Gnocchi Alla Sorrentina (Cheesy Baked Gnocchi With Tomato)
Updated May 21, 2025, Published Sep 11, 2023
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Best Gnocchi Alla Sorrentina Recipe- is pure Italian comfort food. Originating from the sun-kissed Sorrento region (Amalfi Coast), this dish combines pillowy gnocchi, a rich tomato sauce, and gooey melted cheese. It’s like a warm hug for your taste buds!
It’s a traditional Italian dish I grew up eating all year. This Sorrento-style gnocchi dish makes a quick dinner to bring the whole family to the table. The perfectly soft gnocchi get nestled in the delicious tomato sauce, layered with mozzarella cheese, and baked until bubbly and irresistible.
You can use my homemade potato gnocchi recipe for a more traditional Italian dish. This recipe guide walks you through the recipe. You can also read this post on What to Serve with Gnocchi for side ideas.
Making homemade gnocchi takes more time and effort, but it is worth the labor of love! You can still make delicious baked gnocchi with the store-bought gnocchi variety. This is an original family recipe. Buon appetito!
Table of Contents
Simple Ingredients
I highly recommend using high-quality ingredients to create the best gnocchi sorrentina recipe! A few good quality ingredients go a long way to make this an outstanding meal with the best results.
- Potato gnocchi (store-bought or homemade)
- Salt (for boiling water)
- San Marzano tomatoes (or canned cherry tomatoes or tomato puree -passata)
- Fresh garlic cloves
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- Fresh basil leaves (about 8-10)
- Mozzarella cheese from a block, cut into cubes (or shredded). I dislike using fresh mozzarella for this recipe because the water content can make the dish too wet.
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese or pecorino cheese
- Fresh basil leaves (for garnish)
See the recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Gnocchi Alla Sorrentina
Preheat your oven to 350°F.
Prepare the Tomato Sauce: Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet or oven-safe baking dish. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
Pour in the crushed tomatoes or tomato passata, salt, and pepper. Stir well and let the sauce simmer for about 10-15 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
Stir in basil leaves during the last 5 minutes of cooking.
Boil the Gnocchi: In a large pot, bring water to a boil. Add salt to the boiling water and cook the gnocchi according to the package instructions or until they float to the surface. This usually takes about 2-3 minutes.
Combine Gnocchi and Tomato Sauce: Once cooked, remove the gnocchi with a slotted spoon and add to the prepared tomato sauce. Gently stir to coat the gnocchi with the sauce.
Assemble the Dish: Spread half of the gnocchi and tomato sauce mixture in a baking dish (Option: you can bake the gnocchi in the same oven safe pan). Sprinkle half of the mozzarella and grated parmigiano cheese over the gnocchi. Add a few torn basil leaves for extra flavor.
Layer and Bake: Add the remaining gnocchi and sauce mixture to the cheese layer. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and parmigiano cheese over the top.
Bake in the Oven: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for about 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the edges are slightly golden brown.
Serve: Remove it from the oven once the gnocchi alla Sorrentina is baked to perfection. Garnish with additional fresh basil leaves for a fresh and aromatic touch. Serve hot, and enjoy!
Variations
- Spinach and Ricotta: Add sautéed spinach and creamy ricotta cheese to the tomato sauce for a vibrant and flavorful twist.
- Mushroom Medley: Sauté a mix of mushrooms and incorporate them into the sauce for an earthy and savory flavor profile.
- Pesto Swirl: Drizzle pesto over the baked gnocchi before serving to add a burst of fresh basil and nutty flavors.
- Four Cheese Delight: Experiment with a blend of your favorite cheeses, such as fontina, gorgonzola, and provolone, for a rich and decadent version.
- Creamy Tomato Twist: Combine a portion of cream with the tomato sauce for a creamy and luscious variation.
- Spicy Kick: Add red pepper flakes or chopped fresh chili for a touch of heat that balances the dish’s richness.
- Mediterranean Flair: Top the dish with sliced black olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and feta cheese for a Mediterranean-inspired creation.
Top tips
Top tips for the best-baked gnocchi recipe:
- Choose Quality Ingredients: Use high-quality gnocchi, canned tomatoes, and flavorful cheeses like mozzarella and parmigiano for the best results.
- Properly Cook Gnocchi: Cook the gnocchi just until they float to the surface of boiling water. Overcooking can result in mushy gnocchi.
- Season the Sauce Well: Don’t skimp on seasoning the tomato sauce. Garlic, basil, salt, and pepper should be balanced to enhance the flavors.
- Layering Technique: Layer the gnocchi and sauce evenly in the baking dish to ensure consistent flavors.
- Fresh Basil Garnish: Use fresh basil leaves for garnish right before serving. Their aroma and flavor will elevate the dish.
