This is my favorite way to make crispy Trader Joe’s cauliflower gnocchi in an air fryer in under 15 minutes! This gnocchi recipe makes the perfect easy and quick weekday dinner paired with pesto, vegan cheese sauce, or your favorite red sauce. 

Crispy air fryer cauliflower gnocchi on a parchment paper lined pan with ketchup

Have you heard the raving reviews of the Trader Joe’s Gnocchi? Well, I am here to confirm that rumor. They really are that good!

With that being said, don’t follow the instructions on the bag. It will most likely make them soggy.

I am about to share my favorite quick and easy way to prepare for the crispiest gnocchi ever. All you need is a store-bought bag of gnocchi and an Air-fryer. 

What is Cauliflower Gnocchi Made of?

Trader Joe's Cauliflower gnocchi in a bag

Traditionally, gnocchi is made with potatoes, eggs, and wheat flour.

Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocchi is a cleaner option than traditional gnocchi since it’s basically only made with vegetables.

There is no gluten, eggs, or dairy in this Trader Joe’s cauliflower gnocchi recipe. 

Instead, this gnocchi contains only cauliflower, cassava flour, potato starch, extra virgin olive oil and sea salt. Such a simple and easy-to-understand list of ingredients, we love when we can easily recognize and pronounce what is written on the bag!

If you’re ever wondering how to read and view ingredients on packaged food, this is a great resource to use. Read more about it here.

Why do I Love Air Frying

Air frying has become more and more popular in the last few years. People who have been looking and searching for alternatives in order to enjoy their favorite crispy food, have seemingly found the answer with air frying.

You can use air fryers for a HUGE range of foods, from Zucchini Fries to Bang Bang Cauliflower, from Firecracker Tofu to Chicken Nuggets, from pancakes to muffins.

The sky is the limit.

Not to mention, with an air fryer, you are using far less oil which can lead to far less mess to clean up!

I love being able to quickly clean up after I have finished eating because usually, that’s about the time when we start wrangling the kiddos up for bath and bedtime!

Air fryers are also much safer to use than the traditional frying method with lots of hot, bubbly oil. If you are a parent with little ones running around like me, the last thing you want is the risk of hot oil being spilled when things get a bit chaotic in the kitchen.

Another great reason of using an air fryer is that the outside of your food develops a crispy and crunchy exterior without the risk of lots of oil creating a mushy outside. We like things crispy around here, no soggy messes allowed!

What If I Do Not have an Air Fryer

No need to worry if you do not own an air fryer appliance.

You can always use the step-by-step instructions on the Trader Joe’s bag instead.

For this you will either need a pan or a baking sheet to use in your oven if you do not have access to an air fryer.

What You Will Need To Make These Cauliflower Gnocchi Crispy

Crispy cauliflower gnocchi being made in an air fryer

You truly only need a few things when making this already made gnocchi even better:

  • Air fryer
  • Cooking oil spray of your choice (such as avocado oil spray)

But today, we are only going to focus on the one that takes minimal effort and have the best result.

First, place a bag of frozen Trader Joe’s cauliflower gnocchi on a plate, with some space in between each gnocchi. Microwave for 1 minute. Flip halfway to ensure the gnocchi is thawed evenly.

Trader Joe's Cauliflower gnocchi frozen on a plate.

Next, preheat the air fryer to 400 F. If your air fryer does not require preheating, you can just place gnocchi in the frying basket. Make sure the gnocchi is spread out evenly and not piled on top of one another. 

Then, air fry for 13 – 15 minutes depending on preferred crispiness.

perfectly browned cauliflower gnocchi on a parchment paper lined pan with a side ofketchup

Lastly, serve alongside any of the listed dips and sauces below!

How to Serve Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocchi

Personally, I don’t think anything beats a good vegan cheese sauce served over warm, crispy cauliflower gnocchi. The textures of warm smooth, creamy cheese on top of crispy, light gnocchi is a dream!

Vegan Cheese Sauce for the Best Gnocchi Dish

a jar of homemade butternut squash cashew vegan cheese sauce

My favorite way to serve the gnocchi is to make a “Mac and Cheese” (or we should call it Gnocchi-eese?) with my favorite vegan cheese sauce.

You can find my vegan cheese sauce recipe here. It’s dairy-free, made with butternut squash AND raw cashews. You could almost say this is the vegan’s version of “liquid gold”!

A plate of breakfast food. There is a fried egg with chili flakes, a sliced avocado and vegan cheese sauce

 Other great ways to serve cauliflower gnocchi:

You can also use a red pasta sauce of your choice or any dip you prefer like this Vegan Pesto Sauce or Lemon Tahini Sauce. This makes for not only a great meal, but it also works as a great appetizer for your next dinner party! Wow your guests the next time you have a little soiree at your place with a surprisingly crispy and delightful snack between drinks and dinner.

Finally, jump on this Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocchi Train, but make sure to get that crispy texture in your air fryer. Dip them in your favorite sauce for an easy, and delicious dinner.

OOO ALSO I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOUR CREATIONS! YOU CAN USE “TRIED IT” ON PINTEREST OR SHARE ON INSTAGRAM BY TAGGING #SHUANGYSEATS

crispy air fryer gnocchi pinterest image
Crispy air fryer cauliflower gnocchi on a parchment paper lined pan with ketchup

Get the recipe:Crispy Air Fryer Cauliflower Gnocchi {15 Minute}

This is the easiest way to make super crispy Trader Joe’s cauliflower gnocchi. They are made in an air fryer in just under 15 minutes which makes this a perfect recipe for a weekday dinner.
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Ingredients

  • 1 bag Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocchi
  • Cooking oil spray

Equipment

Instructions 

  • Spread the frozen Trader Joe's Cauliflower gnocchi on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave for 1 minute (if using the whole bag). Flip halfway to make sure they are thawed evenly.
  • Toss the cauliflower gnocchi in the air fryer basket. Lightly spray with cooking oil.
  • Cook 400 F for 13 – 15 minutes.
  • Pair with your favorite sauce or sides. Enjoy!

Notes

1. If after microwaving for a minute, the cauliflower gnocchi is still a little frozen, it is okay. No need to have it completely thawed.
2. For more serving ideas, see the "How to serve cauliflower gnocchi" in this post
Serving: 1g, Calories: 97kcal, Carbohydrates: 19g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 9mg, Sodium: 26mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 3g

The Nutrition Facts above are specific to the ingredients I chose to use for this recipe, which may vary.