Cheeseburger Gnocchi

A couple of years ago a friend sent me this recipe from Kevin and Amanda. Fast forward to now, and it is easily Reese’s favorite dinner! This is the first recipe I’d ever cooked with gnocchi. We all love it and I love that it’s a super easy one-pot meal!

Things I tweak: The recipe calls for half a pound of ground beef, but I have a family of meat-eaters, so I usually use closer to a pound. Though it’s listed as optional, I always use the mustard powder. I rarely bother with the scallions. If you’re dairy-free, go with a non-dairy cheese substitute and try dairy-free half & half. My friend gets the Silk brand at Sprouts!

Ingredients (Adapted from Kevin and Amanda):

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 (16 oz) package potato gnocchi
• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon mustard powder
• 2 cups diced onion (about 1 whole onion)
• 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 (10-oz) can Ro-Tel Diced Tomatoes and Green Chiles
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1/4 cup heavy cream or half & half
• 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Directions:

1. Melt butter in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add gnocchi in a single layer and cook on one side for 2-3 minutes until browned and toasted. Shake the pan to toss the gnocchi and continue cooking for another 2-3 minutes, tossing occasionally, until both sides are toasted. Remove gnocchi to a plate and set aside.
2. Turn the heat to high and return skillet to stove. When the pan is very hot and smoking, add the beef and season with salt, pepper, cumin, paprika, and mustard powder. Add the onion and garlic, and cook, stirring occasionally, until beef is browned and onions are golden. Drain if necessary.
3. Add the tomatoes, broth, and gnocchi back into the skillet. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil, then cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for 5 minutes until the gnocchi is tender and liquid is mostly absorbed.
4. Off heat, then add the cream and 1/2 cup cheese and stir to combine. Top with remaining cheese. Place the skillet under the broiler in the oven until cheese is browned and bubbly, about 3 minutes.

Be prepared for no leftovers, but be grateful for only one pan to clean!