Store-bought gnocchi, butternut squash, and cannellini beans all cook together on one sheet pan—no boiling needed! Add a topping of ricotta and brown butter, and buon appetito!

Have you tried gnocchi cooked on a sheet pan yet? It’s definitely my new favorite thing and I can’t stop thinking of ways to enjoy it. I’ve already posted a Gnocchi, Sausage and Pepper recipe and another for Gnocchi, Shrimp, and Tomatoes—but I think this new one might be the best so far.

Why? Because brown butter and sage is a classic preparation for gnocchi, and one of my favorites. Because adding butternut squash, cannellini beans, and ricotta helps turn that classic dish into a whole meal. And because, like the others, there’s no need to boil the gnocchi! It all cooks together on a sheet pan.

Sheet pan of butternut squash, gnocchi, and white beans, topped with ricotta and Parmesan.

Here’s A Video On Baking Gnocchi:

Prepared Gnocchi

For this recipe, as well as my others, you can use any kind of prepared gnocchi—shelf-stable, refrigerated, or frozen. Once you toss it with olive oil, salt, and pepper then roast it in the oven, sheet pan gnocchi is almost better than boiled. It’s nicely crisp and brown on the outside and chewy on the inside.

Prepared gnocchi varies depending on both the type and the brand, so it helps to play around and see what you like best. Shelf-stable seems to be the easiest for me to find, and I’m liking ones from both DeCecco and DeLallo.

Microwave Brown Butter

You read that right—you can make brown butter in the microwave! It’s really easy to do. Just put your butter in a microwaveable bowl and zap away.

For the 1/2 cup of butter in this recipe, I recommend using a ceramic or Pyrex bowl that’s at least 3 or 4 cups, then covering it with another microwaveable bowl or plate (don’t use plastic wrap as a cover because it can melt or shrink away). I’ve had the butter bubble over, even with a cover, using only a 2-cup bowl. And I’ve had plastic measuring cups get discolored.

All that said, it really is quite easy. Depending on your microwave, after about 30 seconds, the butter melts. Then after another 2 to 4 minutes, it’ll begin to brown. That’s when you add some fresh sage and garlic, then continue microwaving until it’s done.

How do you know when brown butter is done? It will be a dark amber color and have a deliciously nutty smell. Carefully take it out of the microwave—the bowl and cover might be very hot.

Other Additions

Butternut squash is a fairly common addition to gnocchi with brown butter and sage, so I include it here. To make things easy, I recommend pre-cut butternut squash. But note that sometimes the pieces can be irregularly shaped, so you might need to cut some to be more uniform. That will help ensure they’re all done at the same time.

Cannellini beans aren’t a common addition, but they’re Italian so they fit the overall theme. Plus, they add a little protein to this vegetarian meal.

Ricotta dolloped on top also adds protein, as well as taste and texture.

A crisp green salad on the side, or just a glass of wine, and you’re in for a great meal.

Buon appetito!

Christine