Sweet Corn Gnocchi Skillet Recipe

Name: Sweet Corn Gnocchi Skillet
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 1 pound gnocchi; 2 tablespoons olive oil; Kernels from 3 ears sweet corn, or about 3 cups corn kernels; 1 small sweet onion, diced; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 1/2 cup heavy cream (optional); 1/2 teaspoon salt; Ground black pepper; 8 ounces small mozzarella balls (also called pearls or ciliegine); Fresh basil, minced

It's summertime and the living is easy—well, at least finding and purchasing delicious sweet corn is easy! This recipe seems almost too good to be true. It's sweet, creamy, and filling; plus it only takes a few ingredients, and comes together in less than 30 minutes!

Let’s check out what makes this dish so great (and if my kids liked it).

Sweet Corn Gnocchi Skillet Recipe - mozzarella gnocchi and corn on spoon with garnish — Nick Evans

What Are Gnocchi?

Gnocchi (pronounced nyow-kee) are small, potato-based dumplings that have been boiled lightly in salted water. Some people think of gnocchi as a fancy restaurant-only dish, but you can find pre-made gnocchi in most grocery stores. Once cooked, all you need is a simple sauce and a few add-ins for a complete meal.

Note: Since gnocchi is usually made with a little flour, it is not gluten-free. Try making these Cauliflower Gnocchi if you need a gluten-free recipe!

Corn Off the Cob Gnocchi Skillet - corn gnocchi skillet on blue plate with fork — Nick Evans

Why You Should Use Fresh Corn in This Recipe

Corn is in season this time of year, so don't use frozen corn unless you already have an abundance of it in your freezer, or you're making this another time of year. Find some fresh, sweet corn in the store or market and cut the kernels off the cob. Use a sharp knife, and cut the kernels off over a bowl so they don't scatter around your countertop!

Go Light or Heavy on the Sauce—you Pick!

When it comes to the sauce for this skillet, you can either use a little water from cooking the gnocchi to make a light sauce, or you can use cream for a richer flavor.

What Is Gnocchi? - corn and gnocchi skillet — Nick Evans

The Kid Report Card

"Team. Are you ready for special basketball pasta?!" That’s how I sold this to my kids: basketball pasta—except please shoot it in your mouth instead of in the hoop. (Yes, we have a basketball hoop in our dining room and, no, I don’t want to get into it.)

This is a great dish for kids. The flavors have a few twists, but are overall mild and familiar to many kids. Gnocchi is a super fun and easy-to-eat food for little fingers or forks.

Both of my kids scarfed down good-sized portions, so I felt pretty good about my 20 minutes of kitchen work!

More Sweet Corn Recipes!

Sweet Corn Gnocchi Skillet

Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 20 mins

Total Time 35 mins

Servings 4 servings

1 pound gnocchi
2 tablespoons olive oil
Kernels from 3 ears sweet corn, or about 3 cups corn kernels
1 small sweet onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup heavy cream (optional)
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
8 ounces small mozzarella mozzarella balls (also called pearls or ciliegine)
Fresh basil, minced

Cook the gnocchi

Bring a pot of salted water to boil. Add gnocchi and cook until they float, about 4 to 5 minutes. Remove gnocchi and reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking water for the skillet.

Nick Evans
Cook the corn kernels

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat, then add the olive oil. When the oil is shimmering, add the corn kernels. Let kernels cook in the skillet for 4-5 minutes until they are brown and blistered. Don’t stir them too much. Let them sit so they get some color.

Nick Evans
Add onions and garlic

Once the corn has blistered, add the sweet onions and garlic. Cook for a few minutes until the onions have softened and are translucent.

Nick Evans
Make the skillet sauce

Once the onions are soft, add the cooked gnocchi to the skillet and toss everything together. Turn the heat down to low and add 1/2 cup of the reserved gnocchi water, or 1/2 cup cream. Stir to combine ingredients, then let simmer until the sauce has thickened slightly. Taste and season with salt and pepper.

Nick Evans
Finish the dish

Right before serving, add the mozzarella balls to the skillet and garnish with fresh basil.

Nick Evans

Leftovers will keep well in the fridge for a few days. Reheat it in a skillet over low heat with a little water. If you freeze the dish, make sure to thaw and reheat it gently. A microwave will ruin the sauce and the gnocchi texture.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
606	Calories
23g	Fat
81g	Carbs
24g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories	606
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 23g	29%
Saturated Fat 9g	45%
Cholesterol 78mg	26%
Sodium 645mg	28%
Total Carbohydrate 81g	29%
Dietary Fiber 6g	22%
Total Sugars 12g
Protein 24g
Vitamin C 20mg	99%
Calcium 334mg	26%
Iron 4mg	20%
Potassium 729mg	16%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.