Crispy on the exterior and fluffy on the interior, these air fryer gnocchi are coated in a cheesy cacio e pepe (cheese and black pepper) coating. They're absolutely delicious (like, seriously good!), very easy to make (only 6 ingredients + 15 minutes total) and they make for a fun appetizer, snack or game day bite.
This is the kind of recipe that's truly as easy as it sounds. Just mix everything together, toss it in the air fryer and you'll have the most delicious, crispy, cheesy, peppery snack in less than 15 minutes!
Every time we make these, the entire batch is gone within a half hour. (Even if it's just me and my husband!) If you're planning to make them for a big crowd, you can prep multiple batches ahead of time, and just add them to the air fryer as needed.
Give these a try for your Super Bowl party, an easy weekend snack, or any occasion when you need a super quick, crowd pleasing appetizer!
What You'll Need To Make This Recipe
- Air fryer: This is the one we use. It's inexpensive and so easy to use!
- Gnocchi: Any store-bought gnocchi will work here. You can usually find it in the pasta aisle of your grocery store, as well as the refrigerated pasta section.
- Pecorino Romano is traditional for cacio e pepe, but this recipe works equally well with grated parmesan cheese.
- Butter & olive oil
- Salt and pepper: Make sure to use freshly ground black pepper in this recipe for maximum flavor!
How to Make This Cacio e Pepe Air Fryer Gnocchi
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F.
In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter, olive oil, pepper, salt and grated cheese. Add in the gnocchi, and toss until it's evenly coated.
Transfer the gnocchi to the air fryer basket in one layer, leaving space between to allow for good airflow. This will ensure the gnocchi get crispy.
Cook for 8-10 minutes, until the gnocchi are golden brown and crispy. Serve warm with more grated cheese (optional).
Storage
These are definitely best consumed fresh for maximum crispiness. (Plus, we highly doubt you'll have any leftovers!) But if you do, let them cool completely before placing in an airtight container. Refrigerate for 3-4 days and reheat in a 350˚F air fryer for a few minutes, until warmed through and crispy.
Lexi & Beth's Best Tips
Don't overcrowd the basket: It's important to leave some space for even airflow so the gnocchi get crispy. If your air fryer is pretty small, you may want to cook these in two batches.
These are delicious plain, but they're also great dipped in marinara for serving!
More Variations
It's pretty easy to change up the flavor profile of these crispy air fryer gnocchi by changing the seasoning! Dial down on the black pepper and try some of the following combinations:
- Ranch: Add in ranch seasoning (not dressing) to taste. You may want to cut out the salt, depending on how salty the seasoning mix is.
- Za'atar: Add in 1-2 teaspoons of za'atar seasoning.
- Garlic parmesan: Add in garlic and onion powder.
More Easy Appetizer Recipes
📖 Recipe
Recipe
Cacio e Pepe Air Fryer Gnocchi
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter, olive oil, pepper, salt and grated cheese. Add in the gnocchi, and toss until it's evenly coated.
- Transfer the gnocchi to the air fryer basket in one layer, leaving space between to allow for good airflow. This will ensure the gnocchi get crispy.
- Cook for 8-10 minutes, until the gnocchi are golden brown and crispy.
- Serve warm with more grated cheese (optional).
Catherine Holmes says
What is the serving size? This is important to me because my hubby is on dialysis