchi soft and prevents them from becoming mushy. For an added touch, sprinkle a little more Parmesan cheese on top while reheating. This will enhance the flavor and texture. Yes, you can use frozen gnocchi. Frozen gnocchi cooks well in this dish. Just add them straight to boiling water without thawing. They will take a little longer to float, so check after a few minutes. Once they float, they are ready to use. This makes the recipe quick and easy. If you want a lighter option, you can use whole milk or half-and-half. Almond milk or coconut cream also works well for a dairy-free choice. Use unsweetened and unflavored versions. These options may change the texture slightly, but they still taste great. To make this dish vegan, swap the heavy cream with coconut cream or a plant-based cream. Use nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan cheese for that cheesy flavor. You can also add in some sautéed mushrooms or bell peppers for extra texture. These changes keep the dish tasty and plant-based. This blog post shared a simple, delicious recipe for creamy spinach gnocchi. You learned how to cook gnocchi, sauté garlic, and prepare a rich cream sauce. Tips helped you achieve the best flavor and texture. Plus, I suggested easy variations for extra protein and veggies. In the end, this dish is versatile and easy to make. Enjoy experimenting with flavors and ingredients. Cooking should be fun and rewarding!

Ingredients

Here are the ingredients you need to make creamy spinach Parmesan gnocchi:

– 500g potato gnocchi

– 2 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped

– 1 cup heavy cream

– 1 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese

– 2 tablespoons olive oil

– 3 cloves garlic, minced

– Salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste

– 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

– Chopped fresh parsley for garnish

Each ingredient plays a key role in crafting this dish. The potato gnocchi brings a soft and pillowy texture. Fresh spinach adds color and nutrition. Heavy cream creates a rich base, while Parmesan gives a salty punch. Garlic brings warmth and depth. Nutmeg introduces a subtle spice that lifts the flavors. Don’t forget the salt and pepper to taste! Finally, parsley brightens the plate and adds freshness. Gather these items, and you’ll be ready to cook a delightful meal that impresses.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Cooking the Gnocchi

– Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

– Add the potato gnocchi to the boiling water.

– Cook until they float to the top, which shows they are done.

– Drain the gnocchi in a colander and set aside.

Sautéing the Garlic

– Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

– Add the minced garlic and sauté for about one minute.

– Cook until the garlic smells great but does not turn brown.

Preparing the Cream Sauce

– Stir in the roughly chopped spinach into the skillet.

– Let the spinach cook for about 2-3 minutes until it wilts.

– Pour in the heavy cream and reduce the heat to low.

– Allow this mixture to simmer for five minutes until it thickens.

– Gradually mix in the finely grated Parmesan cheese and nutmeg.

– Season the sauce with salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste.

Combining Gnocchi with Sauce

– Carefully add the drained gnocchi to the creamy sauce in the skillet.

– Gently toss the gnocchi to coat them well with the sauce.

– Heat everything together for an extra two minutes.

This process creates a rich and creamy dish that highlights the flavors of spinach and Parmesan. Enjoy the simple yet delicious steps to create your creamy spinach Parmesan gnocchi!

Tips & Tricks

Perfecting the Cream Sauce

To make your cream sauce just right, you can adjust its thickness. If it’s too thick, add a splash of pasta water. This water has starch, which helps bind the sauce. If it’s too thin, let it simmer longer. This will help it thicken.

For the best flavor, balance the salt and nutmeg. Nutmeg adds warmth, while salt brings out the cream’s richness. Taste as you go. This way, you can make sure the sauce is perfect.

Gnocchi Cooking Tips

Be careful not to overcook the gnocchi. They cook fast, and you want them soft but firm. Once they float in the water, they are ready. Drain them quickly to prevent mushiness.

Using fresh gnocchi makes a big difference. Fresh gnocchi has a light, fluffy texture that tastes great. Store-bought gnocchi can work too, but fresh is always best for this dish.

Garnishing Suggestions

To make your dish look even better, serve it in shallow bowls. This adds elegance to your meal. Sprinkle extra Parmesan on top for a cheesy finish.

Chopped parsley is a great garnish. It adds color and a fresh taste. You can also drizzle a bit of good olive oil on top. This adds richness and makes the dish pop.

Variations

Adding Protein

You can easily add protein to your creamy spinach Parmesan gnocchi. Chicken or shrimp both work well. For chicken, use bite-sized pieces. Sauté the chicken in olive oil before adding garlic. Cook until golden brown, then add the spinach. For shrimp, add them after the garlic. Cook until they turn pink. Both options boost flavor and make your meal more filling.

Vegetable Additions

Don’t stop with spinach! You can mix in other veggies for extra taste. Mushrooms add a nice earthiness. Sauté them with garlic until soft. Bell peppers give a sweet crunch. Chop them and add with the spinach. Feel free to experiment with your favorite veggies. Broccoli or zucchini could also be great choices.

