We all love this weeknight spinach baked gnocchi — an easy, comforting dinner you can pull together on a busy weeknight. Ground beef or turkey, marinara, fresh spinach and tender gnocchi finished with melty cheese. Delicious.
Perfect for making Monday night dinner effortless.
This baked gnocchi combines marinara, seasoned ground meat, fresh spinach, gnocchi and plenty of mozzarella for a simple, satisfying meal.
Think of it as cozy, hearty comfort food — warm, cheesy and just what you want after a long day.
This recipe is a mashup of a few favorite weeknight dishes, streamlined into one pan for minimal fuss and maximum flavor.
All the best parts of cheesy skillet pasta and baked gnocchi, with the brightness of fresh spinach.
Why you’ll love it
It’s a crowd-pleaser that’s simple to prepare and appeals to many tastes. Make it with beef or turkey depending on what you have. It comes together quickly and bakes into a bubbly, cheesy casserole everyone will ask for again.
How it comes together
Start by browning ground beef or turkey in a large, oven-safe skillet, seasoning with salt, pepper, dried basil and oregano. Stir in minced garlic, then add your marinara and reduce the heat.
Add fresh spinach in handfuls, stirring until it wilts and cooks down — it will seem like a lot at first but it reduces significantly.
Stir in uncooked gnocchi (shelf-stable or frozen both work). The gnocchi will cook in the sauce while the dish bakes.
Top everything with sliced fresh mozzarella and grated parmesan, then bake until golden, bubbly and melty. Finish with extra parmesan and fresh basil, if desired.
Serve with a crisp salad for a complete meal.
Weeknight Spinach Baked Gnocchi
Weeknight Spinach Baked Gnocchi
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Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef or turkey
- kosher salt and pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 28 ounces your favorite marinara
- 8 ounces fresh spinach
- 2 pounds uncooked gnocchi
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella, sliced
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese, plus more for topping
- fresh basil, for topping
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 375°F.
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Heat a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Brown the ground meat, seasoning with a pinch of kosher salt, pepper, dried basil and oregano. If using lean meat, add a drizzle of olive oil; otherwise the meat’s fat should be enough. Break the meat into small crumbles and cook until browned, then stir in the minced garlic.
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Add the marinara sauce and reduce heat to low. Add the spinach in batches, stirring until it wilts and mixes into the sauce.
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Stir in the uncooked gnocchi. Both shelf-stable and frozen gnocchi work well here.
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Top the skillet with sliced fresh mozzarella and sprinkle with parmesan.
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Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the dish is bubbling. For extra browning, broil 1–2 minutes, watching closely. Finish with more parmesan and fresh basil, then serve.
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