Cheesy Broccoli Gnocchi Skillet

This cheesy broccoli gnocchi skillet is a super easy meatless recipe that can be made vegetarian and gluten-free. The pillowy gnocchi skillet, made in under 30 minutes, is a satisfying dish that will have even the kids eating their broccoli and wanting more.

Cheesy Broccoli Gnocchi Skillet Ingredients

To make this easy skillet you first need a pound of gnocchi and 3 cups of broccoli florets. You will also need 1 cup of chicken or vegetable broth, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. For the cheeses you’ll want 4 ounces of cream cheese and 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese. Make sure to have the mozzarella divided into two 1 cup portions!

Making the Cheesy Gnocchi Skillet

Start this broccoli packed skillet by preheating the oven to 400 degrees F. Then bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Next we add in the delicious gnocchi and fresh broccoli to simmer for around 3 minutes. Drain the water and set the broccoli and gnocchi aside for now.

Now start the cheese sauce by heating the broth in a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat and bring it to a simmer. Once its simmering mix in the cubes of cream cheese. Stir it around for a bit until the cheese cubes are mostly melted and combined with the broth. It doesn’t have to be completely dissolved; if there are a few small chunks. They’ll melt once the skillet is in the oven.

Add in the first cup of mozzarella cheese, the garlic powder, the onion powder, and the red pepper flakes. Toss in a pinch of salt and pepper and stir it a little while until the spices are combined and the mozzarella is melted and the sauce is mostly smooth. After its mixed, take it off the heat.

This is where we get to retrieve our broccoli and gnocchi from earlier and add it to the cheese sauce. Gently fold it into the cheese sauce until it’s nice and combined. Top the cheesy broccoli gnocchi skillet with (you guessed it) the last cup of shredded mozzarella cheese. Into the preheated oven goes the skillet for about 15 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and the top is that nice golden brown color.

Making This Meatless Gnocchi Skillet Gluten Free

There are many gluten free gnocchi options available. To make this recipe with no gluten, simply opt for a gluten free brand at your grocery store, or grab one online. My favorites are from DeLallo, Sanniti and Le Veneziane.

Vegetarian Substitutions

Making this cheesy broccoli gnocchi skillet vegetarian is super easy. Simply swap out the shredded mozzarella for your favorite dairy free variety and use a vegetable broth instead of the chicken broth. Now you have a delicious vegetarian broccoli gnocchi skillet to enjoy!

Adding Protein to the Cheesy Gnocchi Skillet

This cheesy broccoli skillet is easy to add protein to as well. Due to the short time it takes in the oven I recommend using pre cooked meats for food safety and to save time. These options are my favorites for the best results.

Shredded Chicken

To add chicken to the gnocchi skillet I recommend using a cup of pre cooked shredded chicken.. Using leftover chicken or a rotisserie chicken is easiest since its the quickest way to get chicken into the skillet. However, if you don’t have cooked chicken already, a fast way is to poach it in a pot of boiling water for about 10-15 minutes. Easy enough to do while you’re prepping the skillet.

Just add the shredded chicken to the cheese sauce when you incorporate the broccoli and gnocchi before you set the skillet in the oven and you’re all set!

Italian Sausage

In order to add Italian sausage to this skillet I recommend using a half pound of drained, pre browned and crumbled Italian sausage. If you have any leftover from a previous recipe you’re all set but if you don’t it’s simple enough to brown the sausage while prepping the rest of the skillet.

Just don’t forget to drain the grease and add the sausage at the same time you’re mixing in the broccoli and gnocchi before the skillet goes into the oven.

Serving and Storing Instructions

To serve cheesy broccoli gnocchi skillet you can garnish with a little extra red pepper flakes if that’s your style. Otherwise parsley flakes or a little extra pepper on top works well too!

For storing this skillet let it cool completely and place in an airtight container or individual meal prep containers. It will store well in the refrigerator for about 5 days. It reheats well for a hearty weekday lunch or a leftover night!

Other Skillet Recipes You’ll Love:

• Kung Pao Chicken Skillet
• Garlic Chicken Gnocchi
• Breakfast Burrito Skillet
• Ground Beef & Broccoli Skillet
• Dijon Chicken & Potato Skillet

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