This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.
Sweet potato gnocchi with a creamy (vegan) sauce is happening. Not only is this recipe vegan, but it’s also paleo and whole 30! It’s such a great dinner recipe the whole family will love.
Looking for more gnocchi recipes? Try chicken alfredo gnocchi bake, one pan chicken and gnocchi, or cauliflower gnocchi next!
Have you ever had sweet potato gnocchi? Most people have had traditional gnocchi so I can’t wait to share this recipe with you today! You’re going to love this sweet potato version.
What is sweet potato gnocchi?
Sweet potato gnocchi is a potato-based pasta recipe. Traditional gnocchi is made with russet or yukon gold potatoes, but this recipe is made with sweet potatoes so it’s packed with fiber and vitamins/minerals.
Because sweet potatoes are also whole30 and paleo, I wanted to make this recipe that way too. Traditional gnocchi is made with bleached flour, but I used cassava flour here to make it extra healthy.
Who sells sweet potato gnocchi?
If you don’t want to make your own sweet potato gnocchi, you can buy it from the store. Trader Joes has a great option, but it isn’t dairy free or gluten free. You can use the pre made version if you want to save some time, but it will not be paleo approved!
Is sweet potato gnocchi good for you?
I’ve shared this already, but yes, this sweet potato gnocchi recipe is very good for you! It’s packed with healthy carbs, healthy fat, vegetables and protein. It’s definitely a complete meal that will warm you up and keep you satisfied. I don’t even think anyone will realize it’s healthy!
If you follow a vegan, paleo, gluten free, or whole30 diet, this recipe is for you!
How do you make sweet potato gnocchi?
Start by boiling the potatoes with the skin off. Then mix it with the flour and turn out onto a well-floured surface. Divide the dough into quarters then roll into 1-inch ropes and then cut into one inch pieces.
Bring the large pot to a boil with more water and drop the gnocchi in. Once the gnocchi floats to the top (about 1 minute), remove and place it on a baking sheet. Repeat until all the gnocchi is boiled.
Next, heat a large skillet with olive oil over medium heat. Place the gnocchi in the pan and sear on both sides for 1-2 minutes, or until each side is golden brown. Remove from pan and set aside.
To make the sauce, saute onion and garlic in a pan until translucent. Add the rest of the ingredients and bring the sauce to a boil for 1-2 minutes to thicken. Stir in spinach and cook until it wilts then add the gnocchi back in and stir to coat.
Read this step by step guide on how to make gnocchi.
What sauce is gnocchi served with?
The best sauce to serve with gnocchi is a creamy sauce. You can also serve a tomato sauce if you want. This DF creamy arrabbiata sauce would be great with it too.
I love this sweet potato gnocchi sauce because it’s thick and flavorful. It pairs so well with the rosemary and thyme! The thick sauce coats the gnocchi and makes it such a healthy comfort food!
What do you eat gnocchi with?
In addition to the cream sauce, I like to eat my gnocchi with some protein and veggies to make it a complete meal. This recipe is made with onion, spinach, mushrooms, fresh herbs and kielbasa sausage for a creamy, veggie-filled sauce.
If you want to make this vegan: just leave out the kielbasa sausage!
If you make sweet potato gnocchi with a creamy sauce, veggies and protein you can’t go wrong!
Can you freeze sweet potato gnocchi?
Yes you can freeze sweet potato gnocchi! You can either freeze it before you boil it or freeze it after you boil it and let it cool down. If you want to make a portion of this recipe ahead of time, I recommend doing this.
If you freeze the sweet potato gnocchi after you mix it with the sauce, the sauce could separate after being thawed. If you make the gnocchi ahead of time and freeze it, this recipe only takes about 20 minutes to put together!
If you love this recipe, don’t forget to follow me on Pinterest and save this pin for later!
More sweet potato recipes:
- How to make gnocchi with two ingredients
- Taco stuffed sweet potatoes
- Slow cooker sweet potato beef stew
Sweet potato gnocchi
Save this Recipe!
Ingredients
For the gnocchi:
- 4 pounds 4 large sweet potatoes (or traditional potatoes)
- 1 cup cassava flour plus more if needed
- OR
- ½ cup oat flour plus more if needed
- ½ cup tapioca flour (starch)
For the suace:
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 yellow onion chopped
- 1 cup mushrooms (optional)
- 3 large garlic cloves
- 1 can full fat coconut milk
- 1 tablespoon tapioca flour
- 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 4 Aidelle’s Andouis sausages
Instructions
- To make the gnocchi, start by boiling your potatoes. Remove the skins from 4 pounds (about 4 large) potatoes. Cut into chunks and place in a large stock pot. Add warm water until all of the potatoes are completely submerged. Bring the water and potatoes to a boil over high heat then let them boil, uncovered, for 18-20 minutes, or until the potatoes are easily pierced with a fork. Strain the potatoes and place them in a large mixing bowl.
