This Air Fryer Gnocchi is so crispy and super easy to make in under 15 minutes! Serve it as an appetizer with San Marzano Marinara Sauce or Pesto Dipping Sauce, or as a side dish with Oven Baked Italian Sausage or Chicken Romano!
I've always been a fan of gnocchi dishes, like in this Slow Cooker Gnocchi Soup and One Pot Ground Beef Gnocchi, but I've never had it fried before. It's a totally different experience and takes it from this chewy dumpling to a French fry like texture.
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Why You Want to Try This Recipe:
- Quick and Easy. Comfort food in minutes with super simple instructions.
- No Oil. Air Fried means you get the crispy texture without the oil. Yes please!
- Big on Taste. These taste amazing, especially dipped in marinara sauce. We're adding garlic butter, parmesan and spices to make them even better too.
- Versatile. Serve them as an appetizer, snack or a side dish!
For more Gnocchi recipes, check out this Gnocchi Marinara, Creamy Pesto Gnocchi, and Sausage Gnocchi! *These are all one skillet dinners too!
Ingredients:
Gnocchi: An Italian potato like dumpling. The Gia Russa brand is one of my favorites and you can find it right in the pasta aisle.
Parmesan Cheese: Parmigiano-Reggiano is the one brand of cheese that I'll always splurge on because the quality is so much better than any other brand. I recommend shredding it yourself with the fine side of the grater.
*Find the full recipe ingredients and quantities in the recipe card below.
Substitutions and Variations:
- The garlic butter, or parmesan can be left off, but it doesn't have as much flavor without it.
- If you don't have an air fryer, you can bake these on a cookie sheet in the oven. It will be closer to 20-30 minutes though, and be sure to flip half way through.
- I don't recommend using frozen gnocchi, because they have a lot of moisture in them.
For more Air Fryer Recipes, try these Air Fryer Chicken Bites, Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges, Air Fryer Turkey Burgers, and Air Fryer Parmesan Zucchini.
How to Make Air Fryer Gnocchi:
Step 1: Add the gnocchi into a large bowl and make sure to break them apart if they're sticking together. Pour in olive and salt and use your hands to toss and coat all the gnocchi.
Step 2: Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees. Once preheated, add the gnocchi in one layer and close. Cook for 10-12 minutes, shaking half way through.
Step 3: In a medium skillet over medium low heat, melt butter and add in garlic. Cook for 90 seconds until lightly toasted.
Step 4: Pour hot garlic butter into a large bowl.
Step 5: If you want to serve the gnocchi with marinara, heat the sauce on low in a saucepan or in the same skillet as the garlic butter.
Step 6: Once the gnocchi are nice and crispy, add them to the warm garlic butter. Sprinkle in the oregano, basil and parmesan cheese. Toss to combine.
Step 7: Serve with the side of warm marinara and enjoy!
Expert Tips:
- Make sure to preheat the air fryer before adding the gnocchi so it's nice and hot and they can get really crispy exteriors.
- To avoid burning the garlic, transfer the garlic butter to a bowl as soon as it's cooked.
- I don't recommend cooking the garlic and spices in the air fryer. They will burn on the 400 degree setting.
If you love Italian food, try these Marinara Meatball Sliders, Pesto Ricotta Pasta, and Boursin Cheese Pasta.
Recipe FAQs:
A lot of people think it's pasta, but it's actually made from potato. They are usually chewy, like a dumpling, when cooked traditionally. However, when they are fried they taste more like a French fry.
The outside tastes a lot like a French fry, but with a bit more dense center. It's a little bit chewier inside versus a French fry. They are super delicious and worth trying!
I recommend this Italian Sausage with Peppers and Onions, or Air Fryer Italian Sausage with marinara on the side or serve it beside this Chicken Pesto Sandwich or Crispy Chicken Frittata.
More Italian Recipes To Try:
If you tried this Air Fryer Gnocchi Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!
PrintRecipe
Crispy Air Fryer Gnocchi
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 16 ounces of gnocchi
Description
This Air Fryer Gnocchi is so crispy and super easy to make in under 15 minutes! Serve it as an appetizer or side dish!
Ingredients
- 16 ounce dry package of potato gnocchi
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- ½ cup marinara sauce for dipping
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese, grated fine
Instructions
- Add the gnocchi into a large bowl and make sure to break them apart if they're sticking together. Pour in olive and salt and use your hands to toss and coat all the gnocchi.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees. Once preheated, add the gnocchi in one layer and close. Cook for 10-12 minutes, shaking half way through.
- In a medium skillet over medium low heat, melt butter and add in garlic. Cook for 90 seconds until lightly toasted.
- Pour hot garlic butter into a large bowl.
- If you want to serve the gnocchi with marinara, heat the sauce on low in a saucepan or the same skillet as the garlic butter.
- Once the gnocchi are nice and crispy, add them to the warm garlic butter. Sprinkle in the oregano, basil and parmesan cheese. Toss to combine.
- Serve with the side of warm marinara and enjoy!
Notes
- Make sure to preheat the air fryer before adding them so it's nice and hot and they can get really crispy exteriors.
- To avoid burning the garlic, transfer the garlic butter to a bowl as soon as it's cooked.
- Prep Time: 3 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: appetizer
- Method: air fryer
- Cuisine: Italian
Holly says
Yum! Such a cool way to eat gnocchi and I loved it with the garlic butter and cheese!
Tara Smithson says
Totally agree. The air fryer makes them so easy to make too!