These air fryer gnocchi cook up in a flash (no boiling) and develop a deliciously-seasoned golden brown crust that's crisp! They make a great appetizer sprinkled with Parmesan and served with warm marinara sauce, or are an option for adding to pasta recipes if you don't want mushy gnocchi.

Parmesan-sprinkled air fryer gnocchi on a plate with a bowl of marinara sauce.

Much like my skirting around the traditional preparation of polenta (still going strong with Instant Pot polenta and creamy polenta from a tube), I seem determined never to boil gnocchi.

Reason being? You really don't need to!

In stovetop recipes like creamy Gorgonzola gnocchi, I'll pan toast shelf stable or refrigerated gnocchi in a little olive oil/butter until they develop a golden-brown crust that makes them have a heartier texture (less mushy) in pasta recipes. No pre-boiling necessary.

This air fryer gnocchi recipe achieves a similar texture without the stovetop, all with the bonus of a coating with Italian seasoning and Parmesan. Use in recipes or serve alongside warm marinara sauce or basil pesto for dipping - it's all good!

Simple Ingredients

Text-labeled recipe ingredients in separate containers.

Gnocchi: Either refrigerated or shelf-stable gnocchi can be used here, in both the regular and mini size.
Spices: These are optional, but a nice touch if serving air fryer gnocchi as an appetizer with a dipping sauce. Besides salt and pepper, I like to add garlic powder and then Italian herb seasoning, including dried basil, oregano, thyme, and rosemary.
Parmesan: A little bit coats the gnocchi before cooking, but the real impact comes from sprinkling it over hot gnocchi to serve for a deliciously salty, tangy note. Freshly-shredded is recommended, and either Parmesan or Pecorino Romano will do.
Marinara Sauce: For dipping. I will never stop saying it, but all jarred marinara sauces are not the same! Some are significantly better than others, so make sure you like the kind you're using. Brands I buy depending on sale include Rao's, Michael's of Brooklyn, Victoria, and jarred Mutti.

Easy Recipe Steps

Gnocchi in a bowl coated with olive oil and spices.

Step 1: Toss gnocchi in a bowl with olive oil, half of the Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

Gnocchi poured out onto an air fryer tray before being cooked.

Step 2: Turn out gnocchi onto a greased air fryer basket or rack and arrange them in a single layer so that each one has some space.

Crispy air fried gnocchi on the wire basket after being cooked.

Step 3: Air fry gnocchi at 350°F for 12-14 minutes, or until a golden-brown crust develops. Shake the basket or tray up a couple of times throughout the cook time to allow all sides of the gnocchi to brown evenly. Sprinkle the remaining Parmesan over top and serve alongside warm marinara sauce for dipping.

Air fried gnocchi on a wire air fryer basket.

Tips and Tricks

Adjust as needed - All air fryers have their quirks and operate a bit differently, whether using a classic variety or a combo air fryer/toaster oven model. You may have noticed that yours tends to cook more quickly or slowly than many listed recipe times, so take the timing as an estimate and adjust it as needed for your appliance. This recipe was tested in a combo model without pre-heating.
Dried herbs are preferred - Because of the quick-cooking nature of the air fryer and how quickly the surfaces of food browns, I prefer to use hardier dried herbs in air fryer recipes instead of fresh to prevent them from burning.
Storage - Store leftover gnocchi in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Reheating - Reheat gnocchi in the air fryer on a low temperature for several minutes until warmed throughout and crisp again. Keep a close eye that they don't overly brown or burn.
Have frozen Trader Joe's Cauliflower Gnocchi? Those can be air-fried too, and I think they're actually best prepared that way as they get to crisp up. No thawing! Spray your basket well, toss frozen cauliflower gnocchi with olive oil, then increase the air fry time as needed - somewhere around 15-17 minutes with a few tosses throughout works for me, though you can also increase the temperature and shave a few minutes off of the time. Garlic and extra Italian seasonings are good to use on these, too, with a Parmesan sprinkle at the end.

Crispy air fryer gnocchi sprinkled with shredded Parmesan.

Serving Suggestions

As pictured, air fryer gnocchi make an easy appetizer or snack. Sprinkle freshly-grated Parmesan over top and dunk in warm marinara sauce? I'm tempted to pull up a chair to the appetizer table.

They also can work in some pasta recipes that call for cooked gnocchi. The main difference (really, a benefit in a lot of ways) is that air fried gnocchi will have a firmer outer texture, which will soften some once coated in hot sauce. If you or someone you know are not gnocchi's biggest fan because it can lean mushy at times, air frying it to use in recipes might be a great workaround.

If making gnocchi in the air fryer to use in other recipes, omit the spices and Parmesan as you need.

If you’ve enjoyed this recipe, I’d love for you to leave a star rating in the recipe card and/or a comment review below!