🍳DailyRecipes
Dinner

Trader Joe's Inspired Pesto Gnocchi

A super quick and comforting meal that uses your favorite pantry staples.

By Daily Recipes Book· 🌍 Italian· July 17, 2026
Trader Joe's Inspired Pesto Gnocchi
dailyrecipesbook.com
Prep
5 minutes
Cook
10 minutes
Total
15 minutes
Serves
2

When you are short on time but craving something cozy, this quick gnocchi dish is a lifesaver. It is one of those meals that tastes like you spent all afternoon in the kitchen, even though it comes together in just a few minutes.

My best tip for this recipe is to keep a bag of shelf stable gnocchi and a jar of quality pesto in your pantry at all times. It is the ultimate solution for those busy weeknights when you really do not want to cook.

Ingredients

  • 1 package shelf stable potato gnocchi
  • 1/2 cup basil pesto
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 2 cups fresh baby spinach
  • 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. 1

    Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

  2. 2

    Add the gnocchi to the boiling water and cook until they float to the surface, which usually takes about three minutes.

  3. 3

    While the gnocchi cooks, heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat.

  4. 4

    Add the cherry tomatoes to the pan and cook for two minutes until they soften slightly.

  5. 5

    Drain the gnocchi and add them directly into the pan with the tomatoes.

  6. 6

    Stir in the pesto and the fresh baby spinach, cooking just until the spinach wilts.

  7. 7

    Season with salt and pepper, then serve warm with a generous sprinkling of parmesan cheese.

💡 Tips

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days. If you want a bit more protein, add some sliced pre cooked chicken sausage to the pan when you sauté the tomatoes.

#quick#vegetarian#dinner#pasta#easy

Made this recipe? Let us know how it went.

You might also like