The $1.25 Dollar Tree Find I Keep in My Pantry for Easy Weeknight Dinners

Learning to cook gnocchi on a sheet pan revolutionized my life. The groundbreaking sheet-pan method, which involves spreading the gnocchi on a single sheet and baking (not boiling) it, hooked me with its irresistible crispy exterior and pillowy soft interior.

Plus, the fact that you can create an entire meal in a sheet pan is a lifesaver. I make a sheet-pan gnocchi dinner at least every other week. If I wrote a cookbook, I would devote an entire section to sheet-pan meals because of how easy, convenient, and downright delicious they are.

The $1.25 gnocchi from Dollar Tree is a star player in these meals. At nearly half the price of Trader Joe's gnocchi ($1.99 for a 16-ounce package) and almost one-third the price of the version at my closest grocery store (a whopping $3.49), the Dollar Tree gnocchi have become a permanent staple in my pantry. Shrinkflation hasn't hit these, either. The Dollar Tree gives a little more bang for your buck with their bigger 17.6-ounce package.

Why I Love Dollar Tree's Gnocchi

There's so much I love about this budget-friendly find. The flavor is perfectly potato-y and simple, allowing it to play nicely with various sauces and seasonings. The texture is spot on—dense enough to satisfy but with an unmistakable lightness.

How I Use Packaged Gnocchi 

These little dumplings aren't just for boiling and tossing with marinara. Some of my favorite preparations include the notable sheet-pan sensations. Tossed with olive oil, salt, pepper, veggies, and/or meat and roasted until crispy and browned, they make a complete and fantastic meal.

For example, in the summer I like to adorn my sheet pan gnocchi with zucchini, tomatoes, bell peppers, and fresh basil. For something a little heartier, combine spicy Italian sausage, mushrooms, garlic, kale, and a dusting of Parmesan.

Sometimes I make a fresh and comforting one-pan skillet gnocchi with chicken and pesto. It's a real winner for a just-as-easy skillet meal with the same low-key cooking vibe as my beloved sheet pan dinners. And I know, come corn season, I'll be trying this sweet corn and gnocchi skillet dish.

For something more traditional, I toss the boiled gnocchi with homemade sauces, like sundried tomato pesto or vegan alfredo (or whatever jarred sauce I have in the pantry). Outside of pasta dishes, the dumplings add texture and substance to soups and stews and even make a great crouton substitute for salads when roasted with olive oil, salt, and pepper.  

Whether boiling, quickly pan-frying, or (clearly, my favorite) roasting them to crispy perfection, Dollar Tree's gnocchi delivers delicious results every time. And at this almost comical price, they've earned a forever home in my kitchen.