Creamy Smoked Salmon Gnocchi Dinner Recipe
Creamy Smoked Salmon Gnocchi is the ultimate comfort food, ready in just 20 minutes. After making this many times, I’ve perfected the creamiest, most indulgent sauce. Jump to the recipe card or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Persian Noodle Soup with Lentils and Fresh Herbs and Easy Garlic Butter Steak Bites with Potatoes Recipe.
Why This Creamy Smoked Salmon Gnocchi Dinner Recipe Is Pure Comfort
- The creamiest, most indulgent sauce you've ever tasted
- Ready in just 20 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights
- Better than takeout and packed with protein from the smoked salmon
- Easy to customize with your favorite veggies or herbs
What You'll Need for Creamy Smoked Salmon Gnocchi Dinner Recipe
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- 1 lb gnocchi
- 8 oz smoked salmon
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tsp paprika (optional, for color)
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- Optional: Red pepper flakes
- Optional: Fresh chives or green onions, chopped
- Optional: Lemon wedges
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Gnocchi: You can use store-bought or homemade gnocchi for this recipe.
- Smoked salmon: I recommend using thinly sliced smoked salmon for this recipe. You can also use smoked salmon fillets and dice them into small pieces.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Non-stick skillet — Ensures even cooking and prevents the gnocchi from sticking to the pan. → See on Amazon
- Microplane grater — Makes quick work of grating the Parmesan cheese and minced garlic. → See on Amazon
How to Make Creamy Smoked Salmon Gnocchi Dinner Recipe
- Cook gnocchi: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the gnocchi and cook until they float to the surface, about 2-3 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Cook salmon: In a large skillet, cook the smoked salmon over medium heat until it begins to crisp, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Make the sauce: In the same skillet, add the heavy cream, garlic, and paprika (if using). Cook over medium heat until the cream has thickened, about 3-5 minutes.
- Combine and serve: Add the cooked gnocchi and Parmesan cheese to the skillet, stirring until the cheese has melted and the gnocchi are coated in the sauce. Return the cooked salmon to the skillet and stir to combine. Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Creamy Smoked Salmon Gnocchi Dinner Recipe
- Common mistake and fix: Don't overcook the gnocchi. They can become mushy and break apart. Keep an eye on them and drain as soon as they float to the surface.
- Substitution tip: If you're not a fan of smoked salmon, you can substitute it with cooked bacon or pancetta.
- Make-ahead tip: You can cook the gnocchi and crisp the salmon ahead of time. Just reheat the gnocchi in the sauce and add the salmon before serving.
- Presentation tip: For a fancier presentation, you can plate the gnocchi on a bed of arugula or spinach and top with the crispy salmon and a drizzle of lemon juice.
Storing & Reheating Creamy Smoked Salmon Gnocchi Dinner Recipe
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: You can cook the gnocchi and crisp the salmon ahead of time. Just reheat the gnocchi in the sauce and add the salmon before serving.
Freezing Creamy Smoked Salmon Gnocchi Dinner Recipe
This dish does not freeze well due to the cream sauce.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes, or until heated through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, or until heated through. Stir halfway through to ensure even heating.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For an extra indulgent touch, you can stir in a tablespoon of butter at the end of cooking for a richer, glossier sauce.
- Best substitution: If you're not a fan of smoked salmon, you can substitute it with cooked bacon or pancetta.
- Make-ahead: You can cook the gnocchi and crisp the salmon ahead of time. Just reheat the gnocchi in the sauce and add the salmon before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe is easy to scale up or down. Just adjust the quantities of the ingredients accordingly.
- Troubleshooting: If your sauce is too thick, you can thin it out with a little bit of pasta water or heavy cream. If it's too thin, let it simmer for a few more minutes to reduce and thicken.
Want to level up this recipe?
High-quality non-stick skillet — Ensures even cooking and prevents the gnocchi from sticking to the pan. A good non-stick skillet pays for itself in no time by reducing the need for oil and making cleanup a breeze. → Check price on Amazon
Creamy Smoked Salmon Gnocchi Dinner Recipe
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb gnocchi
- 8 oz smoked salmon
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Seasonings
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tsp paprika (optional, for color)
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Optional Toppings
- Red pepper flakes
- Fresh chives or green onions, chopped
- Lemon wedges
Instructions
- Cook gnocchi: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the gnocchi and cook until they float to the surface, about 2-3 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Cook salmon: In a large skillet, cook the smoked salmon over medium heat until it begins to crisp, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Make the sauce: In the same skillet, add the heavy cream, garlic, and paprika (if using). Cook over medium heat until the cream has thickened, about 3-5 minutes.
- Combine and serve: Add the cooked gnocchi and Parmesan cheese to the skillet, stirring until the cheese has melted and the gnocchi are coated in the sauce. Return the cooked salmon to the skillet and stir to combine. Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley.
Notes
- Chef tip: For an extra indulgent touch, you can stir in a tablespoon of butter at the end of cooking for a richer, glossier sauce.
- Best substitution: If you're not a fan of smoked salmon, you can substitute it with cooked bacon or pancetta.
- Make-ahead: You can cook the gnocchi and crisp the salmon ahead of time. Just reheat the gnocchi in the sauce and add the salmon before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe is easy to scale up or down. Just adjust the quantities of the ingredients accordingly.
- Troubleshooting: If your sauce is too thick, you can thin it out with a little bit of pasta water or heavy cream. If it's too thin, let it simmer for a few more minutes to reduce and thicken.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: This dish does not freeze well due to the cream sauce.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes, or until heated through.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, or until heated through. Stir halfway through to ensure even heating.
- Make ahead: You can cook the gnocchi and crisp the salmon ahead of time. Just reheat the gnocchi in the sauce and add the salmon before serving.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 570
- Protein: 25g
- Fat: 36g
- Carbs: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 1200mg
- Cholesterol: 130mg
- Sat. Fat: 21g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Creamy Smoked Salmon Gnocchi Dinner Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can cook the gnocchi and crisp the salmon ahead of time. Just reheat the gnocchi in the sauce and add the salmon before serving.
Overcooking the gnocchi can cause them to become mushy and break apart. Keep an eye on them and drain as soon as they float to the surface.
This dish does not freeze well due to the cream sauce. I recommend eating it fresh or storing leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days.
While you can cook the gnocchi in the air fryer, the sauce is best made on the stovetop. I recommend cooking the gnocchi in the air fryer and then combining them with the sauce in a skillet.
The best way to reheat this dish is in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes, or until heated through. You can also reheat it in the microwave, but stir halfway through to ensure even heating.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Creamy Smoked Salmon Gnocchi Dinner Recipe and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
