Gnocchi pasta in a savory browned butter and herb sauce. An easy but elegant dinner!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Gnocchi has quickly become a pasta favorite at our house. I love that it cooks up so quickly, which makes it perfect for busy weeknights. And this Browned Butter Gnocchi with Thyme was a huge hit with my family.
My boys especially love gnocchi, and they get excited whenever it’s on the menu. And I have to admit, those little pasta pillows are pretty wonderful.
This gnocchi recipe is especially quick and easy. But your family will think they’re eating in a five star restaurant.
There’s something about browned butter and fresh herbs that just seems gourmet.
You could certainly half this recipe if you’re only cooking for a few people. But if I use any less than two pounds of gnocchi, my hungry boys are disappointed.
The simplicity and short ingredient list really is one of the best things about this recipe. Sometimes the simplest ingredients make the best tasting meals.
The hardest things about this recipe are making sure you don’t overcook your gnocchi (it seriously only needs about a minute in boiling water), and making sure you don’t burn your butter.
But as long as you keep an eye on things, you’ll be just fine. And everyone will think you spent hours in the kitchen preparing dinner.
Like I said, gnocchi is a great ingredient if you need to get dinner on the table in a hurry. I like to keep a few packages in the freezer for quick week night meals.
It also makes a great addition to soup–just use it in place of the usual rice or noodles in a recipe.
And don’t skimp on the fresh herbs in this recipe. Since there are so few ingredients, you want to make sure everything is fresh.
If you don’t have thyme, sage is a great alternative.
Be sure to save this recipe to your favorite Pinterest board for later.
Ingredients
- Gnocchi
- Butter
- Fresh thyme
- Lemon zest
- Salt and pepper
- Parmesan cheese
Browned Butter Gnocchi with Thyme
Ingredients
For the Gnocchi:
- 2 16 oz. packages fresh gnocchi
- 2 tablespoons butter
For the Sauce:
- 6 tablespoons butter sliced
- 1 tablespoons fresh chopped thyme
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Grated Parmesan cheese for garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add gnocchi and cook for 1-2 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Meanwhile, melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet. Add gnocchi to the skillet in batches and saute for 2-3 minutes or until lightly browned. Transfer gnocchi to a plate and keep warm as you work.
- In the same skillet, add the 6 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat. When the butter has melted, stir in the thyme. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the butter is a light golden brown.
- Remove from heat and stir in the gnocchi and lemon zest. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Garnish with grated Parmesan, if desired. Serve immediately.
Video
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
Nutrition
If you love this recipe, you might also like:
More Delicious Pasta Recipes
Cheesy Gnocchi and Sausage Skillet
Tender gnocchi pasta with Italian sausage and cheese cooks up in one skillet for a quick and easy meal!
Classic Southern Mac and Cheese
With two kinds of cheese, crispy bacon, and a crunchy breadcrumb topping, this class macaroni and cheese recipe is the ultimate comfort food.
Mozzarella Basil Gnocchi
Gnocchi, pasta sauce, fresh mozzarella cheese and basil come together in this quick and easy dish that everyone loves!
Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Rigatoni
Chicken is slow cooked in a creamy buffalo sauce, then paired with rigatoni pasta and topped with blue cheese crumbles and chopped green onion in this hearty dinner favorite.
One Pot Spicy Chicken Riggies
This one pot meal features rigatoni pasta and chicken in a spicy tomato cream sauce.
Easy Baked Mac and Cheese
Made with four kinds of cheese and a buttery breadcrumb topping, this delicious, creamy mac and cheese is sure to be a favorite of both kids and adults alike.
3 comments
Holly
This was really good. My husband and I loved it. The kids liked it as well. Great recipe!
bethy
what kind of vegetables should be served with this?
Danelle
You could really serve this with any vegetable.