Ground Beef Gnocchi in Tomato Cream Sauce Recipe
A comforting one-pan meal featuring tender potato gnocchi simmered in a creamy tomato sauce with savory ground beef, seasoned with Italian herbs and topped with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Quick to prepare and perfect for a hearty weeknight dinner.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Meat and Aromatics
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1/2 medium onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Spices and Seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning or to taste
- Salt & pepper to taste
Liquids and Dairy
- 1 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes with juices
- 1/3 cup chicken or beef broth
- 3/4 cup heavy/whipping cream
Main Ingredient
- 1 pound uncooked potato gnocchi
Cheese
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Brown the beef and onion: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and chopped onion and cook for 7-10 minutes, stirring occasionally until the beef is thoroughly browned and the onions are softened. If there is excess fat rendered, carefully spoon most of it out of the pan.
- Add garlic and seasoning: Stir in the minced garlic and Italian seasoning, cooking for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add liquids and gnocchi: Pour in the diced tomatoes with their juices, chicken or beef broth, and heavy cream. Add the uncooked potato gnocchi to the pan and stir well to combine all ingredients.
- Simmer covered: When the sauce starts to bubble, cover the pan and reduce the heat to medium. Let it cook for 5 minutes to allow the gnocchi to absorb flavors and begin to soften.
- Finish cooking and thicken sauce: Uncover the skillet, stir gently and continue cooking for a few more minutes until the gnocchi is fully cooked through and tender, and the sauce has thickened to your preference.
- Add cheese and season: Stir in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Use lean ground beef to reduce excess fat and keep the dish lighter.
- Gnocchi cooks quickly – do not overcook to avoid a mushy texture.
- Adjust the thickness of the sauce by simmering longer if desired.
- Freshly grated Parmesan yields better flavor than pre-grated varieties.
- For a richer taste, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or milk, but sauce will be less creamy.
