Name: 20 Minute Pan Fried Gnocchi
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 lb gnocchi (shelf stable package); 5-6 T butter (separated); 2-3 garlic cloves (minced); 1 tsp lemon zest; 1 tsp Italian seasoning; Crushed red pepper flakes; ½ tsp cracked pepper; ¼ - ½ tsp sea salt; 1/4 c parmesan (more for serving); chopped parsley (for serving, optional)

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This super simple 20 minute Pan Fried Gnocchi recipe is a perfect dinner side or dinner in itself! No boiling necessary, fry up the gnocchi until crisp and golden and toss in a garlic, lemon herb butter for an amazing dish everyone will love!

Pan fried gnocchi in skillet with chopped parsley and wooden spoon.

A simple dinner is a must in our house. We don't have time or energy to do much by the end of the day. 30 minutes or less is the name of the game and this 20 minute Pan Fried Gnocchi is a staple in our house for a lot of reasons.

Easy, crispy, cheesy and oh so comforting. Once you pan fry your gnocchi, you probably won't ever want it another way. Although, this 15 Minute Tomato Basil Gnocchi and Sausage Gnocchi Soup should not be overlooked either!

Why You Will Love This Simple Pan Fried Gnocchi:

It only takes 20 minutes to make. A 20 minute dinner cannot be beat. You will be blown away by how quickly it comes together and still taste like a luxurious meal.
It is by far the BEST way to enjoy gnocchi! Once you pan fry your gnocchi, you may never eat it any other way. That is essentially how I feel. That golden crisp outside with a soft chew inside is so delicious!
Only one pan required. One pan meals are always the best for less clean up in the end. Maybe someone will even offer to the dishes tonight, right? If you love one pan meals, try this one pot chili mac and cheese as well!
Can be a meal or a side dish. It's a pick your own adventure dish! We love to serve it a our main with a big salad, but this pan fried gnocchi is also great as as a side. Serve it with some Herbed Salmon, Spinach Ricotta Chicken, or it's also great with this Parmesan Crusted Steak instead of the potatoes in the recipe.
Easy to add to the recipe to vary. You can add to this recipe so easily and make it even better, if you can believe that is possible. Make it gluten free, add some veggies, or even add Italian sausage or another meat. Lots of options!

White plate with fried gnocchi topped with fresh parmesan and parsley.

Recipe Ingredients:

gnocchi: the shelf stable gnocchi found in the pasta aisle is ideal for pan frying gnocchi in this recipe. Frozen could work, but the time may vary. If you want to use homemade gnocchi, you will likely need to boil it first so it will hold together in the frying pan. Gluten free gnocchi should work just fine.
butter: unsalted butter is what we used. Salted can work, just lessen the salt you add in the end.
garlic: freshly minced is ideal for this recipe. You could use the pre-minced garlic from the jar. I don't recommend using garlic powder instead, however, you can if it's all you have. Add the garlic powder when you add the seasoning later in the recipe instead of in the beginning.
lemon zest: this is the key ingredient that brings the flavor to this pan-fried gnocchi recipe. Pairing the lemon zest with the garlic and butter makes the flavor just pop. Don't skip this if possible!
Italian seasoning: you could really use any combination of oregano, thyme, basil, and rosemary--some of the main herbs in Italian seasoning. I would check to make sure there isn't extra garlic in your Italian seasoning so that you don't overdo it on the garlic in this dish.
parmesan: freshly shredded or grated is hard to beat and highly recommended. However, you could use grated parmesan from the grocery as well.
crushed red pepper: a touch for a slight kick. You can adjust to your liking, but there is not really enough to make this a spicy dish.
salt/pepper: adjust to your liking, even though amounts are given!

How To Make This Fried Gnocchi:

To make this pan fried gnocchi, there is no need to boil the gnocchi first. Instead, start out by melting 3 tablespoons of butter over medium heat in a 10 inch pan.

Add the minced garlic and allow to heat for about 1 minute to lightly brown, stirring constantly.

Add the uncooked gnocchi and allow to fry for about 12-15 minutes, stirring every couple minutes to make sure not to burn the gnocchi. If the gnocchi is starting to burn, lower the heat slightly.

When the gnocchi is golden and crisp on all sides and browned to your taste, turn the heat to low and add in the remaining butter, seasoning and lemon zest. Toss to coat the gnocchi and melt the butter.

When the butter is melted, remove the pan from the heat and stir in the parmesan. Allow to cool for several minutes and then serve with freshly chopped parsley and extra parmesan, if desired.

Butter, lemon zest and seasoning added to pan of gnocchi.

Parmesan added to skillet with brown wooden spatula.

Recipe Tips and Notes:

There is no need to boil the gnocchi before pan frying it. You can skip the boiling when frying your gnocchi. However, if you prefer your gnocchi a touch softer, you could boil it first and then pan fry them for about 3-5 minutes instead of the full time to brown.
If making this as a full meal, this will serve 2-3. The recipe states 4 servings, but this is for side dish recommendation. It will likely only serve 2 or 3 if planning to make as a main dish.
Keep the heat at medium for best results. Low and slow is ideal so that you don't burn the gnocchi while allowing it to get that nice golden color.
Use a 10 inch pan to ensure the gnocchi can spread out in one even layer. Make sure you have a pan that allows all of the gnocchi to cook at the same time. Otherwise, it will not evenly cook.

Gnocchi in skillet with parmesan, butter, chopped parsley.

Pan-Fried Gnocchi Storage and Re-Heating Instructions:

We very rarely have leftovers of this fried gnocchi recipe, however, I do make it ahead of time for dinner and then reheat, so here are some tips:

To store: Keep this gnocchi in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can freeze this gnocchi as well. Allow to cool completely before freezing. Add it to a freezer safe air tight container and freeze for up to 3 months.
To reheat: There are a few options to reheat your pan-fried gnocchi. The quickest would be in the microwave. Add it to a microwave safe bowl and heat for about 90 seconds, stir and then another 30 seconds to 1 minute. To reheat stove top, melt a tablespoon of butter or olive oil over medium heat. Add the gnocchi and cook, stirring several times, for about 3-5 minutes.
Serving leftovers: the only real issue when serving this dish as leftovers for me is that the sauciness is lost. You can simply toss the gnocchi with some extra melted butter, especially if microwaving.

Possible Variations and Add-Ins:

Whether you serve this dish as a main or a side, there are lots of options to vary and add to. Here are some of our favorites:

add veggies: add spinach in the last minute or so and allow to wilt. Sauté mushrooms and/or onions and toss in. You can also serve with grilled zucchini.
add meat: mini meatballs, cubed chicken, chopped bacon or Italian sausage are all great options to add in!
fresh herbs: this is supposed to be a super quick and simple dish, so using ingredients that are typically on hand was key. However, tossing in fresh herbs such as oregano, basil, rosemary and thyme will elevate the flavor for sure.
add cream: you can add a splash of heavy cream in the end for extra creamy, rich fried gnocchi.
add truffle oil: if you love truffle, use a touch of truffle oil or perhaps a truffle butter.

Looking for some ideas as to what to serve with this fried gnocchi recipe? This roundup of recipes to pair with your gnocchi will give you some options.