Freeze This Homemade Gnocchi Recipe for an Instant Dreamy Meal (2024)

  • Vegetarian
  • Gnocchis
  • Italian

Gnocchi are Italian potato dumplings made with eggs, flour, and potatoes. Our homemade gnocchi recipe is freezer-friendly and delicious when topped with all kinds of sauces.

By

Elise Bauer

Freeze This Homemade Gnocchi Recipe for an Instant Dreamy Meal (1)

Elise Bauer

Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.

Learn about Simply Recipes'Editorial Process

Updated September 13, 2022

Freeze This Homemade Gnocchi Recipe for an Instant Dreamy Meal (2)

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In This Recipe

My parents took their first trip to Europe a couple of years ago, spending a week in the Tuscany region of Italy. They both came back inspired by the Italian food they enjoyed and, as a result, started to make many of the Italian dishes they had while in Italy. This gnocchi is one of the dishes we started making as a result of their trip.

A Classic Italian Gnocchi Recipe

To make the best gnocchi, we've experimented with various ratios of potato to flour. It took several attempts to achieve what we've found to be the perfect ratio: What you want is a minimal amount of flour; too much and the gnocchi will be too dense.

The Trick to Making the Best Potato Gnocchi

The other trick to gnocchi, we've learned, is to use older potatoes, and to bake them, not boil or steam them, so that they get pretty dried out. Also, it helps to put them through a potato ricer for a smoother consistency. Gnocchi goes well with practically any good pasta sauce.

Freeze This Homemade Gnocchi Recipe for an Instant Dreamy Meal (4)

What Are Gnocchi?

Although gnocchi are associated with pasta, they are not pasta. Gnocchi are dumplings, most commonly made with potatoes. Their origin goes back to Roman times without potatoes, but somewhere around the 16th century, cooks in northern Italy added potatoes to the mix.

Many varieties now exist, including pumpkin ricotta, spinach ricotta, and semolina gnocchi. Note that sometimes when there is no potato in a gnocchi recipe (such as the ricotta versions), you may see the term gnudi used instead of gnocchi.

Why Use Egg Yolks, Not the Whole Egg?

You can make gnocchi with a whole egg, but using just the yolks from two eggs make them more tender and a little richer.

How to Separate EggsREAD MORE:

Troubleshooting Tips for Potato Gnocchi

  • Use a potato ricer; otherwise, you’ll have gluey potatoes.
  • Don’t overwork the dough.
  • Don’t have the water at a rolling boil. Have it at a hard simmer (medium bubbles, not huge busy ones). A simmer will keep the delicate gnocchi more intact and keep them from being mushy.
  • Use russet potatoes, which have more starch.
How to Buy and Store PotatoesREAD MORE:

How to Make Gluten-Free Gnocchi

Potatoes have no gluten, but this recipe includes flour, so it does have gluten. For gluten-free gnocchi give our Cauliflower Gnocchi a try.

How to Freeze Gnocchi

Freeze gnocchi uncooked. Place the uncooked gnocchi on a lightly floured cookie sheet in a single layer and put in the freezer until the dumplings freeze. Remove from the freezer and place the gnocchi in a freezer-safe zipper bag with the air squeezed out or a freezer-safe tightly sealed container for up to three months.

Do not defrost frozen gnocchi before cooking. They can go straight from the freezer into the simmering water, following the directions in Step 6.

The Best Sauces to Serve With Gnocchi

  • Basic Tomato Sauce
  • Easy Make-Ahead Alfredo Sauce
  • Roasted Red Pepper Pasta Sauce
  • Butternut Squash Parmesan Sauce
  • Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto

More Classic Italian Recipes to Make

  • Italian Pot Roast
  • Italian Wedding Soup
  • Classic Bolognese Sauce
  • Tiramisu
  • Baked Ziti

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Potato Gnocchi From Scratch

Prep Time45 mins

Cook Time25 mins

Baking potatoes60 mins

Total Time2 hrs 10 mins

This recipe is adapted from one by Lorenza de'Medici in her book "Tuscany The Beautiful Cookbook."

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds whole russet baking potatoes

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

  • 2 egg yolks, beaten (see How to Separate Eggs)

  • Pinch kosher salt

  • Your favorite pasta sauce (for example, this basic, delicious tomato sauce)

Method

  1. Preheat the oven:

    Preheat the oven to 350°F.

