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Creamy gnocchi with spinach and feta in a light cream sauce, served warm in a shallow bowl
Elise Rae Griffith

Creamy Gnocchi with Spinach and Feta

Soft gnocchi cooked in a light cream sauce with spinach and feta. Easy, comforting, and made in one pan without overthinking it.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian, Italian-inspired
Calories: 420

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tbsp olive oil or butter
  • 1 small onion finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 500 g gnocchi shelf-stable or fresh
  • ½ cup vegetable broth low sodium if possible
  • ¾ cup cream heavy cream, cooking cream, or half-and-half
  • 2 cups spinach fresh, packed (or thawed frozen)
  • 100 g feta cheese crumbled
  • black pepper to taste
  • salt to taste, add carefully

Equipment

  • 1 Large skillet or frying pan Any pan you usually use is fine
  • 2 Wooden spoon or spatula stirring the gnocchi and sauce
  • 3 Knife For chopping onion and garlic
  • Cutting Board Optional, use whatever you have

Method
 

  1. Heat the olive oil or butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook for a few minutes until soft and slightly translucent.
  2. Add the minced garlic and stir for about 30 seconds, just until fragrant. Don’t let it burn.
  3. Add the gnocchi directly to the pan. Pour in the vegetable broth and let everything simmer, stirring occasionally, until the gnocchi start to soften.
  4. When most of the broth has cooked off, pour in the cream. Stir gently and let it bubble lightly until the sauce starts to come together.
  5. Add the spinach to the pan. It will look like a lot at first, but keep stirring until it wilts down into the sauce.
  6. Lower the heat and crumble in the feta cheese. Stir gently so it melts slightly but still stays a bit chunky.
  7. Season with black pepper and taste before adding salt. Add salt only if needed.
  8. If the sauce feels too thick, add a small splash of broth or cream. If it’s too loose, let it simmer for another minute.
  9. Remove from heat and serve warm.

Notes

  • This dish is best eaten right after cooking. The sauce thickens as it sits, which is normal.
  • If you’re reheating leftovers, add a small splash of cream, milk, or broth and warm it gently. Don’t heat it dry.
  • Go easy on the salt at first. Feta adds a lot of flavor, and you might not need much extra.
  • If the sauce feels too thick while cooking, loosen it with a bit of broth or cream. If it feels too thin, give it another minute on the heat.
  • You can easily add extras like mushrooms, cooked chicken, or chili flakes if you have them, but the recipe works just fine without anything extra.
  • Freezing isn’t recommended. Gnocchi and creamy sauces don’t keep their texture well after freezing.