30 Minute Creamy Tomato Gnocchi with Burrata Recipe
A quick and comforting 30-minute creamy tomato gnocchi dish topped with fresh burrata and basil. This recipe features a jammy tomato sauce enriched with garlic and cream, tossed with tender gnocchi for a perfect weeknight dinner.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 6 to 8 garlic cloves, peeled and lightly crushed
- 2 pints cherry tomatoes
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
Gnocchi and Toppings
- 2 (16-oz.) packages potato gnocchi (preferably DeLallo brand)
- 2 (4-oz.) balls fresh burrata cheese
- 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, sliced or torn
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. While waiting, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the garlic cloves and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Increase heat to medium and add the cherry tomatoes. Cook, stirring occasionally, until most tomatoes break down into a jammy sauce, about 10 to 12 minutes. If garlic starts to burn, lower heat to medium-low. Season with red pepper flakes (if using), kosher salt, and black pepper. Reduce heat to medium-low and stir in heavy cream to enrich the sauce.
- Cook the gnocchi: Once the water boils, add the gnocchi and cook according to package instructions until al dente, usually 2 to 3 minutes until they float to the surface. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water before draining the gnocchi.
- Toss sauce and gnocchi: Transfer the cooked gnocchi and reserved cooking water into the skillet with the tomato cream sauce. Toss continuously over medium-low heat until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy, about 2 minutes. Stir in fresh basil leaves, reserving some for garnish.
- Add burrata and serve: Break the burrata balls into pieces and evenly disperse them over the gnocchi. Remove the skillet from heat and garnish with the reserved basil leaves. Serve immediately while warm and creamy.
Notes
- Reserving pasta water helps to loosen and blend the sauce perfectly with the gnocchi.
- You can omit red pepper flakes for a milder flavor.
- Use fresh burrata for the best creamy texture; mozzarella can be a substitute if needed.
- Gnocchi cooks quickly; watch closely to prevent overcooking.
- For a dairy-free version, substitute heavy cream with coconut cream and omit burrata.
Keywords: creamy tomato gnocchi, burrata, quick Italian dinner, gnocchi recipe, cherry tomato sauce, easy weeknight meal
