Air Fryer Gnocchi is the BEST way to cook gnocchi. Ready in just 12 minutes, you get the most perfectly crispy gnocchi that is still light and fluffy in the middle. Serve it mixed into a sauce, or dip the air fried gnocchi in homemade marinara sauce. SO good!
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About Air Fryer Gnocchi
If you have tried boiled gnocchi before, you might have been a bit put off by the texture as it can be a bit slimy. The texture of this gnocchi in air fryer is just SO good and nothing like you will have tried before.
It's got that golden crunch on the outside, but is still pillowy light inside. Air frying gnocchi is the only way we will cook it now and it puts all other methods to shame. Ours kids love it too.
You can use frozen, shelf stable or even homemade fresh gnocchi for this air fryer gnocchi recipe and we have the instructions for them all. Have it as a main, as side or even a snack - no judgement here. It actually makes a great game day snack.
Looking for new ways to use your air fryer? Why not try our easy Air Fryer Aubergines, quick Air Fryer Peppers or simple Air Fryer Canned Potatoes?
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Ingredients and Substitutions
A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Gnocchi - We used a shelf stable packed of gnocchi, that you would find in the pasta section of your supermarket. We have instructions for using fresh or frozen gnocchi below, as well as our homemade gnocchi.
- Oil - This is needed to get the air fried gnocchi nice and crispy.
- Salt and pepper - Generously season.
- Garlic granules
- Parmesan - This is optional but adding a little Parmesan on top before servings is so good.
Variations
Seasoning - We kept this gnocchi in air fryer simple with some salt, pepper and garlic as the seasoning. However, there are so many more options.
You could use an Italian seasoning, or even a Cajun seasoning if you wanted something with a bit of heat. We also love an Asian twist on this and mix the gnocchi with sesame oil and then tip it into our Healthier Teriyaki Sauce.
Fresh/Frozen gnocchi - We used shelf stable gnocchi, however you could use our fresh Leftover Mashed Potato Gnocchi or frozen gnocchi. If you are using frozen gnocchi, do not thaw it first.
Just mix it with the seasonings whilst frozen. It will take about 3-4 minutes longer to cook. Using fresh gnocchi will only take 12 minutes still.
How to Make Air Fryer Gnocchi
- Step 1: Put the gnocchi, oil, garlic, salt and pepper into a bowl. Toss well to coat all of the gnocchi.
- Step 2: Put the coated gnocchi into your air fryer.
- Step 3: Cook at 190°C for 12 minutes, shaking twice during cooking.
- Step 4: Once cooked, add the Parmesan.
Serving Suggestions
We kept it simple and just dipped these into our Homemade Marinara. I can't even explain how good it was! You could make it more of a meal by stirring though some Homemade Pesto and mixing some spinach in. Our creamy Ravioli Sauce works well with air fryer gnocchi too.
You could make our Air Fryer Roasted Vegetables at the same time if you have a dual air fryer and mix them together.
For something a little different, you could serve it on top of homemade soup instead of croutons and a way to bulk it out. Why not try our Slow Cooker Tomato Soup?
If you want something really indulgent, then I would definitely recommend making our Baked Feta and then stirring this into it. I can't think of anything more comforting!
You could also use air fryer gnocchi to make a twist on mac and cheese. Instead of the macaroni, use gnocchi. Follow our Cauliflower Mac and Cheese recipe.
Storage
Store: We recommend eating it straight away for maximum crispiness. If you have any leftovers, then they can be stored in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Freeze: We wouldn't recommend freezing it after it has been cooked, as the texture will change once defrosted.
Reheat: If you have not coated the air fryer gnocchi in a sauce, then it can be reheated in the air fryer. If it is in a sauce, then the best way to reheat would in the microwave or on the hob - but it will lose its crispiness this way.
Dannii's Top Tips
- Make sure that all the gnocchi is coated in oil and seasoning so that every edge gets nice and crispy.
- Don't overcrowd your air fryer basket, as you want enough air to circulate so that it can get crispy.
- You need to shake the air fryer basket twice during cooking, so that it cooks evenly and every part gets browned and crispy.
- If you are using frozen gnocchi, do not thaw it first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, this is a vegan dish if you leave out the Parmesan. You could swap it for nutritional yeast.
We really can't rate the Ninja Foodi Max Dual highly enough. It has a huge 9.5 litre capacity, that allows you to cook two different things at once and it has 6 different cooking functions. It is 65% more efficient than an oven and uses 75% less fat than traditional cooking. And, it is also dishwasher safe.
Every air fryer cooks differently, so you will need to keep an eye on it so it doesn't dry out and burn. Ours took 12 minutes, but yours might only take 10 minutes, or it might need a couple of minutes longer.
No, there is no need to boil the gnocchi first. You can cook it straight from the packet.
More Gnocchi Recipes
If you've tried this air fryer gnocchi recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.
Recipe
Air Fryer Gnocchi
Ingredients
- 500 g (1.1 lb) of Gnocchi
- 1 tablespoon of Olive oil
- 1 pinch of Fine sea salt
- 1 pinch of Ground black pepper
- 0.5 teaspoon of Garlic granules
- 2 tablespoons of Parmesan - grated
Instructions
- Put 500 g of Gnocchi, 1 tbsp of Olive oil, 0.5 tsp of Garlic granules, 1 pinch of Fine sea salt and 1 pinch of Ground black pepper into a bowl. Toss well to coat all of the gnocchi.
- Put the coated gnocchi into your air fryer.
- Cook on the Air Fry setting at 190°C/375°F for 12 minutes, shaking twice during cooking.
- Once cooked add the Parmesan.
Recipe Video
Recipe Tips
- Make sure that all the gnocchi is coated in oil and seasoning so that every edge gets nice and crispy.
- Don't overcrowd your air fryer basket, as you want enough air to circulate so that it can get crispy.
- You need to shake the air fryer basket twice during cooking, so that it cooks evenly and every part gets browned and crispy.
- If you are using frozen gnocchi, do not thaw it first.
Nutritional Information
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The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.
Gianne says
The gnocchi came out perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. It was so easy to make and tasted amazing.
Sky says
This recipe couldn't be any easier, and the gnocchi turned out perfect! Thanks for sharing!
Helen says
Love how easy this is! Crispy gnocchi are the best :-D
Sonia says
This was amazing!!! Thank you so much for the recipe - love that it can be made in the air fryer... Can't wait to make some more!
Julia says
I’m loving these gnocchis in air fryer, they taste amazing!!!