Cheesy Bolognese Gnocchi Bake - rich delicious bolognese meat sauce and gnocchi all finished off with a melted oozy cheddar cheese topping. Yum!!
Gnocchi Bake
If there is one ingredient my kids absolutely love, it is gnocchi and there are so many different varieties available too - regular, sweet potato, butternut squash and even cauliflower. Original however is definitely are favourite.
Usually I keep it simple and just stir through some pesto for a quick and easy meal, but I was making my usual bolognese for dinner and figured why not add some gnocchi instead of pasta and top with some cheese for a delicious bake and oh my was this good. The kids literally inhaled their serving.
The beautiful of this bake too is that you don't need to cook the gnocchi seperately. Gnocchi is so quick to cook, just drop it into the sauce, let it simmer and it' done. The only bit of this recipe that takes some effort is the rich bolognese meat sauce.
This recipe is also found in the Slimming Eats Made Simple cookbook as one of the 15 bonus blog favourites. You can get it from all Major Retailers including Amazon
(As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.)
Rich Bolognese Meat Sauce
We love a rich bolognese sauce and the recipe is this Bolognese Gnocchi Bake is packed with flavour but simple too. It's a slight variation on my meat sauce in my Spaghetti Bolognese.
Usually I will add some mushrooms, as we love those in a bolognese, but I didn't have any today, so just stuck to the traditional mirepoix (onion, carrots and celery).
I like to use shallots for the onion, they have a much nicer flavour, but you can use any onion you like.
Can I use chicken or turkey mince for bolognese?
Do you prefer a leaner meat or don't like to eat much red meat? Then this bolognese meat sauce works perfectly with chicken or turkey mince too.
I often use turkey or chicken mince in my bolognese or chilli and it is a great substitute.
Can I use different varieties gnocchi in this bake?
At this present time I have only tested this recipe with original gnocchi. I don't see why it wouldn't work with other types of gnocchi. However cauliflower and butternut squash gnocchi may disintegrate in the sauce.
Do let me know if you try any others and how well they work or don't work.
Can I use a different cheese?
I used cheddar for the topping for this bake, it's a cheese most tend to like, not traditional with bolognese, but a nice mature good quality cheddar has heaps of flavour.
Pretty much any cheese that melts will work perfectly. You can even do a mixture of parmesan and mozzarella if you prefer.
Another delicious addition and one I am definitely going to do next time, is a few spoonfuls of ricotta on the top. Heavenly!!
Sides for Bolognese Gnocchi Bake
For side for this dish, I like to keep it simple with a mixed salad. Baby leaves are my favourite to serve with any bolognese type dish.
You can pretty much make up a salad from any favourite items like:
- Lettuce - baby leaves or crispy lettuce like romaine or iceberg
- Red onion
- Tomatoes
- Cucumber
- Peppers
- Shredded Carrot
- Olives
- Beetroot
I like to make up the salad in a bowl and serve it in the middle of the table for everyone to help themselves to alongside the bake. I don't bother with any dressing as the the gnocchi bake is nice and saucy. But a simple low calorie vinaigrette.
If you don't fancy a salad, another great side is some sautéed zucchini (courgette slices) or even some sautéed spinach or greens of your choice.
Adding Sugar/Sweetener to Canned Tomatoes
You will notice this item is completely optional. Canned tomato products are often acidic, and they sugar/ sweetener just balances out the sauce.
Feel free to omit if you don't want to use it. It's a teeny amount but really does make a difference to sauces when using canned tomatoes.
Can I freeze Gnocchi?
Gnocchi is best eaten when cooked, it can tend to go a bit mushy when frozen and reheated, so I personally don't like to freeze.
So it is really down to your own preference, if you have frozen cooked gnocchi before and are happy with the result when reheated, then go ahead. Everything else in the recipe is fine to freeze.
More ground beef (mince) recipes
Looking for some more recipes using beef mince?
- One Pot Cheeseburger Pasta
- Mexican Pasta Bake
- One Pot Taco Beef Pasta
- Saucy Asian Hidden Vegetable Meatballs
- Cheesy Topped Stuffed Peppers
- Crispy Potato Topped Meat Pie
- Asian Ground Beef Bowl
- Quick Hoisin Beef Noodles
or if you would like more recipe ideas - head on over to the FULL RECIPE INDEX where you will find over 900 delicious recipes and can search by ingredients, course, diet and more.
All with estimated calories and Slimming World and Weight Watcher Smart Points values.
LET'S CONNECT!!
Come and follow me on: FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST TWITTER, TIK TOK and YOUTUBE You can also subscribe to Slimming Eats so that you never miss any new updates. Need some extra Support? Come and check out my Facebook Group If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a Comment, Rate It and Tag us in your Photos @SLIMMINGEATS on INSTAGRAM |
Recipe Card
Cheesy Bolognese Gnocchi Bake
Cheesy Bolognese Gnocchi Bake - rich delicious bolognese meat sauce and gnocchi all finished off with a melted oozy cheddar cheese topping. Yum!!
Ingredients
- 2 slices of back bacon, fat removed, chopped
- 3 shallots, finely diced
- 1 carrot, finely diced
- 2 small stalks of celery, finely diced
- 3 cloves of garlic, crushed
- 400g (14oz) of extra lean beef mince (ground beef)
- ½ tablespoon of dried mixed herbs
- 400g (14oz) of chopped tomatoes, canned
- 3 tablespoons of tomato paste (puree)
- 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon of granulated sweetener or sugar (optional)
- 240ml (1 cup) of chicken or beef stock
- 500g (17.5oz) pack of gnocchi
- 120g (4.2oz) of mature cheddar, grated
- olive oil cooking spray
- salt and black pepper
- few fresh basil leaves, torn
Instructions
- Spray a frying pan over a medium high heat with some olive oil spray.
