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This French onion gnocchi skillet recipe is a cozy, hearty dish combining French, Italian, and even Swiss elements for a delicious result. Easy enough for a simple weeknight dinner and also elegant enough for date night or when you have guests over, this simple yet mouthwatering gnocchi is well worth whipping up!

A cast iron skillet filled with French onion gnocchi, topped with melted cheese and garnished with herbs. Two bread slices are placed on the edge of the skillet, with a woven mat beneath it.

Create this delicious French onion gnocchi and enjoy the rich and creamy texture and wonderful sweet and savory flavors in every mouthful.

If you enjoy cozy Italian dishes, you might also like to try sweet potato gnocchi, lasagna al forno, or mushroom risotto. This sheet pan gnocchi and sausage is really tasty too, as is gnocchi alla sorrentina.

A fork lifts a cheesy piece of French onion gnocchi from a cast iron skillet, with a piece of baguette visible; two glasses of red wine are in the background.

Why You’ll Love This

Delicious: This French onion gnocchi is wonderful comfort food that combines an array of tasty ingredients for a full-flavored comfort food style dish everyone will love.
Straightforward: Why make anything complicated when you can make something relatively easy and straightforward that tastes so good? Any level of home cook should find this French onion soup flavor gnocchi simple to prepare.
Unusual: This isn’t the kind of recipe you make every day and sometimes it’s nice to try something new. This recipe might well become a family favorite too!

A skillet filled with melted cheese and small potatoes, reminiscent of French onion gnocchi, surrounded by two glasses of red wine, a chunk of cheese, sliced bread, parsley, garlic, and a bottle of wine on a blue surface.

French Onion Gnocchi Ingredients

A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below

Onions: The main ingredient in French onion soup, onion are also a main ingredient here. I use large yellow onions, although white ones would work too.
Butter: For making caramelized onions. Don’t use margarine – the onions won’t turn golden brown, caramelize properly (or taste good).
Dry white wine: I usually make French onion gnocchi with sauvignon blanc, as the rest of the bottle tastes very good served with this recipe. You can use any dry white wine or, if it’s all you have, a medium-dry or medium-bodied one.
Gnocchi: Another of the main ingredients. You can use fresh or shelf-stable gnocchi. Check the packaging as the cooking times can be different. Frozen potato gnocchi is another option but fresh has the upper hand where texture is concerned.
Beef broth: This adds a rich flavor to the dish.
Cheese: Gruyere cheese and parmesan cheese both feature in French onion gnocchi. Gruyere is a hard Swiss cheese. For the best results, use freshly shredded gruyere and parmesan.
Fresh thyme: Few things smell as amazing as thyme-scented caramelized onions while they’re cooking, and fresh thyme adds a beautiful flavor to this recipe.

A close-up of a bowl of French onion gnocchi topped with melted cheese, caramelized onions, and two slices of toasted bread.

How to Make French Onion Gnocchi

For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card

Caramelize onions: Melt the butter in a large skillet or Dutch oven over a low heat and add the onions and some kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to the hot skillet. Cook for about 45 minutes, and stir occasionally, until golden brown and soft.
Add more flavors: Add the garlic and cook for 5 minutes stirring frequently, then add the mustard, Worcestershire sauce, thyme leaves and bay leaf.
Deglaze the pan: Add the wine and cook for 5 minutes, scraping up any stuck-on browned bits with a wooden spoon, and then add beef stock or broth and bring to a simmer.
Add the gnocchi: Next add gnocchi and then cook for about 12 minutes or until tender.
Make the croutons: Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F, arrange the baguette slices on a pan, drizzle with olive oil and cook for 5 minutes or until golden brown.
Add the cheese: Sprinkle both cheeses over the gnocchi mixture, cover the pan and let the cheese melt.
The finishing touches: Serve the French onion gnocchi with parsley sprinkled on top, with the toasted baguette slices.

A bowl of French onion gnocchi with melted cheese and crusty bread on a table garnished with parsley, accompanied by two glasses of red wine, a fork, spoon, and sliced bread.

Substitutions and Variations

Gluten-free option: If you want a gluten-free version use gluten-free baguette bread.
Prefer not to use alcohol? Use alcohol-free wine or, if you don’t want to use wine at all, just use 1/2 cup of beef broth to deglaze the pan.
Vegetarian version: Sub vegetable broth for the beef broth. If you don’t want to use wine because it might have been processed using animal-derived ingredients, use vegetarian-friendly wine or just more of the broth instead.
Vegan version: If you sub vegan butter substitute for the butter and vegetable broth for the beef broth, it would still work but this dish relies so heavily on the rich butter flavor along with the bold beefy taste, it might be better to choose an alternative recipe.

A black bowl filled with succulent French onion gnocchi, topped with melted cheese and garnished with two pieces of toasted bread. The bowl rests on a plate, with cutlery in the background.

Serving Suggestions

Appetizers:  Kick off dinner time with a tasty appetizer. Why not stick to the theme and choose Italian dishes such as burrata stuffed tomatoes or minestrone soup?
For dessert:
Still hungry after your French onion gnocchi? Then you might like to enjoy canestrelli cookies or tiramisu cheesecake mini trifles.
And to drink: Finish the meal in the most delicious way with a glass of homemade limoncello.

