Crispy Air Fryer Gnocchi is an easy-to-make snack or appetizer that transforms gnocchi into a delightful combination of crispy and flavorful, while preserving that soft, pillowy texture on the inside!

Air fryer gnocchi on a plate next to a small bowl of tomato sauce.

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    The Best Air Fryer Gnocchi Recipe

    This air fryer gnocchi recipe makes the best, most pop-able little snack bites! The flavor is taken up a notch by a blend of bold seasonings, and then crisped up to serious perfection in the air fryer in just 15 minutes.

    Gnocchi is usually soft and squishy, but the air fryer adds a golden-brown crust on the outside that adds a depth of flavor and texture. One of the beautiful parts of this gnocchi recipe is that you can use homemade gnocchi, frozen gnocchi, shelf-stable gnocchi, or refrigerated gnocchi! You can also use any variation of gnocchi, including a sweet potato version if you prefer!

    Dip it into your favorite dipping sauces, or use them as delicious croutons to add to salads and soups.

    Air fried gnocchi on a plate with a fork picking one up to dip.

    Ingredients Needed

    • Gnocchi: You can use store-bought gnocchi or make your own! I used shelf-stable, store-bought gnocchi in this recipe.
    • Olive Oil & Butter: A combination of olive oil and butter will help add flavor and make these perfectly crispy!
    • Seasonings: Garlic powder, onions powder, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper will season up these little gnocchi bites to perfection.
    • Tomato Sauce: I like to serve mine with a little side of jarred marinara sauce! These would also be yummy with ranch!
    • Parmesan Cheese: If desired, sprinkle with a garnish of parmesan cheese before serving.
    Ingredients needed for air fryer gnocchi.

    How to Make THis Recipe

    1. Preheat & Prep: Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees. Spray the metal insert of the air fryer with nonstick cooking spray.
    Gnocchi in a small bowl with olive oil and spices in the bowl.
    1. Combine With Seasonings: In a medium bowl, combine the gnocchi, olive oil, butter, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Toss to coat the gnocchis in the seasoning and oil/butter.
    Gnocchi mixed with the seasonings and spices in a mixing bowl before being cooked.
    1. Air Fry: Pour the gnocchis in the air fryer and cook for 12-15 minutes or until they are starting to get golden brown and crispy on the outside.
    2. Serve: Serve immediately with marinara sauce for dipping and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese, if desired. To reheat, pop them back in the air fryer for 4-5 minutes to recrisp!
    Gnocchi coated in spices in an air fryer basket.

    Tips for Success

    • Cooking time may vary depending on what kind of gnocchi you are using! Frozen and homemade gnocchi will both take a little bit longer to warm through and get crispy. If you are using frozen gnocchi, there is not need to thaw it.
    • Don’t skip the oil and butter! These air fryer gnocchi need to be coated in a cooking fat like olive oil and butter in order to get super crispy.
    • If using homemade gnocchi, skip the step to boil it and go straight to air frying it! This will cook the gnocchi and crisp it up at the same time.
    • Shake the basket occasionally! I recommend shaking the air fryer basket at least once during the cooking process to make sure that the gnocchi get crispy on all sides.
    Close up shot of crispy gnocchi on a white plate with a bowl of marinara sauce on the side.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How should I serve air fryer gnocchi?

    You can serve your air fried gnocchi as a side with tomato soup or marry me chicken! They would also be amazing as a crouton alternative on top of chicken cobb salad or caesar pasta salad.
    If you are eating them on your own, they are amazing as an appetizer or snack with a simple tomato pasta sauce to dip, or with ranch

    Is air fryer gnocchi vegan?

    This will depend on the kind of gnocchi you use. Usually, homemade gnocchi contains eggs, so it is not vegan. But many of the store-bought brands are vegan! Just be sure to check the ingredients list. When making this recipe, you can simply replace the butter with more olive oil and omit the parmesan to make these vegan!

    How should I store leftover air fryer gnocchi?

    Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. To reheat, pop them back in the air fryer for 4-5 minutes so that they stay crispy!

    Fork with a gnocchi on it being dipped into tomato sauce.

    More APpetizer Recipes to Try

    Air Fryer Gnocchi

    5 from 1 vote
    Crispy Air Fryer Gnocchi is an easy-to-make snack or appetizer that transforms gnocchi into a delightful combination of crispy and flavorful, while preserving that soft, pillowy texture on the inside!
    Servings: 4
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes

    Ingredients 

    Instructions 

    • Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees. Spray the metal insert of the air fryer with nonstick cooking spray.
    • In a medium bowl combine the gnocchi, olive oil, butter, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, Italian seasonings, salt and pepper. Toss to coat the gnocchis in the seasoning and oil / butter.
    • Pour the gnocchis in the air fryer and cook for 12-15 minutes or until they are starting to get golden brown and crispy on the outside.
    • Serve immediately with marina sauce for dipping and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese, if desired.
    • To reheat: Pop these back in the air fryer for 4-5 minutes to recrisp.

    Nutrition Information

    Calories: 246kcalCarbohydrates: 42gProtein: 5gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 677mgPotassium: 27mgFiber: 3gSugar: 0.1gVitamin A: 216IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 32mgIron: 4mg

    Did you make this?

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