This Creamy Baked Gnocchi with Spicy Vodka Sauce is rich and velvety. Salty pancetta and fluffy gnocchi are cooked in an easy vodka sauce, and topped with mozzarella cheese – baked until bubbly. This cozy and cheesy gnocchi is ready in 30 minutes and made in one pan, perfect for oven-to-table dining.
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We all have that dish. You know, the one you have on rotation when you want something quick and easy. Ours is this creamy baked gnocchi with spicy vodka sauce. Using premade fluffy potato gnocchi that cooks right in our homemade pasta sauce, it’s a simple weeknight dinner recipe that comes together quickly and is made in one pan for easy cleanup – you’re welcome.
Speaking of homemade vodka sauce. Using simple pantry ingredients of onion, garlic, tomato, vodka, basil, and red pepper flakes (we added pancetta for additional aromatics), this spicy vodka sauce is quick to make, full of flavor, and has a rich and velvety base to the fluffy gnocchi. Serve this creamy gnocchi alla vodka in a shallow bowl with parmesan cheese, fresh basil, and red pepper flakes – oh, and crusty bread to soak up all of that sauce!
Baked gnocchi works as a quick weeknight recipe, a fancy date night recipe, and is approved as a kid-friendly recipe, too. If you are serving this to little ones, while technically the alcohol does cook out of the sauce before serving, omit the vodka if it makes you more comfortable.
If you love our Creamy Baked Gnocchi with Spicy Vodka Sauce recipe as much as we do, try our One-Pot Gnocchi with Creamy Lemon Sauce, Gluten-Free Gnocchi, or our Butternut Squash Gnocchi.
Ingredient List
- Gnocchi: use fresh gnocchi if available, but frozen or dried will work too.
- Pancetta: Italian cured meat widely available in most grocery stores. Bacon is a common substitution but will give the recipe a smokey flavor.
- Onion: use the smallest onion you can find, you don't want it to overpower the sauce.
- Garlic: one large or two small cloves minced or crushed.
- Tomatoes: whole canned tomatoes, Italian San Marzano if available.
- Vodka: only cook with alcohol you would also drink, so use your preferred brand. Substitute non-alcoholic vodka, white wine, or stock.
- Basil: fresh basil, always.
- Heavy cream: 35% or higher if available, but lighter cream will work as well.
- Parmesan: Parmigiano-Reggiano, freshly grated at home is best, but pre-grated will work.
- Mozzarella cheese: look for fresh mozzarella packed in liquid. We love to use buffalo mozzarella for this recipe.
- Salt: kosher or sea salt.
- Red pepper flakes: for heat, we like a spicy vodka sauce.
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
Recipe Steps: How to Make Creamy Baked Gnocchi with Spicy Vodka Sauce
1. Brown pancetta and aromatics.
In a large high-sided saute pan or Dutch oven, cook pancetta over medium-high heat until browned. Add in the onion and garlic and cook until softened.
2. Make the vodka sauce.
Pour in the tomatoes, vodka, and cream, then stir in the basil. Bring to a gentle boil and season with salt.
3. Cook the gnocchi.
Add the gnocchi to the vodka sauce and cook for 7 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until the sauce is thickened and the gnocchi is soft to the bite.
4. Add the cheese.
Once the gnocchi is cooked, stir in half the parmesan. Top with remaining parmesan, and torn pieces of mozzarella. Sprinkle with chili flakes and additional salt if needed.
5. Bake the gnocchi.
Place the pan under a preheated broiler, set to high, until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and starting to brown.
6. Style and serve.
Remove the pan from the oven and place it in the center of your dining table for family-style eating or serve individual portions with additional parm, basil, and chili flakes.
Chef's Tips
Add the pancetta to the pan before turning the heat on. This allows the fat to render from the meat slowly, resulting in a crisp exterior and tender bite to the pancetta.
Depending on the thickness of the juice in the tomatoes, you may need to add liquid, such as stock, white wine, or water, to the sauce as the gnocchi cooks to ensure the sauce stays thin enough to cook the gnocchi.
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Recipe Card
Baked Gnocchi with Vodka Cream Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 lb gnocchi fresh, dry, or frozen
- 4 oz pancetta diced
- 1 small onion diced (about ¼ cup)
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 can whole tomatoes mashed (28oz/796ml)
- ¼ cup vodka
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 sprig basil finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon red chili flakes
- 4 oz Parmigiano-Reggiano grated
- 4 oz buffalo mozzarella torn into 6-8 pieces
Instructions
- Place the diced pancetta in a deep skillet or pot. Turn the heat to medium-high and cook until crisp, about 5 minutes. Add the onion and garlic, and cook an additional 3 minutes, stirring every 30- 40 seconds, until softened.
- Pour in the tomatoes, vodka, and cream, then stir in the basil. Bring to a gentle boil and season with salt.
- Add the gnocchi to the vodka sauce and cook for 7 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until the sauce is thickened and the gnocchi is soft to the bite.
- Meanwhile, preheat your oven to a high broil.
- Once the gnocchi is cooked, stir in half the parmesan. Top with remaining parmesan, and torn pieces of mozzarella. Sprinkle with chili flakes and additional salt if needed.
- Transfer the gnocchi to the oven to broil until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and browning around the edges.
- Serve with an additional garnish of chili flakes, basil, and parmesan.
Heidy L. McCallum says
Baked Gnocchi with Vodka Sauce and Pancetta sound like heaven, I have been craving a good Gnocchi dish and I think I may have found the perfect thing to fix that craving. Yum'd for later.
Chef Sous Chef says
Awesome! Let us know what you think once you make it.
Jacqueline Meldrum says
I've just been watching Jamie Oliver on TV making gnocchi and have decided to make it for dinner. Now I have seen your sauce however I may have to change my plan for the sauce.
Chef Sous Chef says
LOL.... this is definitely a perfect sauce for gnocchi!
Jillian says
Gnocchi is a long time favorite of mine! This cheesy, savory dish looks amazing - YUM!
Chef Sous Chef says
Thanks Jillian. All gnocchi is a favourite of ours too, and this is our favourite way of enjoying it
Allison - Celebrating Sweets says
OMG! I'd take this over penne any day! I love how saucy it is - it's absolutely perfect!
Chef Sous Chef says
Lol... no knock on penne but gnocchi is definitely better ?
MARISA says
Love that you're using store-bought gnocchi to make this recipe so easy because I am allll about this SAUCE! Do you find that the frozen ones are too watery for the dish?
Chef Sous Chef says
You'll love the sauce Marisa - so, so good. For frozen gnocchi, you do run the risk of it being a little watery, but just make sure they are very well drained before adding them to the sauce and you should be good.
Tara | Smells Like Home says
I'm a HUGE gnocchi fan and this recipe is right up my alley! Adding vodka to the sauce automatically turns the meal into a special one and since I can never turn down an alla vodka recipe, this one is going on my menu for this weekend right.this.second. Thanks for sharing!! (and GORGEOUS photos!!)
Chef Sous Chef says
Thanks Tara. It's such a simple recipe. Enjoy and please let us know what you think!
Juliana says
I watched your Instagram live show and made this dish and it was AMAZING! We loved it and can't wait to make it again.
Chef Sous Chef says
Amazing! Thanks for tuning in to #cookingliveafterfive! We're so glad you enjoyed the recipe.