A skillet filled with melted cheese and diced potatoes reminiscent of French onion gnocchi, with a serving spoon lifting a cheesy portion. Wine glasses, a bottle, and slices of baguette are in the background.

How to Store French Onion Gnocchi

Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and eat within 4 days.
Freeze: Freezing isn’t recommended because it changes the texture too much and also mutes the fresh flavors of the rich sauce.
Reheat: Warm leftovers in a pan on the stove over a low to medium heat.

A black bowl filled with French onion gnocchi in a creamy sauce, garnished with bread slices, on a table with a skillet of the same dish, breadsticks, parsley, salt and pepper shakers, and glasses of red wine.

Top Tips

Caramelizing the onions: This isn’t a step that can be rushed and it can take up to an hour. If you crank up the heat to try and speed up the process, the onions will burn, so you just need to be patient (don’t worry, it’ll definitely be worth it!)
A crispy topping: The cheese melts when you add it to the pan at the end but another option is to brown it. To do this, give it a few minutes under the broiler.
Fresh is best: The key to this recipe being a success is using the best ingredients. That means fresh garlic, fresh thyme, fresh parsley, and good quality wine, baguette bread and gnocchi.

A skillet filled with cheesy French onion gnocchi garnished with herbs, accompanied by slices of bread. Two glasses of red wine, a parmesan block, and silver salt and pepper shakers are visible in the background.

French Onion Soup Gnocchi FAQs

Can you use another kind of wine?

Actually, although I typically use dry white because it’s a favorite, medium-dry or even medium would work. And once I used rose because that was all I had and I couldn’t tell the difference in the finished recipe, so use whatever you want. You don’t have to buy something you don’t like to drink just to use here.

Do you have to use Dijon mustard?

If you aren’t a fan of Dijon mustard, you can use another kind or else just omit it from the recipe. Regular French brown mustard works, or yellow mustard. English mustard is a little too piquant for this recipe. The same applies to the Worcestershire sauce, as both these ingredients are just to intensify the flavor of the dish.

Do you have to serve this with toasted French bread?

No, you can leave the bread off altogether if you wish. In French onion soup the croutons are added to the soup and then covered in cheese. In this recipe they’re served alongside so feel free to omit them if the gnocchi is enough carbs for you (or if you want to serve another side dish, such as garlic bread which also works well).

Can you serve the toasted bread as croutons?

Yes, if you want this to resemble French onion soup more, you can add the toasted bread on top of each bowlful of gnocchi and sauce, and then sprinkle over the cheese and broil them that way.

A cast iron skillet filled with baked melted cheese and garnished with herbs, reminiscent of French onion gnocchi, served on a woven mat, with bread slices, wine glasses, and salt and pepper shakers in the background.

French Onion Skillet Gnocchi Recipe

5 from 5 votes

French Onion Gnocchi

Create this delicious French onion gnocchi and enjoy the rich and creamy texture and wonderful sweet and savory flavors in every mouthful.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients 

  • 6 Tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4 yellow onions, large, thinly sliced
  • 1 Teaspoon salt
  • 1 Teaspoon black pepper
  • 4 Cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 Teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 Teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 4 Sprigs fresh thyme
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1/2 Cup dry white wine
  • 2 1/2 Cups beef broth
  • 35 Ounces gnocchi
  • 1 1/2 Cups gruyere cheese, freshly shredded
  • 1/2 Cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated
  • 2 Tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 Loaf baguette, sliced
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil

Instructions 

  • Melt the butter in a large skillet over a medium low heat and add the onions, salt, and black pepper. Stir occasionally and cook until caramelized – about 45 or 50 minutes.
  • Add the garlic and cook for another 5 minutes.
  • Stir in the mustard, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, and bay leaves.
  • Next, add the wine and deglaze the pan, cooking for 5 minutes. Stir in the broth and bring to a simmer.
  • Add the gnocchi and cook for 12 minutes or until the gnocchi is tender.
  • Heat the oven to 400°F.
  • Lay the baguette slices on a pan, then drizzle with olive oil. Bake until browned, for about 5 minutes.
  • Top the gnocchi mixture with the gruyere and parmesan. Place the lid on the pan until the cheese has melted.
  • Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve with the toasted baguette slices.

Notes

Caramelizing the onions: This isn’t a step that can be rushed and it can take up to an hour. If you crank up the heat to try and speed up the process, the onions will burn, so you just need to be patient (don’t worry, it’ll definitely be worth it!)
A crispy topping: The cheese melts when you add it to the pan at the end but another option is to brown it. To do this, give it a few minutes under the broiler.
Fresh is best: The key to this recipe being a success is using the best ingredients. That means fresh garlic, fresh thyme, fresh parsley, and good quality wine, baguette bread and gnocchi.

Nutrition

Calories: 746kcal | Carbohydrates: 88g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 1985mg | Potassium: 299mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 879IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 549mg | Iron: 8mg
Like this recipe? Rate and comment below!

If you’re a fan of dishes like pan fried potato gnocchi, classic French onion soup and rich, vibrant flavors, you’re going to enjoy this French onion gnocchi. A rich beef broth, pillowy gnocchi, sweet caramelized onions, French bread, nutty gruyère cheese, and thyme leaves combine to make this delicious dish which is like the best comfort food and the most impressive dinner party fare rolled into one amazing dish.

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Bella Bucchiotti

Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.

 

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