Many times I have wondered what to serve with gnocchi. What side dish can perfectly complement the bite-sized pasta that I love so much?
When picking a gnocchi side dish, think about the flavor of the pasta and also the texture. When served plain, gnocchi has a mild, potato-like flavor. It goes well with many other strong tastes.
Gnocchi is soft, tender, and actually quite filling. Lighter side dishes, like salad and steamed vegetables, are great next to this hearty entree.
Homemade Italian Gnocchi with Red Sauce and Cheese
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What to Eat with Gnocchi
We have found 20 different side dishes that will answer the question of what to serve with gnocchi. From simple sauteed kale to amazing cheesy asparagus, there is something on this list for everyone.
Take a look at these delicious side dishes, and then get out your homemade gnocchi recipe. It’s time to make the perfect meal!
1. Sauteed Brussels Sprouts
The first side dish on our list of what to serve with gnocchi is our simple sauteed Brussels sprouts recipe. All you need to make this easy recipe is:
- Brussels sprouts
- coconut oil
- lime juice
- salt and pepper
- garlic
Brussels sprouts have a powerful flavor. They are pungent, nutty, and a little sweet. The powerful flavor goes well with mild potato gnocchi.
To make this easy recipe, the sprouts are sauteed in a hot skillet with all the other ingredients. The browned Brussels sprouts are served hot next to tender gnocchi. Add a little parmesan cheese to both the entre and the side dish, and your meal is complete!
2. Parmesan Garlic Roasted Tomatoes
Gnocchi is often served in tomato sauce. The flavor of tomatoes goes very well with the Italian entree. This recipe for parmesan garlic roasted tomatoes from The Recipe Critic is the perfect side for gnocchi.
Thick slices of tomatoes are tossed in olive oil, minced garlic, parmesan cheese, and Italian seasoning. The tomatoes are roasted until soft and tender. The roasted tomatoes are so soft that they can almost pass as a sauce for the gnocchi, rather than a side dish!
This side dish only takes about 5 minutes to put together. It is an easy and flavorful option and the perfect answer to what to serve with gnocchi.
Image Source: The Recipe Critic
3. Cheesy Garlic Roasted Asparagus
Serving a veggie next to gnocchi is always a good idea. A healthy vegetable rounds out the meal wonderfully. This recipe for cheesy garlic roasted asparagus from Cafe Delites is nutritious but also quite decadent.
Asparagus spears are trimmed and tossed in olive oil, salt, and pepper. The seasoned asparagus is spread on a sheet tray and sprinkled with shredded mozzarella cheese. The veggie is roasted until the cheese has melted and is beginning to brown.
Serve this tasty side dish with your favorite gnocchi recipes. Some tomato sauce on your gnocchi or some grated parmesan cheese would make your cheesy meal complete!
Image Source: Cafe Delites
4. Garlic Bread
Almost all Italian meals are served with a side of garlic bread. Garlic bread compliments pasta dishes so well! You can sop up any extra sauce using your bread. It is the perfect way to ensure you enjoy every single bite!
We love this homemade garlic bread recipe from Budget Bytes. Butter and olive oil are spread across tender French bread. Chopped garlic is sprinkled on the bread and then toasted.
Add chopped parsley to make the bread restaurant-worthy. This recipe tastes delicious alongside homemade gnocchi. It is a true Italian dish!
Image Source: Budget Bytes
5. Skillet Green Beans
Simple sauteed green beans are a perfect side dish to serve with gnocchi. The bright flavor of green beans pairs wonderfully with dense potato gnocchi.
This skillet green bean recipe from Healthy Seasonal Recipes is simple yet tasty. Olive oil and a few herbs and spices are all you need to make this side dish. Fresh green beans are best and will have a nice crunchy texture that goes well with soft gnocchi.
Image Source: Healthy Seasonal Recipes
6. Roasted Broccoli
Roasted broccoli has an unbeatable taste. This broccoli from Recipe Tin Eats has an incredible taste that is almost magical. You won’t be able to resist the perfectly cooked veggie!
