This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
This 5-ingredient Cauliflower Gnocchi Bolognese is a delicious 30-minute meal! It is gluten-free, dairy-free, grain-free, and uses ingredients you most likely already have on hand! Easy dinners for the win!
What Makes This Recipe Great
This Paleo Gnocchi Bolognese is one of my new favorite meals that I whipped up after scouring the fridge and pantry on a busy weeknight. All you need is a bag of frozen cauliflower gnocchi from Trader Joe’s, some ground beef, spinach, marinara sauce, and Nut Pods creamer. It comes together so quickly and is such a satisfying meal!
Next time you're frantically searching for something quick to get on the table, meal prep, or even make for a Sunday night dinner, this easy gnocchi with bolognese recipe is here to save the day! This pillowy gnocchi is the ultimate comfort food!
Ingredient Notes
You only need 5 simple ingredients to make this dish! This is seriously one of my favorite ways to get a healthy, easy meal on the table in no time. See the recipe card below for the printable version.
- Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocchi: this can be found in the store’s freezer section with the pasta. You can also use store-bought potato gnocchi if preferred. Trader Joe's also sells a sweet potato version if that sounds yummy!
- Marinara Sauce: I prefer to use Rao’s Homemade, which makes a super hearty bolognese sauce. You can always make your own fresh tomato sauce and season with bay leaves, Italian seasoning, or fresh herbs.
- Ground Beef or Italian Sausage
- Spinach: raw, about 2 cups
- Olive oil
- Salt and black pepper
- Nutpods dairy-free creamer: Original flavor. Also, if you do not have Nutpods, you can also make a cashew cream out of ½ cup water and ½ cup cashews, blended. OR heavy cream if you tolerate dairy!
- Garnish with fresh basil and grated cheese like parmesan cheese or mozzarella cheese and red pepper flakes for an extra kick. Keep in mind that using cheese will make this recipe not paleo-friendly.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Cook the ground beef (or sausage) in a non-stick pan over medium heat until completely browned and cooked through. Remove from the pan using a slotted spoon and set aside.
- Heat the oil in the same large pan and add the frozen gnocchi in a single layer. Cover the pan and let them cook for 3-4 minutes (without stirring). Flip them and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes until browned. Add the ground beef back to the pan along with the marinara sauce. Stir the spinach while cooking over medium heat until it is wilted.
- Stir in the Nutpods (or cream of choice) to the cooked gnocchi and get to a gentle simmer. Add salt and pepper to taste (and parmesan if that’s your thing!) – Enjoy this delicious meal!
Storage Tips
Store leftover gnocchi bolognese in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. It's so delicious the next day as all the flavors meld together and continue to taste amazing!
If you have leftover bolognese sauce, store it in its own container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Use it for other pasta recipes, a potato gnocchi recipe, or another bag of this pillowy soft gnocchi made from cauliflower!
Recipe FAQ’s
Traditional gnocchi is made with potato; however it usually also contains regular flour. There are many gluten free variations of gnocchi available, including this cauliflower gnocchi from Trader Joe’s.
More Easy Gluten Free Recipes
Brown Butter Sage Gnocchi with Chicken and Spinach
Deconstructed Stuffed Peppers Skillet
Easy Creamy Gnocchi Bolognese with Spinach (Paleo)
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef , or Italian sausage
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 bags Trader Joe's cauliflower gnocchi
- 2 cups marinara sauce, I like Rao's Homemade
- 2 cups raw spinach
- ½ cup Original flavor Nutpods creamer, or cashew cream, or regular cream if you tolerate dairy
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the ground beef (or sausage) in a non-stick pan over medium heat until completely browned and cooked through. Remove from the pan using a slotted spoon and set aside.
- Heat the oil in the same pan and add the frozen gnocchi in a single layer. Cover the pan and let them cook for 3-4 minutes (without stirring). Flip them and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes until browned. Add the ground beef back to the pan along with the marinara sauce. Stir the spinach in while cooking over medium heat until it is wilted.
- Stir in the Nutpods (or cream of choice). Add salt and pepper to taste (and parmesan if that's your thing!) – Enjoy this delicious gnocchi bolognese!
Notes
Storage Tips
Store leftover gnocchi bolognese in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. It’s so delicious the next day as all the flavors meld together and continue to taste amazing! If you have leftover bolognese sauce, store it in its own container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Use it for other pasta recipes, a potato gnocchi recipe, or another bag of this pillowy soft gnocchi made from cauliflower!Nutrition
All nutrition facts are an estimate and automatically calculated. While I fact check them using My Fitness Pal, please note that they may not always be 100% accurate and depend on ingredients used. Weigh your total and divide by the number of servings for the most accurate grams per serving size.
Such an amazing and super easy weeknight dinner! Just whipped this up after a long 12hr shift and took me less than 20mins 👍 I sliced up some Applegate Italian chicken sausage and zucchini that needed to be used and sautéed that with the gnocchi. Added some vodka sauce and frozen peas, then stirred in some grated Parmesan at the end! 10/10 will make again!
Tried this dish for the first time tonight, one of my top favs from Mary! I chose the cashew cream option. My 15 month old ate 3 servings!
This is a weekly rotation dinner for me! It’s so simple to make but so delicious and not heavy at all.
This Paleo Gnocchi Bolognese will absolutely be a part of our monthly meal rotation. Such an easy and and delicious dinner. Thanks for another great recipe, Mary!
I live in Canada. No trader Joe’s any substitute?
If you are using heavy cream, what amount would you use?
I made this recipe and absolutely loved it! I’ll definitely make it again soon
So this is fantastic! I’ve never used TJ’s cauliflower gnocchi and I was pleasantly surprised. My husband and I could have devoured the entire skillet in one sitting. Will likely make this weekly as its so easy, quick and comes together in one pan.
I made this recipe and it couldn’t be easier! I love cauliflower gnocchi and I always have Nutpods so this was quick and made with items I already have. It is delicious and curbs the pasta craving.
Yes!! I made this during quarentine a while back with chicken and the primal kitchen vodka sauce!! It’s so simple, delicious and comes together so quickly!