Seasonal Variations

You can change this dish with the seasons. In spring, add fresh peas for a pop of color. In summer, cherry tomatoes bring a juicy burst. In fall, butternut squash adds sweetness and creaminess. Winter means hearty greens like kale. Adjust the ingredients based on what’s fresh. This keeps your meal exciting and full of flavor.

Storage Info

How to Store Leftovers

To keep your Creamy Spinach Parmesan Gnocchi fresh, use airtight containers. Glass or plastic containers work well. Make sure they are clean and dry before adding the food. Store the leftovers in the fridge for up to three days. If you want to keep them longer, consider freezing. However, the creamy sauce may change texture when frozen. To freeze, place the gnocchi in a freezer-safe bag, removing as much air as possible.

Reheating Instructions

When it’s time to enjoy leftovers, avoid the microwave if you can. Instead, use a skillet. Place the gnocchi in a skillet over low heat. Add a splash of cream or water to help refresh the sauce. Stir gently until heated through. This method helps keep the gnocchi soft and prevents them from becoming mushy. For an added touch, sprinkle a little more Parmesan cheese on top while reheating. This will enhance the flavor and texture.

FAQs

Can I use frozen gnocchi for this recipe?

Yes, you can use frozen gnocchi. Frozen gnocchi cooks well in this dish. Just add them straight to boiling water without thawing. They will take a little longer to float, so check after a few minutes. Once they float, they are ready to use. This makes the recipe quick and easy.

What can I substitute for heavy cream?

If you want a lighter option, you can use whole milk or half-and-half. Almond milk or coconut cream also works well for a dairy-free choice. Use unsweetened and unflavored versions. These options may change the texture slightly, but they still taste great.

How can I make this recipe vegan-friendly?

To make this dish vegan, swap the heavy cream with coconut cream or a plant-based cream. Use nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan cheese for that cheesy flavor. You can also add in some sautéed mushrooms or bell peppers for extra texture. These changes keep the dish tasty and plant-based.

This blog post shared a simple, delicious recipe for creamy spinach gnocchi. You learned how to cook gnocchi, sauté garlic, and prepare a rich cream sauce. Tips helped you achieve the best flavor and texture. Plus, I suggested easy variations for extra protein and veggies.

In the end, this dish is versatile and easy to make. Enjoy experimenting with flavors and ingredients. Cooking should be fun and rewarding!