  2. Bake the potatoes:

    Spear the potatoes with fork tines in several places around each potato to vent moisture as the potatoes cook.

    Bake the potatoes in their skins until tender, about an hour. Let cool on a rack, cutting them open to help cool and let more moisture escape.

    Freeze This Homemade Gnocchi Recipe for an Instant Dreamy Meal (5)

  3. Mash and fluff the potatoes:

    Work with the potatoes when they are still warm. Scoop out the potatoes from their skins. Mash the potatoes and fluff them up with a fork into a large bowl.

    (It works great to pass the potatoes through a potato ricer if you have one.)

    Freeze This Homemade Gnocchi Recipe for an Instant Dreamy Meal (6)

  4. Add the flour, egg, salt and mix into a ball of dough:

    Add the flour, beaten egg yolks, and pinch of salt. Mix by hand until you have a nice pliable ball of dough. Do not overmix.

    Freeze This Homemade Gnocchi Recipe for an Instant Dreamy Meal (7)

    Freeze This Homemade Gnocchi Recipe for an Instant Dreamy Meal (8)

  5. Roll pieces of the dough into long cylinders:

    Prepare a work area and dust it with flour. Take the dough, a piece at a time, and roll it out gently with your hands until you have rolls about 3/4 inch in diameter.

    It is very important to keep a light touch while you are rolling the dough! Gently roll the dough with your fingertips while exerting the lightest pressure outwards, not down, to draw the dough out.

    Freeze This Homemade Gnocchi Recipe for an Instant Dreamy Meal (9)

    Freeze This Homemade Gnocchi Recipe for an Instant Dreamy Meal (10)

  6. Cut the dough into pieces and form indentations:

    Cut the tubes of dough into pieces about 1 inch long. Using either the tines of a fork or your fingertip, press against a piece of the dough and roll it slightly to form an indentation (good for catching the sauce).

    As you make the gnocchi, place them on a flat baking pan that has been lightly dusted with flour or lined with waxed paper.

    Freeze This Homemade Gnocchi Recipe for an Instant Dreamy Meal (11)

    Freeze This Homemade Gnocchi Recipe for an Instant Dreamy Meal (12)

    Simple Tip!

    At this point, you can freeze the gnocchi ahead of time. Freeze them first on a floured or lined tray; once frozen, you can put them into a freezer bag for more easy storage. To cook, just put the frozen gnocchi into the simmering water for the next step.

  7. Drop the gnocchi into simmering water:

    Bring 4 quarts of salted water (1 tablespoon of salt for every 2 quarts of water) to a boil in a saucepan.

    Gently place the gnocchi, a few at a time, into the water. As soon as the gnocchi rise to the surface, remove them with a slotted spoon or spider strainer, shaking off excess water.

    Place the gnocchi on a warm serving dish. Cook the remaining gnocchi the same way.

    Freeze This Homemade Gnocchi Recipe for an Instant Dreamy Meal (13)

  8. Serve with sauce:

    Top the gnocchi with your favorite (heated) pasta sauce and serve immediately.

    Freeze This Homemade Gnocchi Recipe for an Instant Dreamy Meal (14)

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
293Calories
3g Fat
56g Carbs
10g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories293
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 3g4%
Saturated Fat 1g4%
Cholesterol 93mg31%
Sodium 69mg3%
Total Carbohydrate 56g21%
Dietary Fiber 4g15%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 10g
Vitamin C 13mg63%
Calcium 45mg3%
Iron 3mg19%
Potassium 891mg19%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

Freeze This Homemade Gnocchi Recipe for an Instant Dreamy Meal (2024)

FAQs

Can you freeze fresh homemade gnocchi? ›

Keep in mind: You can freeze any type of gnocchi that is prepared. To keep their best texture freeze them uncooked for future cooking. It's an easy way to cook them straight from the freezer to make your favorite gnocchi dish to enjoy for an easy weeknight meal.

Should frozen gnocchi be thawed before cooking? ›

Do not thaw them before cooking or they will stick together. To cook them, throw the frozen gnocchi directly into the boiling salted water without thawing. Their cooking time will be slightly longer than unfrozen but their preparation should be completed in the same manner as with fresh gnocchi.

