Description
This Ground Beef Gnocchi is the ultimate one-pan comfort meal, designed for those nights when you need something hearty, flavorful, and incredibly fast. It features pillowy potato gnocchi simmered in a rich, creamy tomato sauce with savory ground beef and a spicy kick from melted jalapeno pepper jack cheese. This dish is a perfect family dinner that delivers a sophisticated, restaurant-quality taste using simple pantry staples and a single skillet for easy cleanup.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb potato gnocchi (shelf-stable)
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 cup jalapeno pepper jack cheese, shredded
- 1.5 cups marinara sauce (or chunky tomato sauce)
- 1 cup chicken broth (or water)
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
Aromatics and Seasoning
- 5 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1/2 medium onion, chopped
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon chili powder (or paprika)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
Step 1: Brown the Beef and Onion
Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large, high-sided skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and chopped onion. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring and crumbling the beef with a spoon until it is fully cooked.
Step 2: Drain Excess Fat
Once the beef is cooked, use a large spoon to remove any excess liquid or fat from the skillet and place it into a heat-proof bowl.
Step 3: Season the Meat
Add the chopped garlic and chili powder (or paprika) to the skillet, then season generously with salt and pepper. Cook for another 2 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent the garlic from burning.
Step 4: Simmer the Gnocchi
Pour in the tomato sauce, chicken broth, and heavy cream, stirring to combine. Add the uncooked potato gnocchi and bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat.
Step 5: Cover and Cook
Once boiling, stir everything together and cover the skillet with a lid. Let the gnocchi cook for about 5 minutes on medium or low-medium heat while the sauce simmers and thickens.
Step 6: Melt the Cheese
Remove the lid and stir in the shredded jalapeno pepper jack cheese. Continue to cook until the cheese has completely melted into the sauce.
Step 7: Season and Serve
Remove the skillet from the heat. Taste and add more salt, freshly ground coarse black pepper, and red pepper flakes if desired before serving hot.
Notes
Storage and Reheating: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When reheating, add a small splash of milk or broth to the pan to loosen the sauce and restore its creamy consistency.
Gnocchi Doneness: Shelf-stable gnocchi cook very quickly. Five minutes of covered simmering is usually the sweet spot to achieve a soft, pillowy texture without the gnocchi becoming mushy.
Veggie Boost: For an extra serving of greens, stir in 1 to 2 cups of fresh baby spinach during the final minute of cooking. The residual heat will wilt the spinach perfectly into the sauce.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: One-Pan Simmering
- Cuisine: American-Italian Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 545
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 1120mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 105mg
Keywords: ground beef gnocchi, one pan gnocchi recipe, creamy tomato gnocchi, pepper jack cheese pasta, quick weeknight dinners, skillet gnocchi with beef