- Next, combine the steamed potatoes and flour in the large mixing bowl. Stir together using a wooden spoon. When it gets difficult to stir, switch to using your hands. Mix and knead until all the flour is combined and the dough starts to form a ball. If the dough is too wet, continue to add oat or cassava flour until the dough forms a ball and isn't very sticky.
- Turn the dough out onto a well floured surface. Use either more oat flour or cassava flour, depending on which one you're making! Divide the dough into 4 equals parts. Take one part and set the other three aside. Roll the dough into a long rope with a 1 inch diameter. Starting at one end, cut the dough into 1 inch pieces and set aside. Repeat this process with the other 3 portions of dough. You can make mini fork marks on each gnocchi at this point if you want to, but it's optional.
- Fill the same stock pot from the potatoes with water about half way full. Add a pinch of salt and heat on high, uncovered until boiling. While it's heating, place a large baking sheet next to the stove to set the cooked gnocchi on. Once it's boiling, add 1/4 of the gnocchi to the water. The gnocchi will sink to the bottom. Once they float to the top of the water remove them with a slotted spoon and place on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat the process with the rest of the gnocchi.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil, coconut oil or ghee to it. When it's hot, add the gnocchi and allow to sear on one side for 1-2 minutes, or until golden brown. Flip over and repeat the process on the other side. Remove from pan and set aside.
- To make the sauce, add olive oil to a large saute pan and turn to medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until translucent, 2-3 minutes. Add the rest of the ingredients and bring the sauce to a boil for 2-3 minutes to thicken. Stir in spinach and cook until it wilts then add the gnocchi back in and stir to coat.
- Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This recipe was inspired by Paleo Gluten Free Eats!
I love this recipe! It can take some extra flour but it’s so so good! I’ve had a lot of success with it! 10/10 would recommend!
Thank you, Karyn!! You should try our cauliflower gnocchi recipe too!:)
I made this dish with Cappello’s Sweet Potato Gnocchi (Frozen, whole30 compliant, purchased at thrive market online). That made it super easy. I’m not on a whole30 so I added 3 tbsp of light cream cheese to the sauce to hide the coconut milk flavor. Made it super yummy!
Took 3 hours not 1. Used an entire bag of cassava, still didn’t work right. Tastes like flour. Wasted time and money.
Oats are not at all Whole30 compliant. This is misleading.
Hi Michele! The recommended ingredient for this recipe is cassava flour, which is whole30. I only included the oat flour option if you can’t find cassava flour. The recipe happens to be whole30 but a lot of people just want a gluten free option, which is what the oat flour is. Thanks!
Took 3 hours to make, stuck to the pan, flavor was okay, not worth the time .
Aww bummer sorry to hear that!! We have a cauliflower gnocchi recipe that’s similar that has the same steps. Maybe that will help next time! Thanks!
I had the same issues as others – dough was still sticky after almost a whole bag of cassava flour. I put the dough in the fridge; here’s hoping that will dry it out a little. Very disappointed.
Sorry to hear that, Elise! I have this on my calendar to take a look at to investigate why people are having this issue. It could be due to the amount of water in your potatoes. I’ve got a great (way easier!) cauliflower gnocchi on my site that has amazing feedback and reviews. I hope you will give it a try! I want to make sure you come to my site and know a recipe will work. This is definitely something I’ll be looking at!
Hi, not sure what I did wrong but I had changed it for 6 ppl instead of 4. Had the sweet potatoes at 6 lbs and 1.5 cups of cassava flour but that was no where near enough. Kept adding more flour. Still not a dough consistency. Is there an ingredient missing? I practically used the whole bag of cassava flour.
Hi Lisa! This can depend on how the sweet potatoes were cooked and how much moisture is in them. You may need to drain and pat a lot of the liquid out of the sweet potatoes first. I’ve had this comment a few times so I’m going to be retesting this recipe to be sure I know where it could be going wrong for some people. Thanks!
I did exactly as the recipe said and used the oat flour with tapioca flour but it never became dough like consistency 🙁 I kept adding flour up to 6-7 cups and it still was super sticky as if I never put flour in. Not sure if the recipe was tested with the alternative flours to the Cassava. But I was very disappointed and just tossed the whole potato mixture 🙁
Tasted good (especially the sauce!) but was an incredibly difficult recipe to make unfortunately ): Took like 3 hours and the gnocchi was sticking to the pan so badly while trying to sear it, we literally had to get out the fryer we use to make latkes.. Also used an entire bag of cassava flour to get the dough to not be sticky, definitely needed more than one cup.
It’s definitely a recipe for a special ocassion! I’ve found after I’ve made it a few times I start to get in a rhythm and it’s a little easier and quicker. I also love to make a double batch and freeze the extra gnocchi so all I have to do next time is heat them up. You could also skip the gnocchi making and use TJs!
Totally agree. I had to use almost three cups of flour for the dough to even start to not be sticky. Other than that, I thought it was delicious!
What would your thoughts be on substituting almond flour for cassava flour? 🙂