Description
Baked Gnocchi and Meatballs Casserole is a comforting, family-friendly dish that combines tender gnocchi, juicy meatballs, and rich marinara sauce, all topped with gooey melted cheese and baked to perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound potato gnocchi
- 1 pound ground beef or pork
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- In a large bowl, mix ground meat, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Form into small meatballs (about 1 inch).
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and brown the meatballs on all sides, about 5–7 minutes (they don’t need to be fully cooked through).
- Meanwhile, cook gnocchi according to package instructions and drain.
- In the prepared baking dish, combine gnocchi, browned meatballs, and marinara sauce. Toss gently to coat.
- Top evenly with shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10–15 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly and slightly golden.
- Garnish with chopped basil or parsley before serving.
Notes
- You can use store-bought or homemade gnocchi.
- Turkey or chicken can be used instead of beef for a lighter version.
- Make ahead and refrigerate before baking for up to 24 hours.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of casserole
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 27g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 29g
- Cholesterol: 95mg