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If you’re wondering what to serve with your gnocchi, you’ve come to the right place.

In this article, I list 39 of the most popular side dishes for gnocchi.

In a rush? Here’s the short answer.

The best dishes to serve with gnocchi are chicken paprikash, chicken pesto salad, lamb ragu, and pan-seared salmon. For veggie-based options, try garlic and brie mushrooms, creamed spinach and artichokes, or ratatouille. A simple side salad is never a bad idea either.

Ready? Let’s jump right in.

Chicken paprikash

This Hungarian classic is warm and rich, with fork-tender chicken and a slightly smoky, vibrantly-colored paprika sauce.

It’s traditionally served over egg noodles, but why not pair it with some gnocchi for a more indulgent dish?

Psst… serve the whole thing with a dollop of sour cream to balance out the prominent paprika flavor.

Why we love this recipe: its cozy and comforting.

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Chicken paprikash
Skip the chicken
Chickpea paprikash
Change the flavor
Chicken in white wine sauce

Pan-seared salmon with lemon butter sauce

Looking for something quick and easy but also fancy enough for date-night?

This tasty lemon butter sauce will bring a bright, citrusy note to go with the rich salmon and gnocchi (a creamy gnocchi is best).

Pro tip: make sure the salmon is dry before adding it to the pan, this will ensure it browns nicely.

Why we love this recipe: it looks and tastes like it came from a restaurant.

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Pan-seared salmon with lemon butter sauce
Make it decadent
Garlic butter Tuscan salmon
Ditch the salmon
Crusted halibut with white wine beurre blanc

Creamy garlic and brie mushrooms

Keep your gnocchi meal meat-free with a side of creamy mushrooms.

They come with a decadent sauce made from vegetable broth and brie cheese (a slightly weird but delicious combo).

Who’s going to say no to gnocchi smothered in a cheese sauce?

Psst… need a substitute for vegetable broth? I’ve got you covered.

Why we love this recipe: you can have it ready in 20 minutes.

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Creamy garlic and brie mushrooms
Change the flavor
Balsamic soy roasted garlic mushrooms
Make it healthier
Skillet zucchini and mushrooms

Arugula salad with pine nuts

If you’re in a real rush, this is the side for you.

You only need three ingredients (plus a dressing made from simple pantry staples) and it takes just a few minutes to throw together.

It’s a great recipe to have stuck on your fridge for emergencies.

Why we love this recipe: the dressing is made from scratch, so you know it won’t be bland.

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Arugula salad with lemon dressing
Skip the arugula
Kale caesar salad
Make it fancier
Arugula salad with blue cheese

Shakshuka

Enjoy your gnocchi for brunch by serving it with this classic Maghrebi dish.

It’s comforting and flavorful, thanks to the addition of warm spices like cumin, paprika, and chili powder.

But the best part about this dish is when you break the yolks and mix them with the tomato-based stew – yum!

Why we love this recipe: it’s naturally veggie-friendly.

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Shakshuka
Make it spicy
Eggs in Purgatory
Make it different
Texas chili

Creamed spinach and artichokes

This recipe is halfway between creamed spinach and a spinach and artichoke dip.

Parmesan and cream cheese are added to a roux, giving you an ultra-rich sauce which you can mix the veggies and gnocchi into.

Heads up, you might need a nap right after digging into this.

Why we love this recipe: it adds some holiday flair to your gnocchi.

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Creamed spinach and artichokes
Skip the spinach
Miso creamed kale
Keep it light
Brown butter sauteed spinach

Garlic butter shrimp and asparagus

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/35747390783266101/

Jazz up your gnocchi with a serving of this healthy shrimp and asparagus skillet.

All you need is 20 minutes, and you’ll have crisp-tender asparagus spears and soft, juicy shrimp ready to be served.

And don’t underestimate the power of a dash of sriracha sauce, overdo it and you’ll have a very spicy dinner!

Why we love this recipe: it’s clean and healthy, but still flavorful.

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Garlic butter shrimp and asparagus
Change the flavor
Asian chili garlic prawns
Skip the shrimp
Garlic butter steak bites

Shaved asparagus salad

Take a break from your leafy greens and whip up this shaved asparagus salad instead. It’s a great light side for a saucy gnocchi dish.

You don’t need any fancy ingredients, just a peeler.

And a little tip, the thick asparagus stalks are easier the shave than the thinner ones.

Why we love this recipe: it’s a no-cook dish, so you don’t have to spend too much time in the kitchen.

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Shaved asparagus salad
Ditch the asparagus
Shaved fennel salad
Keep it simple
Green bean and tomato salad

Broccoli cauliflower cheese soup

This dish features a rich, cheesy broth and crispy bacon bits, but you can pretend it’s healthy because it also has tons of cauliflower and broccoli.

Soup and gnocchi might sound strange, but the fluffy potato balls actually make great crouton alternatives.

Pro-tip: for a smooth, silky soup, blitz the soup with an immersion blender.

Why we love this recipe: it’s ideal for a cold winter night.

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Broccoli cauliflower cheese soup
Make it dairy-free
Vegan broccoli cheese soup
Ditch the broccoli
Italian gnocchi soup

Sausage, peppers, and mushrooms bake

If you’re looking for an all-in-one side for your gnocchi, this sausage bake has your back.

It features your classic combo of sausage and peppers, with the addition of mushrooms and a handful of mozzarella cheese to tie everything together.

It’s smoky, sweet, salty, umami, and oh-so-cheesy.

Why we love this recipe: it’s excellent for big group dinners.

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Sausage, peppers, and mushroom bake
Make it veggie-friendly
Veggie sausage, lentils, and red pepper bake
Make it smokey
Fried cabbage with kielbasa

Pesto chicken salad

Pesto pasta is a well loved classic.

So why not pesto gnocchi!

Mix this chicken into your gnocchi for a quick, tasty meal.

Psst… it will go great with the arugula side salad further up. And if you need more inspiration check out my article on what to serve with pesto gnocchi.

Why we love this recipe: you’ll learn how to make homemade pesto.

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Pesto chicken salad
Make it warm
Chicken tinga
Swap the meat
Pulled pork with BBQ sauce

Ratatouille

Got a load of veggies you need to use in your fridge. Chuck them all together and make a ratatouille.

This version isn’t intricately-arranged like you sometimes see in restaurants, but it’s equally as delicious.

The trick to perfecting this simple dish is to saute your veggies separately to prevent them turning mushy.

Why we love this recipe: even die-hard meat lovers can’t say no to this stew.

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Ratatouille
Skip the summer vegetables
Roasted root vegetable stew
Make it fancy
Mushroom bourguignon

Braised lamb ragu

You can’t go wrong with the classics.

Any kind of ragu will go great with gnocchi, but I like a lamb ragu because I rarely eat lamb!

Serve the meal with a glass of your favorite red wine for a weekend treat.

Why we love this recipe: it freezes really well so you can make a big batch and save some for later.

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Braised lamb ragu
Use beef
Beef ragu
Make it meat-free
Veggie balls in creamy marsala sauce

What sauce goes well with gnocchi?

Brown butter sage is the simplest sauce you can toss your gnocchi with. A simple pomodoro sauce or a basil pesto sauce are great options too. For something creamy, try an alfredo sauce or a gorgonzola sauce. For something more rich, try a lamb ragu.

The best sauce to serve with gnocchi