Cast Iron Gnocchi Pizza Bake
Once I unlocked the secret to making perfect potato gnocchi from scratch, my next mission was finding the ultimate way to enjoy them. Serving them simply tossed in a classic marinara or pesto is absolutely delicious, but after a while, it just didn’t feel as special or exciting as I wanted it to be. I wanted a dish that felt like a true reward for the effort of shaping fresh pasta.
That is when inspiration struck: why not use these light potato dumplings as the actual base of a pizza? Swapping out traditional, heavy pizza dough for a bed of pillow-soft gnocchi completely opens the door to unlimited topping combinations. To satisfy my craving for a loaded meat-lovers slice without the heavy grease, I paired the dish with my home made seasoned chicken sausage and sliced turkey pepperoni. It brings the overall calories down a bit from a traditional takeout pizza, while packing in a massive amount of lean protein. Baked together in a fiery hot skillet, it turns a humble pasta into an incredible dinner party masterpiece.
Step by Step Cooking Guide
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). While the oven warms, place your homemade pasta sauce into a saucepan over medium heat. Bring it up to a gentle boil, then lower the heat to a simmer to keep it warm while you handle the pasta.
Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Gently drop your freshly shaped potato gnocchi into the water. Watch them closely: as soon as they float directly to the top, they are ready. Use a slotted spoon to lift them out of the water, shaking off any excess liquid, and transfer them straight into a large, cold cast-iron skillet.
Scoop your warm pasta sauce directly over the gnocchi in the skillet, ensuring every single piece of pasta is completely covered. Evenly scatter shredded mozzarella cheese across the top of the sauced gnocchi.
Break down the chicken sausage patties into bite-sized pieces. Spread these pieces evenly over one half of the cast-iron skillet. Take turkey pepperoni and arrange them across the remaining half of the skillet, creating a perfect half-and-half presentation.
Sprinkle finely grated Parmesan cheese over the entire skillet, covering both the sausage and pepperoni halves. Scatter a few fresh basil leaves across the top for color and aroma.
Place the cast-iron skillet on the center rack of your preheated oven. Bake undisturbed for 25 minutes. You will know it is done when the cheese is completely melted, golden brown on top, and bubbling furiously around the edges of the iron pan.
Cast Iron Gnocchi Pizza Bake
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat the oven to 350℉.
- Bring the homemade pasta sauce to a gentle boil on the stovetop, then lower the heat to keep it warm.3 cup homemade pasta sauce (See notes 1)
- Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Gently drop the homemade gnocchi into the water. As soon as they float to the surface, use a slotted spoon to lift them out and transfer them directly into a large cast-iron skillet1 batch Italian Style Potato Gnocchi (see notes 3)
- Scoop approximately 3 cups of the warm pasta sauce over the gnocchi in the skillet, ensuring they are evenly covered. Sprinkle 1½cup of mozzarella cheese over the top of the sauce and gnocchi mixture.1 1/2 cup shredded part skim mozzarella cheese
- Breakdown 3 chicken patties into bite-sized pieces and spread them over one half of the cast-iron skillet. Arrange 2 ounces of turkey pepperoni across the remaining half of the skillet.3 homemade chicken sausage patties (see notes 2), 2 ounce turkey pepperoni
- Top the entire skillet with ½ cup of grated parmesan cheese and garnish with fresh basil leaves.1/2 cup grated parmesan, Fresh Basil
- Place the cast-iron skillet in the preheated oven. Bake for 25 minutes, or until the cheeses is completely melted, golden brown, and bubbling around the edges.
Notes
- If homemade pasta sauce is unavailable, it can be easily substituted with 3 cups of your favorite store-bought premium marinara or pasta sauce.
- To save time, substitute the homemade chicken patties with pre-made chicken or pork sausage patties from your grocery store’s meat department. Ensure they are completely cooked through before adding them to the skillet.
- While store-bought gnocchi can be used in a pinch, making your own from scratch is highly recommended. Nothing replicates the light, pillow-soft texture of freshly made pasta in this baked dish.
