Description
Creamy skillet gnocchi mac and cheese delivers comfort in one delightful pan. Rich cheese sauce and pillowy potato dumplings create a hearty meal home cooks can quickly prepare and savor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 packages (16 oz / 454 g) potato gnocchi (fresh or frozen)
- 8 oz (226 g) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (about 2.5 packed cups)
- 3 cups (720 ml) whole or 2% milk
- 6 tbsps (85 g) unsalted butter
- ¾ cup (75 g) Parmesan cheese, grated
- ⅓ cup (40 g) all-purpose flour
- 2 tsps Dijon mustard
- ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ tsp paprika
- ⅓ tsp kosher salt, plus more for pasta water
- Fresh basil or parsley leaves, finely chopped (for serving)
Instructions
- Prep Gnocchi: Bring salted water to a rolling boil and cook gnocchi until they float effortlessly, about 2-4 minutes. Drain thoroughly in a colander.
- Create Roux: Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat, then whisk in flour to create a smooth, pale base, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
- Build Cheese Sauce: Gradually pour milk into the roux, whisking vigorously until the mixture thickens. Reduce heat and blend in sharp cheddar cheese until fully melted and glossy.
- Season and Enhance: Incorporate Dijon mustard, black pepper, and paprika, mixing thoroughly to distribute flavors evenly. Fold in half the Parmesan cheese to deepen the sauce’s complexity.
- Combine and Finish: Gently fold gnocchi into the creamy cheese sauce, ensuring each dumpling is luxuriously coated. Optional: Sprinkle remaining Parmesan and broil for 2-3 minutes until golden and crisp.
- Serve: Garnish with fresh chopped basil or parsley, and present immediately while the dish is piping hot and irresistibly creamy.
Notes
- Pasta Perfection: Choose potato gnocchi with smooth, uniform shape for even cooking and best texture.
- Cheese Selection: Use high-quality sharp cheddar and freshly grated Parmesan for maximum flavor depth and smooth melting.
- Roux Technique: Whisk continuously while adding flour and milk to prevent lumps and achieve silky sauce consistency.
- Broiling Boost: Watch carefully during final broiling to achieve golden-brown crisp without burning the cheese sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 558
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 54 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 77 mg