Vegan Gnocchi with Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Sauce - My Life After Dairy (2024)

Last Updated on March 21, 2024 by Annie

Elevate your weeknight dinner routine with this creamy vegan gnocchi recipe. Soft tender gnocchi swimming in a creamy sun dried tomato sauce topped with fresh basil comes together in under 30 minutes for a one-pan dish everyone will enjoy!

Oh my creamy goodness. This vegan gnocchi with creamy sun dried tomato sauce is an absolute dream and I am not ashamed to admit we’ve made this for dinner well over a dozen times because it’s just that good.

This recipe was adapted from Cafe Delights’ Creamy Tuscan Gnocchi Recipe. The first time I stumbled upon this recipe, I was craving a comfort food that could give me all the deep cozy vibes without spending hours in the kitchen. With just a few simple swaps, I was able to make this creamy tuscan gnocchi and turn it into a vegan delight.

With pillowy soft gnocchi, juicy sun dried tomatoes, a rich vegan cream sauce, and a healthy dose of spinach, this creamy vegan gnocchi recipe is an all-in-one meal that will leave you feeling full and warm all night long.

Why We LOVE this Creamy Vegan Gnocchi Recipe

You know I love a creamy pasta dish, so if I can whip one up in less than 30 minutes and be back on the couch watching whatever has my attention at the moment, you know I’m all about that. Here are some of the top reasons to pick up your skillet and get cooking.

• One pan dinner. Everything cooks up in one skillet making clean up a breeze.
• Ready in under 30 minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights or when you want something luxurious without taking up your whole night.
• Vegan. Made with simple, vegan ingredients for a delicious dish everyone can enjoy.

How to Make Vegan Gnocchi with Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Sauce

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Oil– Olive oil or a vegan butter can be used to cook the onions and garlic.
• Onion + Garlic– Adds a little depth of flavor (and when have you known me not to go ham on the garlic ?!?)
• Gnocchi– Store-bought, pre-made gnocchi works best in this recipe.
• Sun-dried tomatoes– Jarred sun-dried tomatoes in oil give a subtle tomato flavor to the sauce.
• Spices– A blend of salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning flavor this dish.
• Coconut Milk– Full fat coconut milk makes the sauce irresistibly creamy while also keeping it vegan.
• Vegetable broth– Helps add a little flavor to the sauce.
• Spinach– Roughly chopped for a boost of veggies in every bite.

Step-By-Step Directions for Creamy Vegan Gnocchi

• Cook onion: In a large skillet or pot heat olive oil over medium heat. Once hot, add onions and cook until translucent, about 2-3 minutes.
• Add garlic: Next, add the minced or micro-planed garlic. Stir in and allow to cook about 30 seconds or until fragrant.
• Sear gnocchi: Add the gnocchi into the pan, breaking it apart before putting in the the skillet. Stir to coat with oil and cook a minute or two on each side.
• Stir in sun dried tomatoes: Once the gnocchi start to brown a bit, stir in the sun dried tomatoes and reserved oil. I like to chop my sun dried tomatoes before putting them in the pan, but you can also just leave them whole if you prefer.

• Add liquids: Pour in the vegetable broth, coconut milk, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Stir to combine then lower the heat and cover with a lid.
• Thicken: Cook for about 5 minutes, or until the liquid reduces and thickens a little.
• Stir in spinach: Once the liquids reduce to a little over half, stir in the spinach and remove from heat allowing the heat from the gnocchi to wilt the spinach.
• Serve: Taste and season with additional salt and pepper as needed. Serve and garnish with fresh basil.

Dairy-Free and Vegan Changes to Gnocchi with Sun Dried Tomato Sauce

I made a few changes to the original recipe to make this a vegan dish.

• Swapped out butter for olive oil.
• Used vegetable broth in place of chicken broth.
• Made the creamy sauce with full-fat coconut milk instead of heavy cream.

Helpful Kitchen Tools

When you are ready to make this simple vegan gnocchi recipe, here are some tools to help you along the way.

• Skillet with lid– This deep skillet gives enough room for the ingredients to cook without worrying if they will over-crowd the pan.
• Liquid measuring cup– Great for measuring the coconut milk and the vegetable broth.

What to Serve with Creamy Vegan Gnocchi

The beautiful thing about this vegan gnocchi is that it pairs with just about anything. Some of my favorite sides to serve with any pasta dish include:

• Pesto Rolls with Garlic Butter
• Garlic Knots
• Skillet Garlic Focaccia
• Simple Side Salad
• Vegan Garlic Bread

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you replace coconut milk in this recipe?

Want to keep it vegan but want something other than coconut milk? You can easily swap the coconut milk out for oat milk.

If you don’t have a coconut allergy but just don’t like the flavor of coconut milk, you can also try a heavy whipping cream alternative like Silk’s Dairy-Free Heavy Whipping Cream. It does contain coconut oil but does not have any coconut flavor.

Another heavy whipping cream alternative I have been using frequently is Country Crock’s Plant Cream. It also contains coconut oil but does not have a distinctive flavor.

Can you use fresh gnocchi in this recipe?

If you want to use fresh gnocchi I would suggest making the sauce before adding in the gnocchi. Fresh gnocchi will be too tender and might fall apart in the cooking process if added in too soon.

More Vegan Pasta Recipes to Try Next

• One Pot Vegan Garlic Pasta
• Creamy Garlic Orzo Pasta
• Vegan Bruschetta Pasta
• Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad

If you tried this creamy vegan gnocchi recipe feel free to leave a comment below! I would love to hear how it went! Or, snap a picture and share it with me on Instagram by tagging@mylifeafterdairyto share allyourlife after dairy adventures!

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