Broccoli florets are roasted until the edges are crispy. A little sprinkle of cheesy goodness and some pepper and salt are all the seasonings you need. Lemon juice brightens up the whole dish.
The strong taste of broccoli goes so well with the simple, delicious taste of gnocchi. Adding a brightly colored veggie to your gnocchi plate is always a good idea!
Image Source: Recipe Tin Eats
7. Grilled Eggplant
This delicious grilled eggplant from Diethood is easy to make. The simple garlic taste pairs wonderfully with the eggplant and with gnocchi.
This veggie recipe is nice because it is free of breading. So many eggplant sides use breadcrumbs which can be too hearty. This side dish focuses on the light taste of the vegetable.
Sprinkle a little feta on top to make a fantastic, flavorful first course. This recipe keeps the purple pee on the eggplant. However, you can choose to remove the peel for a more tender veggie.
Image Source: Diethood
8. Creamy Sauteed Mushrooms
Simply Delicious will show you how to make creamy, cheesy mushrooms that go perfectly with almost every gnocchi recipe. You can even use the mushroom cream sauce to top the gnocchi.
Small, whole mushrooms are sauteed in butter and garlic. Oregano and parsley are the main herbs in the dish. Add a pinch of chili flakes to give the mushrooms a spicy kick.
Baby portobello is a wonderful mushroom choice. This recipe uses small, whole mushrooms, but it would definitely be delicious with sliced mushrooms. Almost any kind of mushroom will work! Pick your favorite to really give this side your personal touch. A creamy mushroom sauce is comfort food at its finest.
Image Source: Simply Delicious
9. Marinara Sauce
A simple marinara sauce may be the best answer to what to serve with gnocchi. Try this easy-to-follow recipe from Natasha’s Kitchen.
Pasta is often served with tomato sauce piled on top. This is a true Italian dish! This one-pan recipe uses canned crushed tomatoes, lots of basil, and chopped onion. It only takes about 30 minutes to make!
The marinara sauce also makes a great dip. If you want to whip up other sides, like fried calamari or mozzarella sticks, you can use the marinara sauce for dipping, too. Multi-purpose recipes are the best!
Image Source: Natasha’s Kitchen
10. Sauteed Kale
Adding a healthy green vegetable to your plate of gnocchi is a good idea. We love this recipe from Spend With Pennies that makes nutritious kale super tasty. The secret ingredient is bacon!
Bacon is cooked in a skillet, and then the kale is added in. Tossing the kale in the bacon grease gives the veggie fantastic flavors and also helps make it tender. Chop the kale into small pieces and toss it together with your cooked gnocchi recipes.
Image Source: Spend With Pennies
11. Homemade Pesto
Making fresh pesto is surprisingly easy. You don’t even have to turn on the stove to cook! Just puree all of the ingredients together and pour it over your gnocchi to make a classic entree.
Here is what you need to make this pesto recipe from Love and Lemons:
- garlic
- parmesan
- lemon juice
- basil
- nuts
- pepper and salt
- olive oil
Combine everything in a food processor or blender until nice and smooth. The bright, blood taste of pesto will make your gnocchi entree complete.
Image Source: Love and Lemons
12. Blue Cheese Wedge Salad
If you like crunchy lettuce sides, then this recipe from Foodie Crush is for you! A large wedge of crisp iceberg lettuce is smothered in creamy blue cheese. Use this recipe to make your own homemade dressing or use store-bought dressing for a faster option.
Fresh cherry tomatoes, bacon bits, and simple spices add even more interest to the salad. We love making salad as a side because there is no cooking required!
Gnocchi has such a simple taste that any strong food will pair well with the pasta. This easy salad is complimentary to any gnocchi recipe.
Image Source: Foodie Crush
13. Caprese Salad
Fresh mozzarella and garden-ripe tomatoes make an amazing side dish for gnocchi. This is a perfect option for the summer when tomatoes are in season.