Here are the ingredients you need to make creamy spinach Parmesan gnocchi: - 500g potato gnocchi - 2 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped - 1 cup heavy cream - 1 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese - 2 tablespoons olive oil - 3 cloves garlic, minced - Salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste - 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg - Chopped fresh parsley for garnish Each ingredient plays a key role in crafting this dish. The potato gnocchi brings a soft and pillowy texture. Fresh spinach adds color and nutrition. Heavy cream creates a rich base, while Parmesan gives a salty punch. Garlic brings warmth and depth. Nutmeg introduces a subtle spice that lifts the flavors. Don't forget the salt and pepper to taste! Finally, parsley brightens the plate and adds freshness. Gather these items, and you’ll be ready to cook a delightful meal that impresses. - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. - Add the potato gnocchi to the boiling water. - Cook until they float to the top, which shows they are done. - Drain the gnocchi in a colander and set aside. - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. - Add the minced garlic and sauté for about one minute. - Cook until the garlic smells great but does not turn brown. - Stir in the roughly chopped spinach into the skillet. - Let the spinach cook for about 2-3 minutes until it wilts. - Pour in the heavy cream and reduce the heat to low. - Allow this mixture to simmer for five minutes until it thickens. - Gradually mix in the finely grated Parmesan cheese and nutmeg. - Season the sauce with salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste. - Carefully add the drained gnocchi to the creamy sauce in the skillet. - Gently toss the gnocchi to coat them well with the sauce. - Heat everything together for an extra two minutes. This process creates a rich and creamy dish that highlights the flavors of spinach and Parmesan. Enjoy the simple yet delicious steps to create your creamy spinach Parmesan gnocchi! To make your cream sauce just right, you can adjust its thickness. If it's too thick, add a splash of pasta water. This water has starch, which helps bind the sauce. If it’s too thin, let it simmer longer. This will help it thicken. For the best flavor, balance the salt and nutmeg. Nutmeg adds warmth, while salt brings out the cream’s richness. Taste as you go. This way, you can make sure the sauce is perfect. Be careful not to overcook the gnocchi. They cook fast, and you want them soft but firm. Once they float in the water, they are ready. Drain them quickly to prevent mushiness. Using fresh gnocchi makes a big difference. Fresh gnocchi has a light, fluffy texture that tastes great. Store-bought gnocchi can work too, but fresh is always best for this dish. To make your dish look even better, serve it in shallow bowls. This adds elegance to your meal. Sprinkle extra Parmesan on top for a cheesy finish. Chopped parsley is a great garnish. It adds color and a fresh taste. You can also drizzle a bit of good olive oil on top. This adds richness and makes the dish pop. {{image_4}} You can easily add protein to your creamy spinach Parmesan gnocchi. Chicken or shrimp both work well. For chicken, use bite-sized pieces. Sauté the chicken in olive oil before adding garlic. Cook until golden brown, then add the spinach. For shrimp, add them after the garlic. Cook until they turn pink. Both options boost flavor and make your meal more filling. Don’t stop with spinach! You can mix in other veggies for extra taste. Mushrooms add a nice earthiness. Sauté them with garlic until soft. Bell peppers give a sweet crunch. Chop them and add with the spinach. Feel free to experiment with your favorite veggies. Broccoli or zucchini could also be great choices. You can change this dish with the seasons. In spring, add fresh peas for a pop of color. In summer, cherry tomatoes bring a juicy burst. In fall, butternut squash adds sweetness and creaminess. Winter means hearty greens like kale. Adjust the ingredients based on what’s fresh. This keeps your meal exciting and full of flavor. To keep your Creamy Spinach Parmesan Gnocchi fresh, use airtight containers. Glass or plastic containers work well. Make sure they are clean and dry before adding the food. Store the leftovers in the fridge for up to three days. If you want to keep them longer, consider freezing. However, the creamy sauce may change texture when frozen. To freeze, place the gnocchi in a freezer-safe bag, removing as much air as possible. When it's time to enjoy leftovers, avoid the microwave if you can. Instead, use a skillet. Place the gnocchi in a skillet over low heat. Add a splash of cream or water to help refresh the sauce. Stir gently until heated through. This method helps keep the gnocchi soft and prevents them from becoming mushy. For an added touch, sprinkle a little more Parmesan cheese on top while reheating. This will enhance the flavor and texture. Yes, you can use frozen gnocchi. Frozen gnocchi cooks well in this dish. Just add them straight to boiling water without thawing. They will take a little longer to float, so check after a few minutes. Once they float, they are ready to use. This makes the recipe quick and easy. If you want a lighter option, you can use whole milk or half-and-half. Almond milk or coconut cream also works well for a dairy-free choice. Use unsweetened and unflavored versions. These options may change the texture slightly, but they still taste great. To make this dish vegan, swap the heavy cream with coconut cream or a plant-based cream. Use nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan cheese for that cheesy flavor. You can also add in some sautéed mushrooms or bell peppers for extra texture. These changes keep the dish tasty and plant-based. This blog post shared a simple, delicious recipe for creamy spinach gnocchi. You learned how to cook gnocchi, sauté garlic, and prepare a rich cream sauce. Tips helped you achieve the best flavor and texture. Plus, I suggested easy variations for extra protein and veggies. In the end, this dish is versatile and easy to make. Enjoy experimenting with flavors and ingredients. Cooking should be fun and rewarding!

Creamy Spinach Parmesan Gnocchi

Indulge in a deliciously creamy spinach Parmesan gnocchi that’s quick and easy to make! With just potato gnocchi, fresh spinach, and rich Parmesan cheese, this recipe is perfect for a satisfying dinner in under 30 minutes. Learn step-by-step how to create this comforting dish that’s sure to impress.
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Ingredients
  

500g potato gnocchi

2 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped

1 cup heavy cream

1 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese

2 tablespoons olive oil

3 cloves garlic, minced

Salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste

1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

Chopped fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions
 

Cook the Gnocchi: In a large pot, bring a generous amount of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the potato gnocchi, cooking according to the package instructions. They are ready when they float to the surface. Once cooked, drain the gnocchi and set them aside in a bowl.

    Sauté the Garlic: In a spacious skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté it for about 1 minute, or until it’s aromatic but not browned.

      Add the Spinach: Stir the chopped spinach into the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the spinach has completely wilted and is vibrant in color.

        Create the Cream Sauce: Reduce the heat to low and pour in the heavy cream while stirring continuously. Allow the mixture to gently simmer for approximately 5 minutes, or until it thickens slightly.

          Incorporate Cheese and Seasoning: Gradually add the finely grated Parmesan cheese and nutmeg, stirring until the cheese melts completely into the sauce. Season to taste with salt and freshly cracked black pepper for added flavor.

            Combine with Gnocchi: Carefully add the drained gnocchi to the creamy sauce in the skillet. Gently toss the gnocchi in the sauce until they are well-coated. Continue to cook everything together for an additional 2 minutes, allowing the gnocchi to heat through.

              Serve and Garnish: Remove the skillet from heat. Serve your creamy spinach Parmesan gnocchi immediately on plates or in shallow bowls. Garnish generously with freshly chopped parsley for a pop of color and freshness.

                Prep Time: 10 mins | Total Time: 20 mins | Servings: 4

                  - Presentation Tips: Enhance the dish by serving it in elegant, shallow bowls. For a finishing touch, sprinkle a little extra Parmesan on top and add a light drizzle of high-quality olive oil for added richness.