- Even Cheese Distribution: Spread cheese evenly to cover the top layer of gnocchi. This ensures every bite has a delightful cheese pull.
- Share the Love: Enjoy the dish with family and friends. Italian cuisine is all about sharing delightful moments around the table!
FAQs
To avoid overcooking the gnocchi, make sure to follow the cooking time indicated on the package or until the gnocchi float to the surface. Overcooking can lead to mushiness.
Yes, you can assemble the dish and refrigerate it before baking. When ready to enjoy it, bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Absolutely, you can make this recipe with any gnocchi. But, homemade will always taste better!
Yes, you could use tortellini or ravioli and get a similar effect. You could truly use any pasta you have and this dish would turn out delicious.
How to Store
To store Gnocchi alla Sorrentina, let the dish cool down to room temperature. Cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and refrigerate for up to 2-3 days.
You can warm individual portions in the microwave or reheat the entire dish in the oven until heated.
Equipment
- Braising dish (if baking in the same pan as the sauce)
- Beautiful baking Dish
More Gnocchi Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
What to Serve with This Recipe
Enjoy these recipes with your dish:
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Gnocchi Alla Sorrentina Recipe
Ingredients
For the Gnocchi:
- 1 ½ lb potato gnocchi (store-bought or homemade), about 700 grams
- salt, for boiling water
For the Tomato Sauce:
- 28 can San Marzano crushed tomatoes, or canned cherry tomatoes or tomato passata
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- Fresh basil leaves, about 8-10
Assembly:
- 1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese from a block, cut into cubes (or shredded). I dislike using fresh mozzarella cheese for this recipe because the water content can make the dish too wet.
- ½ cup freshly grated parmigiano cheese
- Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Prepare the Tomato Sauce: Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet or oven-safe baking dish. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant. Pour in the crushed tomatoes or tomato passata, salt, and pepper. Stir well and let the sauce simmer for about 10-15 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld. Stir in basil leaves during last 5 minutes of cooking.
- Boil the Gnocchi: In a large pot, bring water to a boil. Add salt to the boiling water and cook the gnocchi according to the package instructions or until they float to the surface. This usually takes about 2-3 minutes.
- Combine Gnocchi and Tomato Sauce: Once cooked, remove the gnocchi with a slotted spoon and add to the prepared tomato sauce. Gently stir to coat the gnocchi with the sauce.
- Assemble the Dish: Spread half of the gnocchi and tomato sauce mixture in a baking dish (Option: you can bake the gnocchi in the same). Sprinkle half of the mozzarella and grated parmigiano cheese over the gnocchi. Add a few torn basil leaves for extra flavor.
- Layer and Bake: Add the remaining gnocchi and sauce mixture to the cheese layer. Sprinkle the rest of the mozzarella and parmigiano cheese over the top.
- Bake in the Oven: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for about 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the edges are slightly golden brown.
- Serve: Remove it from the oven once the gnocchi alla Sorrentina is baked to perfection. Garnish with additional fresh basil leaves for a fresh and aromatic touch. Serve hot, and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
WOW! We did everything homemade the gnocchi and sauce, all from your recipes. The sauce is simple but full of deep flavor. We all loved this dinner.
Yay! What a wonderful meal. So happy you loved it!
We had this last night and I was impressed by the simpleness of the ingredients. All of my family loved it. And my daughter said she wants it for her birthday dinner! We paired it with homemade sourdough, spinach green salad, and oil and vinegar for dressing and dipping and it was perfect. My first time making gnocchi that tasted like in Italy, but it won’t be my last.
YES! So happy it was a success. It is simple and satisfying. Happy early birthday to your daughter!
My husband and I found a place in Italy that had rave reviews for their gnocchi so we make the effort to go there when we travel to Italy because it is so good. We recently went to a local Italian restaurant and ordered their gnocchi, only to be very disappointed with the texture (thick and tough). It motivated me to try this recipe, and I was thrilled to find that this method of making gnocchi produced a final result that was light and perfectly imitated the gnocchi from the restaurant in Italy!!! Yay!! We made enough to use in this recipe (delicious!), plus extra, to which we added brown butter. Heaven! Thanks Elena!
Homemade gnocchi is one of my absolute favorites! Happy you both loved it and can have a recipe to make again and again!
The easiest and most delicious! My family devoured it. I did the homemade gnocchi too and it was (chef’s kiss) but if you use store bought this recipe comes together in 30mins. A must try. Adding to our repertoire of meals.
This was so good and had such great flavor! Will definitely keep this in the meal rotation. Super simple to make. Paired it with the chicken Parmesan recipe. 🤌🏽🤌🏽🤌🏽
Happy you loved it! So easy!
Fantastic taste and texture for baked gnocchi!