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Golden crispy Air Fryer Cauliflower Gnocchi topped with parmesan and fresh herbs on a white plate.
Layla

Air Fryer Cauliflower Gnocchi

Crispy-edged, tender-centered gnocchi that skips the stovetop boil and goes straight to golden perfection in the air fryer.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 18 minutes
Total Time 23 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Side Dish
Cuisine: Italian-American
Calories: 245
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Gnocchi
  • 16 oz frozen cauliflower gnocchi about 2.5 cups; do not thaw
  • 1.5 tbsp olive oil
  • 0.5 tsp garlic powder
  • 0.25 tsp kosher salt
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper freshly ground
For Serving
  • 0.25 cup grated Parmesan cheese plus more for serving
  • 0.25 cup fresh basil leaves torn, optional
  • 1 cup marinara sauce warmed, for dipping or tossing

Equipment

  • Air Fryer
  • Large Mixing Bowl
  • Tongs or spatula

Method
 

Prep
  1. Preheat your air fryer to 390°F for 3 minutes. Meanwhile, place frozen cauliflower gnocchi in a large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and toss gently with a spatula until evenly coated. The gnocchi will be stuck together - that's fine, just break up what you can without forcing it.
  2. Sprinkle garlic powder, salt, and pepper over the oiled gnocchi. Toss again to distribute evenly. Don't worry if some clumps remain; they'll separate as they cook.
Air Fry
  1. Transfer gnocchi to the air fryer basket in a single layer with some overlap OK. Air fry at 390°F for 8 minutes. The gnocchi will still be pale but starting to soften.
  2. Remove basket and shake vigorously or use tongs to break apart any stuck pieces and flip them over. Return to air fryer and cook another 6-8 minutes until edges are deeply golden and crisp, with some darker spots. The centers should feel tender when pierced with a fork.
  3. Immediately transfer hot gnocchi to a serving bowl and toss with grated Parmesan while still steaming. The residual heat will melt the cheese slightly and help it adhere.
Serve
  1. Top with torn fresh basil if using. Serve immediately with warmed marinara on the side for dipping, or toss everything together for a saucier presentation. Pass extra Parmesan at the table.

Notes

No need to thaw the gnocchi first - cooking from frozen prevents them from turning mushy. If your air fryer is smaller than 5 quarts, cook in two batches to avoid overcrowding, which steams instead of crisps. For extra crunch, add the Parmesan during the last 2 minutes of cooking rather than after, though watch carefully to prevent burning.