My Go-To Gnocchi Skillet Recipe

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Even with Daylight Savings, the daylight still seems to run out quickly, doesn’t it? This one’s for anyone who is looking to add more quick, easy meal ideas to their recipe arsenal. When life gets busy, it is so helpful to have go-to recipes with only a few ingredients you can grab or keep on hand, and that are simple to assemble.

That’s why I’m here today with a delicious, cozy dinner that you can throw together in no time. Whether you’re looking to maximize time with your child, or you need something fast after work, or you’re looking for iron-boosting vegetarian inspiration, keep reading because this is for you! 

Did you know that using cast iron cookware can be a natural way to increase your iron intake? If you didn’t know, cooking in a cast iron skillet can help to increase the iron content of some foods! Acidic foods like tomatoes can react with the metal in a skillet and absorb some of the iron molecules. I’ve been enjoying cooking in cast iron more often as well as getting in lots of dark leafy greens (as a vegetarian, I’m always mindful to watch my iron levels!). Of course, you should always talk to your doctor about your specific needs. 

Okay, let’s jump into the recipe! This is one of my favourite and most repeated meals in my household. Conrad, Quinn and I are all huge gnocchi fans and eat it at least once a week. We love using local tomato sauce or organic when possible, nutritional yeast (for nutrients like vitamin B12), vegetables from our garden (when possible) and different vegan meats. In fact, this gnocchi skillet is 100% vegan, but it’s super easy to modify if you need to swap out something. It’s perfect for trying out Meatless Monday or making a Friday Favourite, and I can’t wait to hear what you think!

Here’s what you’ll need:

Equipment: 

• Cast iron skillet (or any skillet)

• Cutting board and knife

• Wooden spoon

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp vegan butter (option to use regular butter)

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• Pack of gnocchi (I used one that cooks in 5 minutes, without boiling)

• 1/2 onion, diced

• 2 garlic cloves, diced

• Vegan sausage - I used The Very Good Butchers (option to use regular meat)

• 1 cup peas

• 1 can of pasta sauce

• Spices: salt, pepper, oregano, smoked paprika for heat

• Nutritional yeast for topping (optional)

Yield: 3-4 servings

Cook time: Appx. 20 min

Gnocchi skillet recipe:

1. Dice the onion and garlic and chop your vegan (or regular) sausage.

2. Heat your skillet over medium. When your skillet is hot, add butter and oil. (We love using both for this recipe!)

3. Saute onions for 2-3 minutes.

4. Add sausage to the skillet and cook for appx. 5 minutes or until sausage starts browning, stirring occasionally.

5. Add gnocchi and cook for 5 more minutes.

6. Stir in garlic and peas, and keep cooking for about 2 minutes, until garlic is fragrant.

7. Pour in your pasta sauce, stir, and turn heat down to medium-low.

8. Mix in spices to taste.

9. Let simmer for at least 5 minutes.

10. Top with nutritional yeast if desired.

    Enjoy!

Did you make this recipe? Let me know what you think, and if you found any creative ways to modify it! I love chatting with you in my Instagram DMs, so you can always feel free to find me there. :) Thanks so much for reading, and keep your eyes peeled for future veg-friendly recipes on the blog!