Every item on this page was chosen by The Pioneer Woman team. The site may earn a commission on some products.

If you ask about Ree Drummond's favorite Italian dinner recipes, there's always one clear answer: pasta! She loves pasta recipes so much, she says: "If I were stranded on a desert island and could choose only one category of food to eat the rest of my life, I'd pick pasta hands down." But what kind of pasta you might ask? There are so many different types of pasta, it can be difficult to decide. So tonight, we're making things easy with these light, pillowy, and incredibly delicious gnocchi recipes that everyone will love. From caprese gnocchi to cheeseburger gnocchi, these ideas using gnocchi are perfect for any family dinner.

But first, what is gnocchi, anyway? This dumpling-like pasta is typically made with potatoes, flour, and eggs. But you can also find it made with other vegetables like cauliflower, sweet potato, or even spinach. Making your own homemade gnocchi isn't hard to do, but luckily you can also find self-stable or frozen gnocchi at most grocery stores these days. You can cook them up in the oven for a baked pasta recipe or prepare them in a skillet for an easy dinner solution. There's even a sheet pan gnocchi recipe that makes clean-up a breeze. When it comes to sauces, the options are endless. Choose from a pesto, meat sauce, or creamy alfredo sauce; then serve it up with your favorite garlic bread and dinner is served!

This recipe is like a grown-up version of mac and cheese. But instead of noodles, it's made with cloud-like gnocchi!

Get the Baked Gnocchi Alfredo recipe.

Ree's trick for cooking gnocchi on a sheet pan is a real revelation. It gives the potato pasta a crispy exterior while keeping the centers pillowy soft.

Get Ree's Sheet-Pan Gnocchi with Sausage and Peppers recipe.

This recipe combines two Italian favorites (pesto and carbonara) with the fluffy goodness of potato gnocchi. But it's the little bits of crispy pancetta that we love most!

Get the Gnocchi Pesto Carbonara recipe at Butter Be Ready.

Gnocchi smothered in marinara sauce, ground beef, and cheese—what could be better than that?! It's comfort food at its finest.

Get the Weeknight Baked Gnocchi recipe at Damn Delicious.

Learn how to make your own homemade gnocchi, then top it with a simple combo of cherry tomatoes, basil, and burrata. It's melt-in-your-mouth good!

Get the Caprese Gnocchi recipe at Spoon Fork Bacon.

Store-bought frozen cauliflower gnocchi makes this healthy dinner recipe even easier. Not to mention the whole thing is made in one skillet!

Get the Creamy Cauliflower Gnocchi and Sausage Skillet recipe at Hungry Hobby.

This is not your typical Italian dinner, but the seasoned beef, spicy tomatoes, and gooey cheese make it delicious nonetheless! You can also top it with chopped pickles just like you would a cheeseburger.

Get the Cheeseburger Gnocchi recipe at Kevin and Amanda.

Put summer tomatoes, corn, and zucchini to good use with this fresh and simple pasta recipe. The poached egg on top adds a carbonara-like consistency to the sauce.

Get the Simple Summer Tomato Pesto and Grilled Corn Gnocchi recipe at Half Baked Harvest.

Want to try your hand at making your own cauliflower gnocchi? This recipe only has three ingredients and it's great for giving your comfort food a healthy spin.

Get the Cauliflower Gnocchi recipe at The Modern Proper.

Just like chicken and dumplings, this chicken and gnocchi soup is great for warming you up from the inside. It's hearty, comforting, and so cozy!

Get the Creamy Chicken and Gnocchi Soup at Razzle Dazzle Life.

Crispy bite-sized gnocchi dipped in marinara sauce is the perfect snack for watching the big game on TV. Of course, you can also serve it as a holiday appetizer or just an after-school snack, too!

Get the Toasted Gnocchi Bites recipe at The Beach House Kitchen.

To make these sweet potato gnocchi even more fluffy and flavorful, ricotta and parmesan cheeses are added to the mix. It's the perfect fall meal when paired with a simple brown butter and sage sauce.

Get the Brown Butter Sweet Potato Gnocchi recipe at Damn Delicious.

This one-skillet dinner can be ready in 30 minutes from start to finish. It's hearty, cheesy, and stick-to-your-ribs good.

Get the One-Skillet Ham and Cheese Gnocchi recipe at Jo Cooks.

Herby pesto and pillow-soft gnocchi are like a match made in heaven. To step it up one notch, try adding a handful of arugula, toasted walnuts, and a squeeze of lemon for topping.

Get the Pesto Gnocchi recipe at Kitchen Konfidence.

Buttery garlic mushrooms and seasoned chicken come together in one skillet with store-bought gnocchi for this easy weeknight dinner.

Get the Chicken and Mushroom Gnocchi Skillet recipe at Le Creme de la Crumb.