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Easy One Pot Creamy Meatballs and Gnocchi

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A quick and easy one-pot meal featuring tender meatballs, pillowy gnocchi, and a creamy tomato sauce. Perfect for busy weeknights, this comforting dish comes together in about 30 minutes with minimal cleanup.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb (450g) ground beef (80/20 works best for juicy meatballs)
  • 1/2 cup (50g) breadcrumbs (panko or regular)
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup (25g) grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil (for browning)
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 cup (240ml) heavy cream
  • 1 cup (240ml) low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 lb (450g) shelf-stable potato gnocchi
  • Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
  • Extra grated Parmesan cheese (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Make the Meatballs: In a medium bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, beaten egg, minced garlic, Parmesan, oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix gently with your hands until just combined. Roll into 12-14 even-sized balls, about 1.5 inches each.
  2. Brown the Meatballs: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Carefully place the meatballs in the pan and cook for 4-5 minutes, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides. Transfer to a plate and set aside. Do not clean the pan.
  3. Sauté the Aromatics: Reduce heat to medium. Add the butter to the same pan. Once melted, add the diced onion and cook for 2 minutes until softened. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Build the Sauce: Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth, then add the red pepper flakes and dried thyme. Whisk together, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
  5. Add the Gnocchi: Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer. Add the raw gnocchi directly to the sauce and stir gently to coat.
  6. Simmer Everything Together: Return the browned meatballs to the pan, nestling them into the sauce and gnocchi. Cover the skillet with a lid and reduce heat to low. Let it simmer for 10 minutes, stirring gently once halfway through.
  7. Finish and Serve: Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.

Notes

Don’t overmix the meatballs to keep them tender. Use a hot pan for browning to get a good crust. Cooking the tomato paste for a minute before adding liquid deepens the flavor. If the sauce gets too thick, add a splash of chicken broth or water. This dish tastes even better the next day as flavors meld.

Nutrition

Keywords: one pot meal, creamy meatballs, gnocchi, easy dinner, weeknight dinner, comfort food, Italian-American

Find it online: https://emacrave.com/easy-one-pot-creamy-meatballs-and-gnocchi-recipe/