This air fryer gnocchi recipe is the perfect quick & easy vegan appetizer. It comes together in just 15 minutes with shelf-stable gnocchi. (No boiling needed!)
Serve these crispy dumplings with marinara or your favorite dipping sauce.
Back in the late 2000’s there was a restaurant in Los Angeles, California called Pure Luck. They generated a lot of buzz, because they were the first place in the area that had savory BBQ jackfruit and jackfruit carnitas on the menu.
(Using jackfruit as a meat substitute was quite revelatory back then!)
Something else that was unique on the Pure Luck menu was their fried gnocchi appetizer, which they called “potato pals.” It was an absolute must for any visit.
Pure Luck has been closed for many years now, but potato pals can live on – with a few tweaks and adjustments!
While you could deep fry the gnocchi like they did, they turn out beautifully crispy in the air fryer. Coated in oil and seasonings, they get wonderfully browned on the outside, while the inside is pillowy soft.
Thanks to store-bought shelf stable gnocchi, they come together in just 15 minutes, and pair well with a variety of dipping sauces. (Now, that’s what I call pure luck!)
Enjoy this easy appetizer as a snack, side dish, salad topper (as a croutons alternative), or add a few to tomato soup instead of crackers.
In this post:
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you will need to make this recipe.
Gnocchi: Homemade gnocchi usually isn’t vegan, because it generally includes eggs. However, shelf stable, store-bought gnocchi is typically vegan friendly. Look for it in the center aisles of the grocery store with the pasta.
Depending on the product, refrigerated and frozen gnocchi are sometimes vegan too, but not always. Be sure to read the ingredient label before buying.
Oil: Avocado oil is my go-to, but any neutral flavored cooking oil or olive oil will work here. If you prefer, you can use oil spray instead of liquid.
Seasonings: Dried basil, dried oregano, granulated onion, granulated garlic, salt, and black pepper.
Step by step instructions
Here’s how to make this recipe at a glance. For complete ingredient amounts & instructions, keep scrolling to the recipe card below.
1. Break up shelf stable gnocchi into a large mixing bowl.
2. Coat the gnocchi with avocado oil, and then toss with seasonings:
- Dried basil
- Dried oregano
- Granulated onion
- Granulated garlic
- Salt
- Pepper
3. Put gnocchi into the air fryer basket. Air fry at 390 degrees for 11 to 14 minutes, stopping occasionally to shake the basket, until browned and crispy.
Remember: Every air fryer runs differently. Times given are a general recommendation and should be tested in your own air fryer. Adjust as needed.
4. Serve right away with your preferred dipping sauce.
Make it your own
You can make this easy vegan appetizer your own by varying the ingredients.
- Replace the oil with another neutral-flavored cooking oil or use oil spray
- Replace granulated garlic with one or two cloves of freshly grated garlic
- Replace the listed seasonings with one or two teaspoons of your favorite Italian seasoning blend
- For a sweet take, replace the seasonings with cinnamon sugar instead
- Add a sprinkling of nutritional yeast (at the same time as the other seasonings) for cheesy flavor
- Garnish it with fresh basil and/or a sprinkling of vegan parmesan cheese
Dipping sauce options
Marinara sauce is my go-to dip option for air fried gnocchi. However, there are lots of fun alternatives if you feel like branching out.
Try them with any of these dipping sauces:
- Onion & garlic salad dressing
- Vegan ranch dressing
- Vegan honey mustard
- No cook barbecue sauce
- Vegan sriracha mayo
- Spicy chili crisp dipping sauce
- Homemade cocktail sauce
- Cilantro chimichurri sauce
- Cilantro basil pistachio pesto (thinned out with oil or water for easier dipping if necessary)
Serving ideas to make it a meal
Want to make a full meal with crispy gnocchi? Serve them as a starter alongside any of these main courses:
- Spicy vegan hot sausage sandwich
- Vegan eggplant parmesan sandwich
- Air fryer vegan stuffed peppers
- Dairy-free tomato soup
- Avocado caprese salad
Air fried gnocchi are also terrific in creamy gnocchi soup with vegan sausage.
Storage & reheating instructions
Air fried gnocchi is at its crispiest best when served fresh. They are a little chewier once reheated.
However, if you have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will keep for 3 or 4 days.
Reheat in the air fryer at 360 degrees for 4 to 6 minutes or until warm and crispy.
FAQ
Yes and no. Homemade gnocchi usually isn’t vegan, because it generally contains eggs. However, shelf stable gnocchi sold in the center aisles of the grocery store is usually vegan. Be sure to read the ingredient label before buying.
No, you don’t need to boil the gnocchi first. Just air fry it straight from the package.
Yes, this recipe also works with refrigerated gnocchi, like Trader Joe’s pumpkin gnocchi. Follow the same instructions as listed for shelf stable gnocchi.
Yes, frozen gnocchi can be used. It just has to be cooked a little longer. Toss frozen gnocchi in oil and seasonings, the same as listed in the recipe card. Then air fry at 390 degrees (straight from frozen) for 13 to 16 minutes, stopping occasionally to shake the basket.
Yes, this recipe also works with frozen cauliflower gnocchi. (Do not thaw them first.) Toss them in oil and seasonings, the same as listed in the recipe card. Then air fry them (straight from frozen) at 390 degrees for 13 to 16 minutes, stopping occasionally to shake the basket.
Yes, they can be cooked in a conventional oven instead. However, the texture is a little different. Instead of being crispy all over, like in the air fryer, they’re only crispy where they’ve touched the baking sheet. Still tasty, though!
To oven roast the gnocchi, preheat your conventional oven to 425 degrees. Put the gnocchi in an even layer on a baking sheet. (For easier clean-up and less chance of sticking, first line the baking sheet with parchment paper.)
Then roast the gnocchi for 15 minutes, stopping once after 10 minutes to flip them for even roasting. 
If you try this recipe and love it, let me know! Leave a comment and ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the comment section below. It truly makes my day and is such a help!
📖 Recipe
Air fryer gnocchi
Ingredients
- 1 (16-ounce) package gnocchi in shelf stable packaging or refrigerated
- 1 Tablespoon avocado oil
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano or dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon granulated onion
- ½ teaspoon granulated garlic
- ¼ teaspoon salt or to taste
- Dash of pepper
Instructions
- Remove gnocchi from packaging, and break the dumplings apart into a large mixing bowl. Add oil, and use hands or a spoon to make sure the oil evenly coats all of them.
- Sprinkle on dried basil, dried oregano, granulated onion, granulated garlic, salt, and pepper. Use a spoon to toss the gnocchi in the seasonings, so that they're evenly covered.
- Pour the seasoned gnocchi into the air fryer basket in an even layer. (Be careful not to overcrowd, or they won't brown as nicely. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook in batches.)Air fry at 390 degrees for 11 to 14 minutes, stopping once or twice to shake the basket for even browning.
- Once they're brown and crispy all over, remove the gnocchi from the air fryer basket & put them on a serving plate. Serve with warmed marinara or your favorite dipping sauce.
Shell
This is a great snack or side dish! I love finding new reasons to use our airfryer.
Cadry Nelson
Me too! I’m so glad you’re enjoying this recipe. Thanks for letting me know!