How long do homemade gnocchi last in the fridge? ›

How to store gnocchi. Store covered in the fridge for up to three days, or freeze uncovered and separated on a tray until solid, then transfer to freezer bags or containers for up to three months.

What are the best potatoes for gnocchi? ›

Yukon Gold Potatoes are THE BEST potatoes for homemade gnocchi. They're dense, creamy, semi-waxy and do not retain too much moisture (if you love Yukon's for mashed potatoes, they make exquisite gnocchi).

How long does fresh gnocchi last in the freezer? ›

Properly stored, gnocchi can remain fresh in the freezer for up to 2 months. Follow these instructions: Lay the gnocchi out on a baking sheet in a single layer. Freeze until firm, which usually takes about 3 hours.

How long does uncooked gnocchi last in the freezer? ›

You can freeze your uncooked gnocchi by placing them in one layer on a baking sheet. Place the pan into the freezer in a level place and let the gnocchi cool until it is solid. The process can take up to 3 hours. Place them in resealable bags and air-tight containers then store for 4 to 6 weeks.

How long does it take to cook homemade frozen gnocchi? ›

To cook frozen gnocchi, simply add them directly to boiling water and cook for 2-3 minutes until they float to the top. Drain the gnocchi and serve with your desired sauce or toppings. It's important not to thaw the gnocchi before cooking them, as this can cause them to become mushy.

Can you freeze gnocchi from a packet? ›

Suitable for home freezing. Ideally freeze as soon as possible after purchase but always by 'use by' date shown. Keep refrigerated. Once opened, consume within 3 days and by 'use by' date shown.

Why did my homemade gnocchi turn to mush? ›

Your gnocchi may be mushy because of any or all of the following reasons: boiled the potatoes instead of baked them. used waxy new potatoes with too much moisture in them. not used eggs to help texture.

How to store fresh gnocchi in the freezer? ›

Once your individual gnocchi balls have frozen, you can then add them to a freezer bag without fear of them sticking together. Frozen in a sealed bag, your gnocchi should stay fresh and ready to thaw for two to three months.

Is it better to boil or fry gnocchi? ›

Boiled gnocchi can be a bit stodgy, a bit slimy, a bit heavy… fried gnocchi is perfectly crispy and fluffy and light and toasty and all sorts of other lovely adjectives.

How long does home made gnocchi last? ›

They'll even keep for 3-4 days. How do I store homemade gnocchi before cooking? Once ready you let them rest on a paper tray covered with flour, they can stay out of the fridge for a couple of hour maximum. If you put the tray in the fridge they can last 5–6 hours.

What flour is best for gnocchi? ›

You need to do plenty of that for homemade pizza dough, but you don't want to do much kneading at all when making gnocchi. Italian type 00 flours like Caputo and Anna brands produce a great result. Make sure you're buying 00 labeled for pasta and not labeled for pizza making.

What kind of sauce do you serve with gnocchi? ›

The 9 Best Sauces for Gnocchi
  • Sage and butter sauce.
  • Tomato and basil sauce.
  • Gnocchi alla Sorrentina.
  • Parmigiano Reggiano and Sage Cream.
  • Basil Pesto.
  • Pistachio Pesto.
  • Summer courgette and mint pesto.
  • Beef and Barolo wine ragù
Jan 20, 2020

How do you store fresh homemade gnocchi? ›

Keep your shaped gnocchi on a tray and place the whole thing in the freezer. Once your individual gnocchi balls have frozen, you can then add them to a freezer bag without fear of them sticking together. Frozen in a sealed bag, your gnocchi should stay fresh and ready to thaw for two to three months.

How long does uncooked homemade gnocchi last? ›

The dough should keep for around a week in the fridge before changing texture, in my experience. So a day should be fine. Yes, gnocchi store well in the fridge for a day or so, or in the freezer for longer term storage.

Can you freeze and reheat gnocchi? ›

If you've frozen the gnocchi before cooking, or even after cooking, the best way to ensure safety and efficiency when reheating them is to use the stovetop. Gnocchi should be cooked straight from the freezer. Don't cook them before defrosting. Bring six Quarts of salted water up to the point of boiling.

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