Air Fryer Gnocchi takes frozen, shelf-stable, or chilled gnocchi and makes them crispy on the outside and soft on the inside in just 10 minutes with 2 ingredients! Then dress them with your favorite seasonings, sauces, or toppings for a quick and tasty meal.
Gnocchi is awesome. I think we can all agree on that, right?
But you can up your midweek dinner game by making your gnocchi in the air fryer!
It is soooo quick and easy, plus it gets crispy outside and soft and tender inside. Bliss.
Plus, Air Fried Gnocchi is the perfect vehicle for your favorite sauces or seasonings. Get creative!
You can cook frozen, chilled, or shelf-stable gnocchi in the air fryer in just 10 minutes or less. And you don't need to boil it first!
One of the many reasons why I love my air fryer so much is that it’s able to cook foods straight from frozen.
This means I’m able to get healthy food on the table FAST which is great when you’re running a busy family!
I decided to try out the frozen cauliflower gnocchi from Trader Joe’s because people rave about it. I tried cooking it the old-fashioned way by boiling it with pasta and it wasn’t great. But then, I tried crisping it up in my air fryer and it was perfect!
They were nice and crunchy on the outside while keeping their soft pasta texture on the inside. Since then, I've made gnocchi in the air fryer loads of times, trying regular potato gnocchi, chilled and homemade!
I also tried this method with other varieties of gnocchi and had the same result.
Once you cook your gnocchi in the air fryer, you’ll never go back!
Don't have an air fryer? Try my pan fried gnocchi recipe.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients & Tools
- Step By Step Tutorial
- Best Time & Temperature to Air Fry Gnocchi
- Tips
- Serving Suggestions
- Ways To Flavor Air Fryer Gnocchi
- Special diets
- Storage
- What is an Air Fryer?
- Why Should I Use an Air Fryer?
- FAQs
- More Air Fryer Recipes
- More Quick Dinners
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Why You'll Love This Recipe
The texture of air-fried gnocchi is unmatched. There are crispy bits and soft bits that make turn this pasta into something special.
If you’re cooking the gnocchi in your air fryer, there’s less cleanup since you don’t have to drag out a pot or boil any water.
It’s fast! Even frozen, this gnocchi cooks through in just 10 minutes or sometimes less which makes it the perfect option for a busy weeknight.
You don't need to pre-boil the gnocchi.
Gnocchi is a great vehicle for flavor because it soaks up whatever you put on it making it a truly versatile dish.
Ingredients & Tools
- Air Fryer - For this recipe, you’ll need an air fryer. There are so many out there to choose from these days, but they all work basically the same, using hot air to fry without much oil!
- Gnocchi - You’ll need a bag of your favorite frozen, chilled or shelf-stable gnocchi to use this method. You can find it at most grocery stores. Or try making your own sweet potato gnocchi.
- Oil - Coat the gnocchi in a little bit of oil to help it get that crispy texture on the outside.
Step By Step Tutorial
Follow this step-by-step photo tutorial, then scroll down to the recipe card for the full ingredients list and method.
Prep the gnocchi by tossing it into a bowl with the oil, to coat it.
Place the gnocchi into the basket of the air fryer. It’s okay if it’s not quite in a single layer.
Air fry for 10-12 minutes depending on which kind you’re using, tossing or stirring occassionally.
Check during cooking and cook for more or less time if necessary.
Best Time & Temperature to Air Fry Gnocchi
- Chilled Gnocchi - 10 minutes at 400°F
- Frozen Gnocchi - 12 minutes at 400°F
- Shelf Stable Gnocchi - 8 minutes at 400°F
Tips
While most foods cooked in the air fryer require it to be in a single layer, it doesn’t need to be in this method. They can overlap a bit.
Every air fryer is different. Some run hotter than others so it’s possible that you may need more or less cooking time depending on the air fryer and size of the basket. Always check around the 8-minute mark to see where they are at. You want them to be golden brown but not dark or burnt.
Season the gnocchi AFTER cooking as that’s when it will be best to soak up any flavors or mix-ins you add to it.
Serving Suggestions
Toss them in a Creamy Pistachio Sauce for a decadent pasta meal.
Mix in with Roasted Brussels Sprouts for a starchy component to this veggie side.
Make it a Tuscan dinner by tossing in spinach, sun-dried tomato and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
Serve them as a snack with French Onion Dip, Zax Sauce, Alabama White Sauce or Homemade Ketchup.
They taste great tossed in a Green Salad as a crouton substitute.
Ways To Flavor Air Fryer Gnocchi
Since gnocchi is a blank flavor canvas, you can add different flavors and mix-ins to customize this dish. Check out some ideas below!
Top it with a cheese sauce for a twist on mac n cheese.
Go classic and top with marinara and grated parmesan.
Add a bit of ghee and curry seasoning for an Indian-inspired gnocchi dish.
Dust with a little Old Bay Seasoning or Baharat spice blend for extra flavor.
Make it a sweet crunchy treat by tossing them with cinnamon and sugar.
Spice them up by tossing them with cayenne pepper.
Make gnocchi alfredo by mixing them with your favorite alfredo sauce.
Special diets
Gluten-Free: You'll need to check labels and buy some without gluten, or make your own gluten-free gnocchi. Trader Joe’s cauliflower gnocchi is gluten-free. You can also check specialty grocery stores like Whole Foods, and many larger supermarkets and grocery stores as they often sell some suitable versions.
