Description
This 30 Minute Creamy Tomato Gnocchi with Burrata is a quick and comforting Italian-inspired dish featuring tender potato gnocchi simmered in a luscious tomato and cream sauce, finished with fresh basil and creamy burrata cheese. Perfect for a satisfying weeknight meal, it balances rich and bright flavors with a silky texture.
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce Ingredients
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 6 to 8 garlic cloves, peeled and lightly crushed
- 2 pints cherry tomatoes
- 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp. freshly cracked black pepper
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
Main Ingredients
- 2 (16-oz.) packages potato gnocchi (DeLallo brand recommended)
- 2 (4-oz.) balls fresh burrata cheese
- 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, sliced or torn
Instructions
- Prepare the Sauce: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the garlic cloves and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Increase heat to medium and add the cherry tomatoes. Cook, stirring occasionally, until most tomatoes break down and become jammy, about 10 to 12 minutes. If the garlic begins to burn, reduce the heat back to medium-low. Season the mixture with red pepper flakes (optional), kosher salt, and freshly cracked black pepper. Reduce heat to medium-low and stir in the heavy cream to create a creamy tomato sauce.
- Cook the Gnocchi: Once the water is boiling, add the potato gnocchi and cook according to package instructions until al dente, usually about 2-3 minutes or until they float to the surface. Reserve 1/2 cup of the gnocchi cooking water before draining the rest.
- Combine Gnocchi and Sauce: Transfer the drained gnocchi and reserved pasta water to the skillet with the tomato cream sauce. Toss continuously over medium-low heat until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy, about 2 minutes. Stir in most of the fresh basil, saving some for garnish.
- Add Burrata and Garnish: Break the burrata balls into pieces and evenly disperse them over the gnocchi. Remove the skillet from heat and garnish with the reserved basil leaves before serving.
Notes
- You can adjust the amount of red pepper flakes depending on your preferred spice level.
- If burrata is unavailable, fresh mozzarella can be used as a substitute, though the texture will be less creamy.
- Reserve some pasta water to ensure the sauce reaches the desired creamy consistency without becoming too thick.
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or a plant-based cream alternative.
- This dish is best enjoyed immediately to enjoy the creaminess of the burrata cheese.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: creamy tomato gnocchi, burrata gnocchi, easy Italian dinner, cherry tomato sauce, potato gnocchi recipe, 30-minute meal
