This air fryer gnocchi is by far the best way to prepare gnocchi! Comes out crispy on outside and tender on the inside—much better than boiling or pan frying! Even works with other types of gnocchi like cauliflower gnocchi and is ready in less than 15 minutes!
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Why this works
Air frying gnocchi is a great cooking alternative that delivers a delicious texture combination of both crispy and tender. If you've cooked gnocchi before you may be used to boiling or pan frying but air frying is where it's at.
It's quick to make and less messy than pan frying. Plus, there's no need for oil. It still comes out perfectly golden and crispy without it!
My Dash Air Fryer never fails to turn this simple dish into something fancy, even when I'm short on time.
Why air fryer gnocchi is the best:
- Less mess
- quick
- crispy texture
- healthier than pan frying
Which gnocchi is best for air frying?
You can air fry all types of gnocchi. Today I am using Trader Joe's Frozen Cauliflower Gnocchi but I have also done this with shelf-stable gnocchi. You'll just need to adjust the times slightly.
Here's what I recommend for air frying:
- Frozen gnocchi—12-14 minutes
- Chilled gnocchi—10-12 minutes
- Shelf stable gnocchi—8-10 minutes
How to make
Preheat your air fryer for 3-5 minutes at 400F.
Place gnocchi in the air fryer basket or tray and spread out evenly into a single layer with space in between.
Air fry for 12-14 minutes if using frozen gnocchi (8-10 minutes for shelf stable), shaking halfway through, until gnocchi is golden brown and crispy on the outside.
Serve immediately to maintain crispiness!
How to serve
Toss the air fried gnocchi in your favorite sauce. Here are a few that go great with gnocchi:
Gnocchi can be served much like pasta. In fact, it's easy to just replace the pasta in your favorite recipes with gnocchi!
How to store
Store leftover gnocchi in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to a few days. If you didn't add your sauce to your entire batch of gnocchi, you can easily reheat it in the air fryer for a few minutes. If you did toss it in sauce, the microwave or stove may be a better option.
FAQ's
Some gnocchi comes frozen but for chilled or shelf stable gnocchi you can freeze after cooking.
No, gnocchi can be air fried from frozen. There's no need to boil first.
Store bought gnocchi can be boiled for a 3-4 minutes if fresh, or 5-6 minutes if frozen. Drain after boiling, but do not rinse.
Although the main ingredient in traditional gnocchi is potato, flour is used as a binder, making in not gluten-free. However, there are some gluten-free gnocchi available. Check the ingredients to be sure. Both the Cauliflower and Kale Gnocchi from Trader Joe's are gluten-free.
More air fryer recipes
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📖 Recipe
Easy Air Fryer Gnocchi
Ingredients
- 1 package gnocchi
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer for 3-5 minutes at 400°F.
- Place gnocchi in the air fryer basket or tray and spread out evenly into a single layer with space in between.
- If cooking from frozen, air fry for 12-14 minutes, shaking halfway through, until gnocchi is golden brown and crispy on the outside. If cooking from shelf-stable, cook for 8-10 minutes.
- Serve immediately with your favorite sauce. See recipe post above for ideas.
Avery
Love this air fryer gnocchi! It was so much easier than pan frying, especially with cauliflower gnocchi which always seems to stick. I love learning new uses for my air fryer!
Rachel
I have trouble keeping cauliflower gnocchi from sticking to the pan without oil too. Cooking in the air fryer is so much easier and no oil needed 🙂