Gnocchi with White Beans

Some days call for saucy, satisfying, effortless dinners, and gnocchi with white beans truly fits the bill. This 30-minute meal requires only one pan and a short list of ingredients. Use premade gnocchi for ease, cannellini beans and diced tomatoes for heft and flavor, and a handful of spinach for color and nutritional balance. The beans get equal billing to the gnocchi, holding their shape, soaking up the tomato-garlic juices, and lending gentle, earthy richness that makes the sauce taste slow-simmered. Shredded mozzarella goes stretchy and Parmesan adds a salty snap. You need little else for a delicious weeknight meal that gets raves from everyone at the table (even if it’s just you).

Ingredients for Gnocchi with White Beans

• Olive oil: Fruity, peppery olive oil adds savory depth and a silky body that fills out the sauce.
• Onion: Onion builds a sweet, savory base as it softens and turns translucent. The gentle caramelization adds depth that balances the bright tomatoes. White or yellow onions are the best types of onions for this recipe.
• Garlic: Garlic’s pungency sharpens the flavors so the sauce doesn’t taste flat.
• Potato gnocchi: Look for packaged gnocchi in the grocery store’s pasta aisle or frozen food section. These tender dumplings become golden and lightly crisp at the edges when pan-seared.
• Cannellini beans: Creamy cannellini beans add protein and fiber for a heartier, more satisfying skillet. Their starch also subtly thickens the pan juices.
• Italian diced tomatoes: The tomatoes provide juicy acidity and sweetness to form the sauce in the skillet. The Italian-style seasoning in the can brings built-in herbs and savory depth. If you only have unseasoned diced tomatoes, add a few shakes of Italian seasoning blend.
• Fresh baby spinach: This tender green wilts into the hot pan for a pop of freshness. Fresh baby spinach wilts more easily, but you can use chopped regular spinach.
• Pepper: Pepper adds gentle heat and a spice backbone that lifts the tomatoes and cheese. A small amount balances richness without overwhelming the other flavors.
• Part-skim mozzarella cheese: The mild cheese melts into stretchy strands that blanket the gnocchi and bind the skillet together. Its mild, milky flavor softens the acidity of the tomatoes.
• Grated Parmesan cheese: Savory Parmesan brings a salty, umami punch to finish the dish. A sprinkle helps the melted top taste nuttier and more complex.

Directions

Step 1: Saute the aromatics

In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion, and cook and stir it until it’s tender. Add the garlic, and cook it with the onion for one minute longer.

Step 2: Add the gnocchi and beans

Add the gnocchi. Cook and stir it for five to six minutes or until it’s golden brown. Stir in the beans, tomatoes, spinach and pepper, and heat them through.

Step 2: Melt the cheeses

Sprinkle the mixture with the cheeses, cover the pan and remove it from thez heat. Let it stand for three to four minutes or until the cheese is melted.

Gnocchi with White Beans Variations

• Add some heat: Stir in crushed red pepper flakes or a spoonful of Calabrian chile paste with the garlic for gentle, lingering spice.
• Make it extra creamy: Melt in a dollop of mascarpone or a splash of heavy cream off the heat to create a lush, velvety sauce.
• Brown some sausage: Cook crumbled sweet or hot Italian sausage before the onion, then proceed with the recipe and fold everything together.
• Swap the greens: Use chopped kale or Swiss chard instead of spinach and simmer a minute longer so the stems turn tender.

How to Store Gnocchi with White Beans

To store gnocchi with white beans, let it cool, then transfer it to an airtight container with any saucy juices so the pasta stays tender. For the best quality, refrigerate it within two hours of cooking. Store it in the refrigerator for up to four days.

How should you reheat gnocchi with white beans?

To reheat gnocchi with white beans on the stovetop, add a splash of water or broth to a skillet, stir in the leftovers, cover the pan, and warm the mixture over medium heat for a few minutes, stirring once or twice. To heat it in the microwave, add a teaspoon or two of water, cover the container loosely, and heat it at 50% power for one to two minutes, stirring halfway.

Gnocchi with White Beans Tips

Can I use homemade gnocchi for this recipe?

We don’t recommend using homemade gnocchi for this dish. Packaged gnocchi work better here because homemade gnocchi are very soft and tend to fall apart when pan-seared and stirred with the beans, tomatoes and spinach. For the right texture and easy browning, stick with store-bought gnocchi here.

What can you serve with gnocchi and white beans?

Serve gnocchi and white beans with a green salad and warm garlic bread to swipe up the saucy bits. Roasted broccoli or zucchini, a caprese salad, or an antipasto plate would all be good pairings with gnocchi with white beans.