Gnocchi Bolognese - Budget Dinnner

Gnocchi Bolognese

A comforting bowl of deliciousness that feels like a fancy Italian dinner out—without the restaurant bill. This dish is hearty, warming, and perfect for a cold night. Packed with flavour, this is one of those dinners you’ll make again and again.

Serves: 4
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
Total time: 40 minutes
Special equipment: Large sauté pan with lid

Let’s learn how to make it.
This Gnocchi Bolognese is your go-to for big flavour on a budget. It’s rich, saucy, and filling, and you can use whatever extras you’ve got lurking in the pantry or fridge. While making gnocchi from scratch is always a treat, here we’re leaning into the convenience of store-bought to get dinner on the table fast.

Ingredients

• 350–400g beef or pork mince (or a mix of both)

• ½ onion, finely diced

• 1 carrot, finely diced

• 2 x 400g cans of tomatoes (whole or diced)

• 1 packet of gnocchi

Optional extras (use what you’ve got):

• 1 clove garlic, crushed

• 1 tbsp tomato paste or relish

• 1½ tsp dried Italian herbs

• Cheese, to serve

• Salt and pepper, to taste

• Olive oil, for cooking

Method

1. In a large pan, heat a drizzle of olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and carrot (and garlic, if using) with a pinch of salt. Cook until soft and lightly golden.

2. Push the veg to the side or remove from the pan. Add the mince and cook until well-browned and caramelised—this is where all the flavour develops.

3. Stir in the tomato paste or relish (if using), followed by the dried herbs. Cook for 1–2 minutes, then add the canned tomatoes. If using whole tomatoes, break them up with your spoon.

4. Return the veg to the pan (if you set it aside), stir well, and reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened and rich.

5. Meanwhile, cook the gnocchi according to the packet instructions.

6. Serve the Bolognese over the gnocchi and top with cheese if you’ve got some.

Chef’s Tip: If you want to stretch the meal even further, stir the cooked gnocchi directly into the sauce and serve with a simple salad or steamed greens.

Enjoy

Del x

If you're looking for the shopping list to that you can make this dinner and the other 2 it's here!

Here are the other 2 recipes that I made with the rest of the mince. Gozleme and Asian Rissoles.