Mashed Potato Gnocchi
Use up those leftover potatoes with this easy recipe for mashed potato gnocchi! Fun to make and delicious to eat.
Have some leftover mashed potatoes in the fridge? Turn them into tender, pillowy homemade gnocchi! This easy mashed potato gnocchi recipe uses just three simple ingredients—mashed potatoes, flour and an egg—and cooks in only five minutes. Serve your gnocchi with tomato sauce, pesto, browned butter or any favorite pasta sauce for a quick and delicious supper.
Jump to:
- 🔎 A quick look at this recipe
- ⭐️ Why this recipe works
- 🤔 What is gnocchi?
- 🥔 Ingredients you need
- 📝 Ingredient notes
- 💡 Ingredient substitution ideas
- Here’s how you make mashed potato gnocchi!
- Mashed Potato Gnocchi
- 👩🏻🍳 Variations on this recipe
- 😍 Other gnocchi recipes we love!
- ⭐️ We want to know what you think!
- 🥣 Come on into our kitchen!
🔎 A quick look at this recipe
- What It Is: Tender homemade gnocchi made with leftover mashed potatoes, flour and an egg.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Servings: 2 servings
- Calories: 385
- Cooking Method: Stovetop
- Good For: Using up leftovers, quick dinners, budget-friendly meals
⭐️ Why this recipe works
- 🥔 Leftovers get a delicious makeover: Mashed potatoes turn into tender, pillowy homemade gnocchi.
- 🥚 You need only three ingredients: Just mashed potatoes, flour and an egg!
- ⏱️ It cooks in minutes: Once the gnocchi are shaped, they need only about five minutes in boiling water.
- 🍝 Any favorite sauce will work: Serve them with tomato sauce, pesto, browned butter or simply butter and Parmesan.
- 💰 It’s budget-friendly: A cup of leftover potatoes becomes a cozy supper for two.
Of course, this recipe does depend on the minor miracle of actually having leftover mashed potatoes. Apparently, some people can put a bowl of mashed potatoes on the table and not finish every last buttery spoonful?
If that unlikely event happens in your house, tuck one cup into the fridge—because tomorrow’s mashed potato gnocchi will make your heroic restraint completely worthwhile. 😂
🤔 What is gnocchi?
Gnocchi (pronounced NYOH-kee) are small, soft Italian dumplings traditionally made with potatoes, flour and sometimes egg. They cook quickly in boiling water and are delicious with everything from tomato sauce and pesto to browned butter and Parmesan.
🥔 Ingredients you need
📝 Ingredient notes
- Mashed potatoes: Plain leftover mashed potatoes work best. Potatoes made with butter and a little milk or cream are fine, but avoid very loose or heavily loaded mashed potatoes, since they may require more flour.
- Egg: One egg helps bind the potatoes and flour together so the gnocchi hold their shape while cooking.
- Flour: Regular all-purpose flour is perfect. Start with the amount called for, then add a little more only if the dough is too sticky to handle—too much flour can make the gnocchi heavy instead of tender. Keep extra flour handy for dusting your work surface.
💡 Ingredient substitution ideas
Missing something or want to swap in something different? Check out the links below to find more ingredient substitution ideas. 👇🏻
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities and nutritional information.
Here’s how you make mashed potato gnocchi!
Put two cups of mashed potatoes, two eggs and 2 cups of flour in a bowl and mix until well combined.
Dust your counter with a little flour. I also sometimes use a Silpat for this so things don’t get too sticky.
Pick up the potato dough and form it into a ball, rolling it on the counter.
It should hold together without being too sticky – you can add a little extra flour if you need to.
Pull the ball into four sections, and then roll each section into a rope – you want it to be about one inch thick or so.
Use a sharp knife to cut the ropes into 1 inch long gnocchi.
If you want to get extra fancy, you can gently press the tine of a fork into each one to get those classic gnocchi lines – they help hold the sauce!
Now all you need to do is cook them up!
Bring a pot of water to a boil and salt it heavily. Carefully drop in the gnocchi and cook them until they are done – they will float to the surface when they are finished cooking. Scoop them out with a slotted spoon.
Divide them among plates and serve with tomato sauce, butter, pesto or whatever sauce your heart desires!
Mashed potatoes – the suppertime gift that keeps on giving!
Mashed Potato Gnocchi
Use up those leftover potatoes with this easy recipe for mashed potato gnocchi! Fun to make and delicious to eat.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 2 cups mashed potatoes
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups flour, plus extra for dusting
Instructions
- Put the potatoes, egg and flour in a bowl and mix until well combined.
- Dust your counter with a little flour. Pick up the potato dough and form it into a ball, rolling it on the counter. It should hold together without being too sticky – you can add a little extra flour if you need to.
- Cut the ball into four sections, and then roll each section into a rope – you want it to be about one inch thick or so.
- Use a sharp knife to cut the ropes into 1 inch long gnocchi. If you want to get extra fancy, you can gently press the tine of a fork into each one to get those classic gnocchi lines – they help hold the sauce!
- Bring a pot of water to a boil and salt it heavily. Carefully drop in the gnocchi and cook them until they are done, about 5 minutes – they will float to the surface when they are finished cooking. Scoop them out with a slotted spoon.
- Divide them among plates and serve with tomato sauce, butter, pesto or whatever sauce your heart desires!
Notes
-
- Mashed potatoes: Plain leftover mashed potatoes work best. Potatoes made with butter and a little milk or cream are fine, but avoid very loose or heavily loaded mashed potatoes, since they may require more flour.
-
- Egg: One egg helps bind the potatoes and flour together so the gnocchi hold their shape while cooking.
-
- Flour: Regular all-purpose flour is perfect. Start with the amount called for, then add a little more only if the dough is too sticky to handle—too much flour can make the gnocchi heavy instead of tender. Keep extra flour handy for dusting your work surface.
👩🏻🍳 Variations on this recipe
😍 Other gnocchi recipes we love!
⭐️ We want to know what you think!
If you try this recipe, we would love to hear how it came out for you! I’d be super grateful if you could leave a star rating (you pick how many stars! 🌟 ) and your thoughts in the Comments section below.
Looking for more pasta inspiration? We’ve got you covered! 🥳 Here is our complete collection of pasta recipes.
So good and so easy! I used Bob’s Red Mill gluten free 1-1 and it worked perfectly! Will definitely always make extra mashed potatoes for this delicious recipe. Great excuse to make browned butter and crispy sage leaves! Yum!
Hi Kathey and hurray! So glad this worked for you and thank you for the tip for our gluten-free friends!
EASY PEAZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It’s the best reason I know to make extra mashed potatoes! :)
Thank you. I love gnocchi, but have never found a good store bought gnocchi and have never been successful making it in the past, but this recipe is wonderful!
Hi Kristi, and I’m so glad you like it! It’s gotten to the point where I now deliberately make extra mashed potatoes so I can have gnocchi on the regular. :) :)
I hate to admit it, but I have never made gnocchi. (hanging head in shame) BUT….your recipe here makes it look easy and I do have some leftover mashed potatoes I need to use up so….I am going to be brave and give it a shot. Wish me luck!
Oh, you won’t need luck – I already know you are fantastic in the kitchen! Can’t wait to hear what you think of these. :)