Easy Trader Joe's Cauliflower Gnocchi Recipe (2024)

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Craving healthy carbs? Make this easy Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocchi sheet pan recipe for dinner tonight! The recipe is gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan.

Easy Trader Joe's Cauliflower Gnocchi Recipe (1)

If you haven’t tried Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocchi yet, head to TJ’s freezer section and buy several bags. I’ll wait for you to return from the store and make this recipe. Wink, wink.

OK. Now that we’re all ready, I’ll show you how to make this genius crispy cauliflower gnocchi recipe, give you the nutrition scoop, and discuss different ways to cook and serve on TJ’s cauliflower gnocchi.

Easy Trader Joe's Cauliflower Gnocchi Recipe (2)

Is the cauliflower gnocchi from Trader Joe’s healthy? How many carbs does it contain?

Great questions! Let’s take a look at Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocchi ingredients and nutrition facts.

  • Cauliflower
  • Cassava Flour
  • Potato Starch
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • Sea Salt

One cup (140 grams) of cauliflower gnocchi provides:

  • 140 calories
  • 22 grams carbohydrate (6 grams fiber, <1 gram sugar)
  • 3 grams fat (0.5 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat)
  • 2 grams protein

So, to answer the question, yes, Trader Joe’s cauliflower is a delicious addition to a healthy diet, especially when paired with veggies, herbs, and nuts. While not truly “low carb” compared to traditional gnocchi, Trader Joe’s version made with cauliflower has less than half the grams of carbs and twice as much fiber.

Looking for lower carb recipes? Check out my low carb recipe index!

Plus, it’s made with a super simple ingredient list, which is a win-win for me!

Cauliflower Gnocchi Sheet Pan Dinner Ingredients, Substitutions, & Options

Easy Trader Joe's Cauliflower Gnocchi Recipe (3)

If you’re a fan of sheet pan dinners, you’re going to love this recipe! It’s so easy to make, and super adaptable too. Feel free to swap out the ingredients listed below with whatever veggies, oil, nuts, and seasonings you have on hand!

  • TJ’s Cauliflower Gnocchi
  • Red Onion
  • Kale
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • Pine Nuts
  • Fresh Rosemary
  • Sea Salt and Black Pepper
  • Optional Ingredients. Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, cherry tomatoes, olives, and other fresh or dried herbs like basil, parsley, sage, thyme…
  • Boost the Protein! Add chickpeas or sliced pre-cooked chicken sausage to the sheet pan; serve with grilled chicken or pan seared salmon on the side.

How To Make Cauliflower Gnocchi w/ Crispy Kale & Pine Nuts

  1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F, and line a large baking sheet pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil (this will make clean up a cinch!)
  2. Spread an entire bag of frozen gnocchi in a single layer on the parchment paper, along with torn-up kale (de-stemmed) and sliced red (or sweet) onions. Drizzle with a little olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
  3. Bake in the oven for ~15 minutes, then remove kale into a serving bowl. Flip the cauliflower gnocchi and continue baking with the onions for 5-10 minutes or until the gnocchi is golden brown.
  4. Add gnocchi and onions to a serving bowl and toss with kale. Drizzle additional olive oil on top, if desired, and top with pine nuts and chopped fresh rosemary.
  5. Dinner (or lunch) is served!
Easy Trader Joe's Cauliflower Gnocchi Recipe (4)

Different Ways to Cook Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocchi

If you’ve done an internet or Instagram search for “how to cook cauliflower gnocchi,” you’ve probably noticed that people are passionate about the best way to cook cauliflower gnocchi.

Per the above, the sheet pan method is a great way to cook cauliflower gnocchi. Other methods mentioned in the package directions or noted on other recipe websites include:

  • Pan-Fry Method. I tried this method the first time I made cauliflower gnocchi. It turned out pretty good, but you must watch your gnocchi closely, or they will burn. For this method, you heat some oil or butter in a pan and a little water over medium heat. Pour your Trader Joe’s gnocchi into the pan (I use a cast iron pan), saute for 2-3 minutes, then flip and saute a little longer or until your gnocchi are lightly browned on both sides.
  • Microwave Method. I haven’t tried this method, but from what I’ve heard, it’s not a great option. Skip!
  • Air Frying Method. This is another favorite way of mine to cook cauliflower gnocchi. I don’t have a traditional air fryer basket, so I use my Breville Smart Oven Air, spread the bag of frozen gnocchi on the air fryer sheet, and cook on the air fryer setting for about 15 minutes, plus or minus for desired crispiness.