Vegan: To make this recipe vegan, check your labels on the gnocchi you are using to make sure it is suitable.
Storage
Storing: Air-fried gnocchi can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave or back in the air fryer until warmed through.
Freezing: If your gnocchi was frozen before cooking, it would change the texture if it was frozen again. Therefore, freezing is not recommended.
What is an Air Fryer?
An Air Fryer is a healthier alternative to frying food.
Instead of deep-frying or shallow frying, both of which use lots of oil, an air fryer uses circulated hot air to cook the food, allowing you to use little or no oil.
An air fryer is essentially a small electric convection oven that sits on your countertop.
When it circulates hot air inside the machine, food gets crispy, similarly to fried food, but without submerging the food in all the greasy oil!
Why Should I Use an Air Fryer?
I am a huge fan of the Air Fryer for so many reasons!
- It's healthier since it uses a LOT less oil than pan-frying or deep frying.
- Air Frying cooks food FAST.
- You don't need to heat the oven, so the house stays cool on warm days.
- It's EASY to use and quick to clean up.
FAQs
You can cook Trader Joe’s frozen cauliflower gnocchi (or their chocolate gnocchi or stuffed gnocchi) in the air fryer, straight from frozen. Toss the frozen gnocchi in a little oil, add to the air fryer basket and cook at 400F/200C for 12 minutes, tossing every 3 minutes. Check regularly to see if it's done and adjust timings as necessary.
You don’t need to, but it will help cut down the cooking time a bit and may help to get a better crust on your gnocchi.
I don’t recommend using foil, especially for this recipe. You’ll need the dry heat to circulate all around the gnocchi to cook it properly and foil could block that.
Whether your gnocchi is frozen, chilled, or shelf-stable, you don't need to pre-boil it. Just add it to the air fryer and adjust the cooking time accordingly.
More Air Fryer Recipes
Air Fryers are so versatile! Check out these other recipes that you can make in yours!
More Quick Dinners
You can make this easy Air Fryer Gnocchi in just 10 minutes for a quick midweek meal. Check out these other fast dinner recipes. All ready in under 15 minutes!
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📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Gnocchi
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 16 oz (1lb/450g) gnocchi works for frozen, shelf-stable and chilled
- 1 tablespoon canola or vegetable oil
Serving suggestion:
- 2 cups spinach chopped
- 1 tablespoon sun-dried tomatoes chopped
- 1 tablespoon Parmesan
- Salt & pepper
Instructions
- Heat the air fryer to 400°F/200°C.
- Add the gnocchi to a bowl and toss with the oil. (Tip: No need to pre-boil the gnocchi, whether it's frozen, chilled or shelf-stable.)
- Place the gnocchi into the basket of the air fryer. It’s okay if it’s not a single layer.
- Cook for 10 minutes for chilled (or 12 minutes frozen, 8 minutes shelf-stable), shaking the basket every 3 minutes.
- Check during cooking and cook for more or less time if necessary. You want it golden but not too dark.
- Serve warm and enjoy!
- Serving suggestion: Toss the hot gnocchi with chopped fresh spinach to wilt it slightly, then stir in the sun dried tomatoes and a little of the oil from the jar. Sprinkle it with parmesan, salt and pepper.
Video
Notes
- Chilled Gnocchi - 10 minutes at 400F
- Frozen Gnocchi - 12 minutes at 400F
- Shelf Stable Gnocchi - 8 minutes at 400F
- While most foods cooked in the air fryer require it to be in a single layer, it doesn’t need to be in this method. They can overlap a bit as they will shrink when cooking.
- Every air fryer is different. Some run hotter than others so it’s possible that you may need more or less cooking time depending on the air fryer and size of the basket. Always check around the 8-minute mark to see where they are at. You want them to be golden brown but not dark or burnt.
- Season the gnocchi AFTER cooking as that’s when it will be best to soak up any flavors or mix-ins you add to it.
- Toss them in a Creamy Pistachio Sauce for a decadent pasta meal.
- Mix in with Roasted Brussels Sprouts for a starchy component to this veggie side.
- Make it a Tuscan dinner by tossing in spinach, sun-dried tomato and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
- Serve them as a snack with French Onion Dip.
- They taste great tossed in a Green Salad as a crouton substitute.
- Go classic and top with marinara and grated parmesan.
- Add a bit of ghee and curry seasoning for an Indian-inspired gnocchi dish.
- Make it a sweet crunchy treat by tossing them with cinnamon and sugar.
- Spice them up by tossing them with cayenne pepper.
- Make gnocchi alfredo by mixing them with your favorite alfredo sauce.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.
Angela
I am always so happy to find great recipes for the air fryer! It has become one of my favorite kitchen appliances. These gnocchi cooked so fast and came out great.
Emily Flint
What a creative recipe! I love that I can make this classic recipe in my air fryer. We will be making this again and again in my house!
Beth Sachs
Love this idea! So quick and easy and perfect for a quick midweek meal. Glad I invested in an air fryer!
Lindsay
I just love how the air fryer can cook just about anything! These look amazing and I'll be trying this method as soon as I go to the store for some gnocchi.
Carrie Robinson
So smart to make gnocchi in the air fryer! What a genius idea. 🙂