- Add the bacon and fry until golden, remove and set aside.
- Spray pan with some more olive oil spray and Add the shallots, carrot and celery and fry to soften. (add in a little water or stock to prevent sticking if needed).
- Add in the garlic and ground beef and cook until browned.
- Add back in the bacon, along with the mixed herbs, chopped tomatoes, tomato paste, sweetener (or sugar), stock and balsamic vinegar and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes, sauce should be rich and thickened.
- Drop in the gnocchi and stir to combine, add lid and simmer for 5-8 minutes until cooked. Keep stirring occasionally to ensure the gnocchi doesn't stick to bottom of pan. Add in a little more stock if the gnocchi absorbs too much liquid.
- Taste sauce and season with salt and black pepper as needed.
- Transfer to a baking dish, top with the cheddar and place under the broil/grill (approx 4 minutes) until the cheese is melted and golden.
- Scatter with some fresh torn basil.
- Enjoy!!!
Notes
If you wish to share this recipe, then please do so by using the share buttons provided.
DO NOT COPY AND/OR PASTE FULL RECIPES OR SCREENSHOTS OF ANY CONTENT FROM SLIMMING EATS TO ANY SOCIAL MEDIA, IT IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.
ALL IMAGES AND CONTENT ON SLIMMING EATS ARE COPYRIGHT PROTECTED.
Nutritional information, syn values, points etc are an estimate and is to be used for informational purposes only. Ingredients can vary greatly from brand to brand and therefore it would be impossible to give accurate information. It is always advised that you calculate by the ingredients you use.
It is the responsibility of the Reader to assure the products or ingredients they use in any recipes from Slimming Eats are allergen-free (gluten-free, egg-free, soy-free and/or dairy-free, for example). Slimming Eats assumes no liability for inaccuracies or misstatement about products, opinions or comments on this site.
It is the responsibility of the Reader to assure the products or ingredients they use in any recipes from Slimming Eats are allergen-free (gluten-free, egg-free, soy-free and/or dairy-free, for example). Slimming Eats assumes no liability for inaccuracies or misstatement about products, opinions or comments on this site.
Check Legal section, for Full Disclaimer, Disclosure and Privacy Policy.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Nutrition Information
Yield 4 Serving Size 1 SERVINGAmount Per Serving Calories 528Total Fat 18.8gSaturated Fat 10gTrans Fat 0gCholesterol 89mgCarbohydrates 49gFiber 5.1gSugar 8gProtein 38.3g
Nutritional information, syn values, points etc are an estimate and is to be used for informational purposes only. Ingredients can vary greatly from brand to brand and therefore it would be impossible to give accurate information. It is always advised that you calculate by the ingredients you use.
Dave Shaw says
Can you freeze this?
Siobhan (Slimming Eats) says
I personally do not recommend freezing gnocchi once cooked. It is best enjoyed when cooked. It should be okay reheating if you put a portion in the fridge.
Louise James says
Sounds lovely! I’ve bought the gnocchi you simmer in water for 2 minutes. Should I do this before putting in the sauce? Or will putting the gnocchi straight into the sauce be enough to cook it? Many thanks. Ps I’ve just ordered 3 copies of your book
Siobhan (Slimming Eats) says
Hi Louise, you can just drop them straight into the sauce as they will cook in there. Takes a bit longer than the 2 minutes in the bolognese as tomatoes products tend to slow down the cooking time. Thank you so much for pre-ordering my first ever cookbook. The support is really appreciated.
Mel says
Hi, had this last night and it was absolutely delicious. Even my husband ate it and said how yummy it was!
We had never had gnocci before and it was sooooo nice, would definately make again. Thanks as ever Siobhan x
Kerry Barron says
I absolutely love this dish. I’ve made it quite a few times and it never fails. Even my fussy husband loves it……keep up the good work
Siobhan (Slimming Eats) says
ahh thank you Kerry, it really makes me smile when I get message like this where the whole family has enjoyed a recipe.
Sue says
Why is the syn value 5 per person when 100g is 3 syn. Surely 125 syn pp is 4 syns not 5. Perhaps I have read the ingredient list wrong and there is an ingredient that make it 5
Siobhan (Slimming Eats) says
Gnocchi Varies in syn values from one brand or the next, so the values are to the brand I use. Remember values are an estimate because as you can see brands vary, this is why you should always get into the habit of calculating yourself to the products/ingredients you use. Hope that helps
Sarah says
I want to make this ahead- should I stop before I put the gnocchi in or is is ok to add and then leave to cool before putting in the fridge? How long should I reheat it for? Thanks
Siobhan (Slimming Eats) says
yes definitely, don't add the gnocchi until read to eat.
Jess says
Can this be made in the slow cooker? And then the gnocchi added when cooked.
If so, would everything go in the slow cooker together? Or would you have to cook the mince and bacon first (sorry, I don't eat meat, I am trying to find recipes I can make for the omnis in my house in the slow cooker)
Siobhan (Slimming Eats) says
I haven't tested this in a slow cooker, it would possible work, but may need adjusting.
Stacy says
This was delicious, made it this evening and everybody loved it. Definitely on repeat xxx
MissyC says
I am no great chef & prefer a one pot, no mess meal! I saw this recipe & thought it looked tasty & simple. It certainly was!!! It will definitely be on the menu for future meals. Thank you Slimmingeats!!