Other Easy Ways to Serve Cauliflower Gnocchi

  • Pair with pesto sauce, your favorite tomato sauce, or another favorite sauce.
  • Top a salad with a pan or air-fried gnocchi. Yum!
  • Make cauliflower gnocchi soup!
  • Try my other easy-sheet pan cauliflower gnocchi recipe with Brussels sprouts in place of the kale. Watch this Instagram Reel for the recipe!
Easy Trader Joe's Cauliflower Gnocchi Recipe (5)

Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocchi w/ Crispy Kale & Pine Nuts

You'll love this EASY sheet pan meal featuring Trader Joe's Cauliflower Gnocchi, Crispy Kale, Roasted Onions, Fresh Rosemary, and Pine Nuts. Serve it for a healthy lunch or dinner. SO good!

4.83 from 17 votes

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Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 2 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 package Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocchi
  • 1/2 red onion, sliced
  • 4 cups curly kale
  • 1 1/2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, plus extra to drizzle
  • salt and ground black pepper, to taste
  • 2 tbsp pine nuts
  • 1 1/2 tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil.

  • Spread cauliflower gnocchi (frozen), sliced onion, and kale on parchment paper. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper to taste. Roast in oven for 15 minutes.

  • Carefully remove kale from sheet pan, and place in a serving bowl.

  • Continue roasting gnocchi and onion for an additional 5-10 minutes.*

  • Add gnocchi and onion to bowl with crispy kale and toss to combine. Drizzle on additional olive oil, if desired, and top with pine nuts and fresh rosemary. Divide into 2 servings and enjoy while hot.

Notes

*For crispier gnocchi: Note: Move sheet pan to top of oven and cook for 10 minutes (or longer) depending on how crispy you want your gnocchi.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 413kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 627mg | Potassium: 757mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 13425IU | Vitamin C: 162.9mg | Calcium: 247mg | Iron: 3.6mg

EA Stewart, RD | Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

Course Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine American, Gluten Free, Grain Free, Vegan, Vegetarian

Keyword cauliflower recipes, gluten free gnocchi

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Craving more cauliflower recipes?

  • Low Carb Healthy Cauliflower Cheese Bread
  • Creamy Vegan Cauliflower Soup w/ Pistachio Harissa Pesto
  • Crazy for Cauliflower! 26 Cauliflower Recipes + Cauliflower Nutrition 101

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave your comments, and if you loved it, give it a 5-star rating! And please share this post with your friends and family, or take a photo and tag me on Instagram@thespicyrd.Thanks so much for your support!

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Thanks so much for sharing!

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EA Stewart

Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist

EA Stewart, MBA, RD is an integrative registered dietitian specializing in wellness nutrition, digestive health, autoimmune disease, brain health, and vibrant aging. She creates easy, plant-forward gluten-free recipes for a wide variety of diets including low FODMAP, Mediterranean, and more.

Easy Trader Joe's Cauliflower Gnocchi Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What sauce to eat with cauliflower gnocchi? ›

We like to pair them with TJ's bruschetta sauce, which claims to be a “topping”—but we think actually makes a really nice pasta sauce. Loaded with fresh basil and garlic, it makes a super fresh, bright-tasting sauce for a big, easy skillet dinner of cauliflower gnocchi with sausage and arugula.

Is Trader Joe's cauli gnocchi healthy? ›

Trader Joe's Cauliflower Gnocchi Nutrition

Compared with traditional potato gnocchi, Trader Joe's frozen cauliflower gnocchi shaves off almost 90 calories per cup (140 vs. 227) and has less than half the carbs (22 vs. 48) and 2 grams more fiber (6 grams).

