A good bolognese sauce that simmers away for hours on the stove is one of my family’s favourite things to eat. It is the ultimate, satisfying comfort food with so much to love. It’s freezer-friendly, feeds a crowd, can be loaded with nourishing vegetables and is outrageously delicious.
This One-pan Gnocchi Bolognese is a faster variation of the classic and is all made in one pan (no need to pre-cook the gnocchi!), perfect for weeknight dinners with minimal clean-up! The sauce is rich and hearty, full of big savoury flavours, yet made with simple ingredients, many of which you probably already have in the pantry! Finished with stretchy, melty mozzarella cheese, this is sure to become a regular on your meal plan rotation.
Can you make One-pan Gnocchi Bolognese ahead of time?
Yes, One-pan Gnocchi Bolognese can be frozen for up to 2 months. Thaw completely in the fridge overnight before reheating in the microwave.
Watch how to make One-pan Gnocchi Bolognese
Is One-pan Gnocchi Bolognese suitable for leftovers?
One-pan Gnocchi Bolognese can be refrigerated for up to 3 days; reheat in the microwave.
One-pan Gnocchi Bolognese
“So simple and delicious with a depth of flavour I usually need to spend hours cooking a sauce to achieve!” Share PrintIngredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 red or brown onion, finely diced
- 2 garlic cloves, freshly minced
- 1 carrot, finely diced
- 1 celery stalk, finely diced
- 500 g (1 lb) minced (ground) beef
- 1 tsp sea salt flakes
- ½ tsp freshly cracked black pepper
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 800 g (1¾ lb) canned crushed tomatoes
- 1 tsp beef stock (bouillon) powder
- 1 tsp caster (superfine) sugar
- 250 ml (1 cup) water
- 2 sprigs fresh oregano or thyme (can be substituted with 1 tsp of dried oregano or thyme)
- 1 bay leaf
- 500 g (1 lb) fresh gnocchi (see note 1)
- 50 g (1¾ oz) mozzarella, sliced into bite-sized pieces or freshly shredded
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy-based frying pan over medium–low heat.
- Add the onion, garlic, carrot and celery. Cook for 3–5 minutes until softened and fragrant.
- Increase the heat to high. Add the beef, salt and pepper. Cook the beef for 3–5 minutes until it changes colour from pink to brown, breaking it up with your spoon as you go.
- Stir through the tomato paste, then add the crushed tomatoes, beef stock powder, caster sugar, water, oregano or thyme and bay leaf. Simmer for 20 minutes with the lid on. Remove the herb sprigs and bay leaf.
- Stir the gnocchi through the sauce and cook with the lid on for 2 minutes or until the gnocchi has softened (see note 2).
- Top with the mozzarella, place the lid on and cook for a further 2 minutes until the cheese is soft and gooey. Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition information
Disclaimer re gluten-free and dairy-free recipes
Kate says:
I have made this several times now and the recipe does not disappoint. Consistent results every time. So tasty and delicious! I use the iPastai potato gnocchi from Woolworths, which is soft and yummy. I skip adding the mozzarella and just add some parmesan and chilli flakes on top.
Nicole says:
Hi Kate, thanks so much for the lovely feedback and sharing how you make it. I’m thrilled this worked out so well for you! Thanks also for the rating, Nic x
Elma says:
So simple and delicious with a depth of flavour I usually need to spend hours cooking a sauce to achieve!
Steph says:
I’m not usually one to comment publicly ever, but I just wanted to share my appreciation for this and literally all the recipes I have tried since discovering you! My husband is incredibly fussy (for lack of a better word) with vegetables and textures. He tries extremely hard and finds it very disheartening when he can’t enjoy food that he knows is actually delicious. I made this recipe for us last week and he couldn’t get over it, he absolutely loved it. Call me old fashioned but it actually brings me so much joy when I see him enjoy the food I make!😂 So many of your recipes are on our weekly rotation and I am extremely grateful. Thank you!
Nicole says:
Hi Steph, I am thrilled to hear this wonderful feedback! 🥰 I am so touched that you are finding recipes that you can all enjoy. I totally get what you’re saying … knowing that your family are going to enjoy what you are cooking makes a massive difference. Thanks also for the rating, Nic x
Nicole says:
Thanks so much for your lovely feedback, Elma! And thanks for rating the recipe. Nic x
Mikaela says:
Amazing meal-prep recipe, easily adaptable, and delicious! I used celery, mushroom, broccolini, carrot, and olives as my veg and it turned out great for six serves of weeknight dinners/lunches. Even better the pasta didn’t need to be cooked separately – already can’t wait to make again!
annjeon says:
This is the third recipe of Nicole’s I tried and I must say – yet another amazing recipe!! My husband and little toddler absolutely loved it. My boy nodded and said MORE!! Thank you and I cannot wait to try another recipe of yours xx
satrapien says:
Hi Nicole, I do not know or understand what Evie might done wrong while making this dish, my family when nuts about it, another AMAZING recipe from you, and we loved the idea of using something else than spaghetti’s for a change 😀
erinbell says:
The ultimate pasta for a winters night. My family can be a little fussy when it comes to dinner times (definitely meat and three veg kid of family) but this recipe was a huge winner! I turned it into a pasta bake in the oven. Kids gobbled it up with no arguments, thats a big win! Thanks for continuing to impress my family with your amazing recipes!
Annabel says:
Totally delicious, I’m making this for the third time (I think- lost count!) and felt obliged to give a 5 star review having seen the 2 star one above. It is absolutely delicious, can’t fault it! Give it a go!!
angelabriton says:
My whole family devoured this! The gnocchi was the tiniest bit floury but I suspect it was the brand of gnocchi we used. Still absolutely delicious. Would be incredible with home-made gnocchi if we ever find the time 🙂
michellehollamby says:
I have made this amazing recipe a handful of times now and it is the ultimate comfort food for a cold night. This recipe is an easy way to make a hearty & delicious gnocchi meal using just the one pot! Thank you for this fab recipe.
libbylarsen says:
Loved this meal! Made it tonight, kids gobbled it up and were asking for seconds. Easy, yum, and something a bit different from the standard spaghetti bolognaise (and not as messy to eat too!)
faithbliss says:
Not sure what the person above is talking about. This is AMAZING. Just recently came across your website from TikTok and this is the first recipes I’ve tried out, we loved it! Will definitely be checking out your other recipes
Nicole says:
Thank you so much Faith! I am so glad you found me and that you loved the recipe as much as we do. 🥰
eviegwalker says:
I really didn’t want to write this comment but I just want to save anyone the time of making this. Nicole, I love your recipes so much, you’re an amazing cook, but this gnocchi bolognese just was not it. I actually found it difficult to eat. If you are thinking of writing a cookbook, please do not add this in. This recipe really does not showcase the good cooking skills that you have. Sorry for writing this but guys please don’t bother trying this 😭
Nicole says:
Hello Lovely, I am so sorry the recipe didn’t turn out as expected! I am really confused to be honest, this sauce is one of my favourites and I’ve been making it for years. It’s an adaptation to my very popular traditional bolognese so I’m confused with what may have went wrong. If you could provide any additional info around what happened – ie. did the gnocchi fall apart, was the sauce texture an issue etc and I can add notes to the recipe. It is one of my favourites! ❤️