We like the recipe from Dinner at the Zoo, which also adds crumbled bacon to the salad. Skip the bacon if you are making a vegetarian meal. Use sliced mozzarella if you can’t find the bite-sized balls.
Image Source: Dinner at the Zoo
14. Brown Butter Sauce
Consider serving the entree with a brown butter sauce if you want a classic, traditional gnocchi entree. This recipe from Simply Recipes will show you how!
Browned butter has a nutty, sweet flavor. It is very easy to make as it only requires one main ingredient- butter! We like to add fresh chopped sage to the butter as it cooks, adding a nice fall flavor to the sauce. Brown butter sage is fall flavors at its finest.
Image Source: Simply Recipes
15. Simple Buttery Peas
This recipe from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe is made with fresh or frozen peas. The veggie is cooked in butter and chopped thyme. The herb adds a nice Italian twist to the peas.
Use these peas as the answer to the question of what to serve with gnocchi. You can also mix the gnocchi with the peas and butter.
Image Source: Mel’s Kitchen Cafe
16. Sauteed Spinach
Spinach is a wonderful light side to serve with hearty gnocchis. This quick recipe from Jessica Gavin will help you cook spinach perfectly. You only need one pan!
Once the spinach has wilted, a little lemon juice is mixed in. This brightens the dish wonderfully. It also helps balance the rich taste of gnocchi made with potatoes.
Image Source:
17. Green Salad
Still looking for ideas for what to serve with gnocchi? A delicious salad like this one from Cookie and Kate is a great idea! It is classic green salad at its finest.
Make this side salad in the fall when dried cranberries, apples, and pumpkin seeds are the flavors of the season. Gnocchis served with a delicious salad is a perfect pairing. This is a combination you would see on a restaurant menu!
Image Source: Cookie and Kate
18. Roasted Cauliflower
We love serving gnocchi with nutritious vegetables. Cauliflower is a very healthy side dish idea. Try this recipe from The Modern Proper to make crunchy, roasted cauliflower.
Cauliflower florets are sprinkled with smoked paprika and garlic powder. Add a little chili powder to give the veggie a light spice. Pop the tray of cauliflower into your oven to roast while you whip up your favorite gnocchi recipes. All you need is one pan to make this side!
Image Source: The Modern Proper
19. White Bean Salad
White bean salad with salty prosciutto and arugula is a great springtime side dish. The recipe may be simple, but the result looks like a meal straight off a restaurant menu!
White beans and prosciutto both add protein to your gnocchi dinner. The lemon vinaigrette is nice and light. This Mediterranean salad from Inspired Taste is a wonderful addition to any of your favorite gnocchi recipes.
Image Source: Inspired Taste
20. Tomato Cream Sauce
Rather than using a light marinara sauce for your gnocchi, try making a rich tomato cream sauce. The cream sauce will give your gnocchi dinner a delicious taste that you won’t be able to resist.
Choosing the right sauces for pasta is essential to creating a great meal. This creamy tomato sauce from The Pioneer Woman is incredible. The beautiful orange color will make your dinner fun and exciting. The cream in the tomato sauce gives it the perfect texture.
This creamy sauce is delicious any time of year. It is great for summer gnocchi recipes when tomatoes are fresh. It is also perfect for winter dinners when you may want a richer dinner course. We love recipe ideas that are year-round options!
You can make this sauce in under 30 minutes. That means your main course will be ready in just a matter of minutes! Easy dinner ideas are perfect for busy weeknights.
Image Source: The Pioneer Woman
Side Dish Ideas for Gnocchi Recipes
Gnocchi is a great dinner idea any time of year. There are so many perfect sides that you can serve with your favorite Italian comfort food.
Give these delicious recipes a try and let us know which you love best. Will you try one of the quick sauces first or go for a fun vegetable side? Let us know which recipes you love the best! Enjoy.
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