How do you cook frozen Trader Joes gnocchi? ›

Method: Preheat oven to 425 degrees then line a half sheet pan with a silpat or parchment paper. Pour frozen gnocchi onto the pan then spread into an even layer and mist with nonstick spray. Roast for 20 minutes, or until golden brown, stirring halfway through.

What is traditionally served with gnocchi? ›

The Gnudi, or spinach and ricotta gnocchi, is a typical recipe from Tuscany, usually served with a simple tomato sauce or with butter and sage. In fancy restaurants, sometimes these are served with very special aged parmesan cheese like pecorino or with a slice of lard that melts in contact with the hot gnocchi.

What do you put on top of gnocchi? ›

Like pasta, gnocchi is the perfect vessel for a variety of delicious sauces, from tomato, bolognese and quick butter sauce with sage to creamy gnocchi sauces. So if you're stuck for dinner ideas, you'll find something tasty in this collection of gnocchi sauce recipes.

How many Weight Watchers points is Trader Joe's cauliflower gnocchi? ›

TJ's cauliflower gnocchi is an Instagram favorite. WW members embraced it in 2019 by tracking a one-cup serving more than 150,000 times. At just 4 PersonalPoints, it's a worthwhile way to spend your Budget.

Is gnocchi more unhealthy than pasta? ›

Nutritional Value

Believe it or not, regular pasta is actually more carb-heavy than gnocchi, coming in at around 2 times the amount of carbs per serving. Gnocchi is also notorious for having a lot more sodium, with over 200 grams of it per serving. Regular pasta doesn't have nearly as high of a sodium content.

Why are my cauliflower gnocchi mushy? ›

The directions on the back of the bag instructs you to either boil or saute your gnocchi which does not work with the cauliflower version – it leaves you with very mushy gnocchi. One day I decided to try and roast it instead to get a crisp on it (the way I love my gnocchi).

How to heat up Trader Joe's gnocchi? ›

Trader Joe's provides three methods for cooking the gnocchi: in a pan cooked with a little water and then browned with oil or butter, boiled, or microwaved.

Why do you soak cauliflower before cooking? ›

If you're planning to roast the cauliflower whole or slice it into steaks, slice off the thick stem at the base. Drop the whole cauliflower head upside-down into cool, salted water. Let it soak for 10 to 15 minutes to remove dirt, residue and bugs.

Can you cook gnocchi in sauce instead of boiling? ›

There is no need to pre-cook the gnocchi. It'll cook in the sauce. The sauce is meant to be quite thick, but if you find it gets too dry before the gnocchi is cooked, add in another splash of chicken broth or wine.

Is Trader Joe's cauliflower gnocchi low carb? ›

"Non-starchy veggies are lower in carbs but often higher in fiber, which can help you stay fuller, longer," she says. "You'll still get the benefit of satisfying that taste you crave." Case in point: One serving of Trader Joe's cauliflower gnocchi has less than half the carbs (22g vs. 52g) and twice the fiber (6g vs.

Should I defrost frozen gnocchi before cooking? ›

Do not thaw them before cooking or they will stick together. To cook them, throw the frozen gnocchi directly into the boiling salted water without thawing. Their cooking time will be slightly longer than unfrozen but their preparation should be completed in the same manner as with fresh gnocchi.

How does Gordon Ramsay cook gnocchi? ›

Bring a large pan of water to the boil. Add the gnocchi, tilting the pan from side to side briefly to stop them sticking together, then simmer for about 1½–2 minutes until they start to float. Drain the gnocchi and leave them to steam-dry for 1–2 minutes.

Does cauliflower gnocchi taste like regular? ›

The cauliflower flavor is incredibly neutral, although the texture is spot-on, with a perfect chew that makes it a seamless addition to your favorite sauce. I've used this bag in lieu of potato gnocchi and have yet to really notice a major difference.

Is cauliflower gnocchi supposed to be soft? ›

With a pillowy-soft, creamy texture and indulgent taste, gnocchi (pronounced NYOW-kee) is an Italian dumpling traditionally made from potatoes. This version replaces potatoes with cauliflower, which we love for its slightly earthy, nutty flavor and nutritional profile.

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