Pancetta Brown Butter Gnocchi Recipe

Sharing our favorite gnocchi recipe today! My Pancetta Brown Butter Gnocchi recipe is the perfect indulgence for your family and friends.

Gnocchi Recipe

Have you ever had gnocchi? Oh my goodness it’s fantastic! So soft and pillowy. You have to try it! I love that you can purchase it pre-made in the pasta section of your grocery store. Simple to prepare and oh so delicious.

Try my BLT Whole Wheat Pasta too! Follow Picky Palate on Instagram for daily recipe inspiration.

What Is Gnocchi

gnocchi is a small dumpling. In fact, the word in Italian means “lump”. This dumpling is most often made with potatoes, though it can also be made from flour, squash, cheese or even polenta. Gnocchi is served much in the same manner as pasta, with sauce or some butter and sage or parmesan cheese.

gnocchi recipe

If you’ve never had gnocchi before you are in for such a treat. It’s a soft pillowy potato pasta dumpling….not even kidding like the best thing ever. You can find it by all of the other pasta in your grocery store. Delallo sells my favorite gnocchi. It literally cooks in boiling water for 3 minutes and DONE. How sweet is that?

How To Make Gnocchi

The dough is rolled out into long cylindrical pieces which are cut into bite sized morsels. The morsels are rolled from a fork, giving them the ridged pattern gnocchi are famous for. A special “gnocchi board” may also be used for this. The dumplings should be added to boiling water immediately after cutting. For best results, they should be cooked fresh since they do not store well.

How To Cook Gnocchi

To cook the gnocchi, drop the dumplings gently into rapidly boiling water. When the dumplings float to the top of the water, they are ready. This process should only take a few minutes; any longer than two or three minutes and the dumplings will start to break up in the water.

gnocchi recipe

Cook  your diced pancetta in a little olive oil to get started.

gnocchi recipe

Cook until nice and browned. Perfect!

gnocchi recipe

Add your cooked gnocchi right to the skillet.

How To Pronounce Gnocchi

The way you pronounce it may have a lot to do from where you’re from, which is why the proper pronunciation is often debated. You can hear an Italian say nyohk-kee or nyuh-kee, and an American say noh-kee or nyawk-kee.

gnocchi recipe

Drizzle in your browned butter. I know!!

gnocchi recipe

Toss in some sweet peas, give a stir and you are ready to eat!

gnocchi recipe

Not even kidding I could eat this everyday if calories were not an issue, lol!

gnocchi recipe

Treat your friends to this simple and fabulous pasta dish next time you are entertaining….or treat yourself! Enjoy!

gnocchi recipe

How Do You Serve Gnocchi?

Gnocchi can be served many different ways. One way is to sauté some garlic in a little butter and pour it over the gnocchi. Tomato, pesto and alfredo sauces also work well with this dish. Gnocchi is also tasty with vegetables such as eggplant, asparagus or artichokes.

Pancetta and Sweet Pea Brown Butter Gnocchi

Pancetta Brown Butter Gnocchi Recipe

Brown butter and pancetta add so much flavor to this simple gnocchi dinner recipe.
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 449kcal
Author: Jenny
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Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 16 ounces gnocchi I used Delallo
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 4 ounces diced pancetta
  • 1/2 cup sweet peas I used canned and drained
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Melt butter in small saucepan until bubbly and browned. Takes about 5-10 minutes.
  • Cook gnocchi according to package directions. Generally only takes 3-4 minutes in boiling water. Drain and set aside.
  • Add oil to large saucepan over medium heat. When hot, add diced pancetta. Cook and stir for about 5 minutes, until browned. Add cooked gnocchi, browned butter, sweet peas, salt and pepper. Stir and cook for 5 minutes then serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 449kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 49mg | Sodium: 720mg | Potassium: 100mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 489IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 4mg
Keywords: brown butter gnocchi, easy dinner ideas, pan-fried gnocchi

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31 Responses
  1. Ari

    Ok, so I’ve always wanted to buy Gnocchi at the grocery store but I wasn’t sure if it would taste as good if you were to get it at a restaurant. But I’m glad you shared that it taste amazing!
    And this might be weird but peas are my absolute favorite vegetable haha! So I know I would love this recipe :)!

  2. Elizabeth

    Thanks for a quick, easy dinner idea! I LOVE gnocchi and usually buy it from Trader Joe’s; so comforting and delicious!

  3. Lauren @ Climbing Grier Mountain

    Anything with brown butter is a winner in my book! Looks fab, Jenny!

  4. Erin | The Law Student's Wife

    I saw this on Twitter and had to come check it out, because gnocchi is one of my top lifetime fave foods. So comforting, and I love the brown butter + peas + pancetta.
    PS. Doesn’t Tulsa just have the cutest little gems? My sis went to school there and it was always so much fun visiting her!

  5. Sylvia Ellie

    I love gnocchi. Have you ever tried to make it? I did a few months ago. It was a sweet potato gnocchi. Although it turned out great and tasted fantastic, I think I’ll opt for store bought next time. Ha! Too much prep time before dinner. Well, I might do it on the weekend and just freeze till I’m ready for it because it was nice to have homemade. I’ll have to try your pea and pancetta gnocchi. The brown butter sounds fantastic.

    1. Jenny

      I haven’t made my own, but I would love to!! Good idea to freeze it to have on hand! I think you’ll love this recipe 🙂

  6. Heather Christo

    I am happy to get the gnocchi recommendation- I have never bought it before! The pancetta and peas look like a wonderful addition!

  7. Meagan @ A Zesty Bite

    I have this new love for gnocchi and the simplicity of it. I’m definitely keeping this recipe.

  8. Tina Muir

    Ahhhh I LOVE Gnocchi! Havent cooked with it for so long! This would be so perfect during this phase in my training. With the high mileage I need to keep my carbs up, but I am getting a bit sick of pasta dishes, this would be a great fueling meal that I could enjoy before a long run to help me reach my goal of 1:13 in the half marathon soon! Thanks for the recipe!

  9. Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness

    I’ve actually never had gnocchi..but I just bought a package and had no idea what to do with it…until now! Brown butter and pancetta?! YES!
    Pinned

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