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Air Fryer Gnocchi

Air Fryer gnocchi that turns golden-crispy with blistered edges while staying fluffy on the inside. Tossed in garlic herb butter and finished with parmesan for an easy Italian-American side dish.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Italian-American
Calories: 480

Ingredients
  

Gnocchi and seasoning
  • 1 lb potato gnocchi Use shelf-stable or refrigerated; cook first is not needed.
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 0.5 tsp smoked paprika
  • 0.25 tsp salt
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper
Garlic herb butter finish
  • 3 tbsp butter
  • 2 garlic Minced.
  • 1 fresh parsley
  • 2 tbsp parmesan For dusting/topping.

Equipment

  • 1 air fryer
  • 1 skillet

Method
 

Season the gnocchi
  1. In a bowl, toss the potato gnocchi with olive oil, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper until evenly coated.
  2. Spread the seasoned gnocchi on a baking surface so they’re ready to go into the air fryer in a single layer.
Air fry until golden and crispy
  1. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F.
  2. Add the gnocchi to the air fryer basket in a single layer.
  3. Air fry for 12-15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway, until the gnocchi is golden-crispy with blistered edges.
Garlic butter finish and serve
  1. Meanwhile, melt the butter with minced garlic in a skillet for 1-2 minutes.
  2. Toss the crispy gnocchi in the garlic butter to coat evenly.
  3. Top with fresh parsley and parmesan, then serve immediately as a side (or with marinara for dipping).

Notes

For maximum crisping, keep gnocchi in a true single layer—cook in batches if needed. Refrigerate leftovers in a sealed container up to 3 days; reheat in the air fryer at 375°F for 4-6 minutes to re-crisp. Freezing cooked gnocchi isn’t ideal for texture, but you can freeze uncooked seasoned gnocchi and air fry from thawed. Dietary swap: use plant-based butter for a dairy-free finish (parmesan may be replaced with a vegan parmesan if desired).