Description
Leftover Mashed Potatoes Gnocchi is a game-changing way to transform yesterday’s mashed potatoes into soft, pillowy dumplings in minutes. This easy recipe uses just mashed potatoes, an egg, and flour to create a silky dough, then boils into delicate gnocchi best with brown butter sage, tomato sauce, Alfredo, or pesto. Perfect for weeknights and reducing waste, it yields four servings with minimal effort and maximum comfort. Make ahead, freezer-friendly, and endlessly adaptable with garlic, herbs, or cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups leftover mashed potatoes (plain or lightly seasoned)
- 1 large egg
- 1–1½ cups all-purpose flour (as needed)
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- Optional: pinch of garlic powder or Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Mash potatoes with the egg until smooth.
- Stir in 1 cup flour, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until a soft dough forms. Add extra flour as needed—dough should be soft but not sticky.
- Transfer dough to a floured surface. Divide into 4 pieces and roll each into a long rope about ¾ inch thick.
- Cut into 1-inch gnocchi pieces. Press each piece against a fork or gnocchi board for ridges (optional).
- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add gnocchi in batches.
- Cook until they float—about 2–3 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon.
- Serve with your favorite sauce: brown butter sage, Alfredo, tomato sauce, or pesto.
Notes
- Use cold leftover mashed potatoes for best texture.
- Don’t overwork the dough to keep gnocchi light and fluffy.
- If dough feels too sticky, sprinkle in a little more flour, but do not overdo it.
- For a vegan option, use a flax egg substitute and adjust flour as needed.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Boiling and shaping gnocchi from dough
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 260
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 290 mg
- Fat: 1.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.1 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 65 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 46 mg
Keywords: Leftover mashed potatoes gnocchi, easy gnocchi recipe, quick potato gnocchi, four serving gnocchi, weeknight dinner, homemade gnocchi, Italian pasta alternative, garlic butter sauce, pesto, tomato sauce, brown butter sage