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30 Minute Creamy Tomato Gnocchi with Burrata Recipe

4.6 from 108 reviews

A quick and indulgent 30-minute creamy tomato gnocchi recipe featuring jammy cherry tomatoes cooked with garlic and red pepper flakes, tossed with tender potato gnocchi and finished with luscious burrata cheese and fresh basil for a perfect weeknight dinner.

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

Pasta Ingredients

  • 2 (16-oz) packages potato gnocchi (DeLallo brand recommended)

Finishing Ingredients

  • 2 (4-oz) balls fresh burrata cheese
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, sliced or torn, plus extra for garnish

Instructions

  1. Prepare the sauce: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Increase the heat to medium and add the cherry tomatoes. Cook, stirring occasionally, until most of the tomatoes have broken down and the mixture has a jammy consistency, about 10 to 12 minutes. If the garlic starts to burn, reduce heat to medium-low. Season the sauce with red pepper flakes if using, kosher salt, and freshly cracked black pepper. Reduce heat to medium-low and stir in the heavy cream to create a rich, creamy sauce.
  2. Cook the gnocchi: Once the water is boiling, add the potato gnocchi and cook according to the package instructions until they are al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water before draining the gnocchi.
  3. Toss gnocchi with sauce: Transfer the cooked gnocchi and reserved pasta water to the skillet with the creamy tomato sauce. Toss continuously to combine and let the sauce thicken and develop a glossy finish, about 2 minutes. Stir in most of the fresh basil leaves, reserving some for garnish.
  4. Add burrata and garnish: Break the balls of fresh burrata cheese into pieces and evenly disperse them over the pasta in the skillet. Remove the skillet from heat. Garnish the dish with the reserved fresh basil leaves and serve immediately.

Notes

  • Use good quality cherry tomatoes for the best flavor as they break down into a naturally sweet and rich sauce.
  • If you don’t have burrata, fresh mozzarella can be substituted but will be less creamy.
  • Reserve some pasta water to loosen the sauce if it becomes too thick while tossing.
  • Red pepper flakes add a nice subtle heat but can be omitted for a milder flavor.
  • This recipe serves 6, making it great for sharing or for leftovers.

Keywords: Creamy tomato gnocchi, burrata cheese, cherry tomato sauce, easy Italian dinner, 30-minute meal, gnocchi recipe