air fryer cauli gnocchi + other <20 min meals

Guys. I tried air frying gnocchi for the first time a few weeks ago after seeing on everyone’s IG, and wow.

Life. Changing.

I’ve struggled with cooking the cult-favorite Trader Joe’s cauliflower gnocchi for awhile; the instructions they give you on the back of the package are not good at all.

But even with pan-frying, it’s hit or miss sometimes. I tried Lexi’s pan-frying method and that was the only one that worked; otherwise I was left with a soggy, ok-tasting-but-not-ideal mess.

I’ve included the quick and easy recipe for air fryer cauli gnocchi below + other meals under 20 minutes for when you’re hangry and need something ASAP, as well as pantry, fridge, and freezer essentials that I rely on to make quick and healthy meals easily accessible. Enjoy!

Air Fryer Cauli Gnocchi

Air Fryer Gnocchi

Serves: 1-2 | Gluten free

Ingredients:

  • 1 package Trader Joe’s frozen cauliflower gnocchi

  • 1/2 can tuna (I like Wild Planet or Toninno Tuna)

  • 1 cage-free egg (I like Vital Farms, Nellie’s, Pete & Gerry’s)

  • 1/3 bunch kale, chopped

  • Avocado oil, for cooking (I like Chosen Foods or Primal Kitchen)

  • 1 tsp lemon juice

  • Himalayan sea salt

  • Black pepper

Avocado Tuna Salad

  • 1/2 avocado

  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

  • 1 tsp apple cider vinegar

  • 1 tsp lemon juice

  • Himalayan sea salt

  • Black pepper

  • Cayenne

Directions:

  1. Pour the gnocchi into your air fryer and set to 370F, to cook for 15 minutes.

  2. While the gnocchi is frying, sauté the kale in a little oil until soft (~5 minutes, on medium heat). Add the lemon juice, sea salt, and black pepper.

  3. Remove kale from the pan. Add more oil and crack a cage-free egg in. Cook on medium heat for ~1-2 minutes (until whites are fully cooked).

  4. Check on gnocchi — if it’s crispy and golden brown, you can remove. If not, continue cooking until 15 minutes is over.

  5. Take the ingredients for the avocado tuna salad and mash in a small bowl.

  6. Combine kale, avocado tuna salad, fried egg, and cauli gnocchi in a bowl (or 2) and enjoy!

Air Fried Cauli Gnocchi

Hot Dogs with Sauerkraut on GF Bread

No picture of this, since it’s my “satisfy me when I’m hangry and I don’t care if it’s ugly” meal, but it’s quite simple:

  1. Take 1-2 of the pre-cooked 100% grass-fed beef hot dogs (I like Teton Ranch; I got them on sale at Costco) and warm them in a pan.

  2. Toast bread or warm hot dog buns.

  3. Spread avocado on the bread/buns and some cayenne pepper if desired. (Or you can simply use mustard/ketchup; I like Primal Kitchen’s.)

  4. Take hot dogs and place them on the buns. Add sauerkraut (I got a big Wildbrine tub from Costco), and enjoy!

Avocado Toast with a Fried Egg/Lox/Bacon

Avocado Toast

Really no explanation needed for this one. But just a reminder that breakfast can always be lunch or dinner.

Big Ass Salad (BAS)

No sad salads here. Take a base of any greens (I like kale, spinach, mixed greens, arugula), add roasted veggies/fresh veggies, some protein, some at, and you’re good to go. Don’t forget a dressing!

Fried Cauliflower Rice

It’s the same concept as fried rice, but even easier if you have a frozen pack of cauliflower rice in your freezer. Literally put any leftovers, veggies, eggs, meat, etc. in it and it’ll be a nourishing, comforting, satisfying meal.

Looking to upgrade it? Try my Pineapple Cauliflower Fried Rice recipe (it still only takes 15 min!).

Snack Plate

Snack Plate

Take all the things you love and put them on a plate: fresh fruit, cheese, crackers, dried fruit, nuts, jerky/sausage, etc. The world is your oyster.

Breakfast Tacos

Breakfast Tacos

Like avocado toast or a breakfast sandwich, but better. Take gluten free tortillas and heat them up on a pan. Top with avocado and fried eggs (or even smoked salmon or bacon if you’re feeling fancy).

Broccoli Tuna Pasta Salad

Summery, fresh, good hot or cold:

  1. Put a medium pot of water to boil. While it’s ready, make the avocado tuna salad from above.

  2. Take a package of chickpea pasta (I like Banza) and pour however much you want in. Add 1/2 cup frozen broccoli.

  3. Let it cook ~3-5 minutes, or until to desired softness (I like mine a little al dente). Drain, combine with avocado tuna salad, and enjoy!

Smoothie Bowl

Mango Pitaya Smoothie Bowl

There are so many variations you can make, but this Mango Pitaya Collagen Smoothie Bowl was my favorite:

Combine in a blender and blend for ~1 minute, or until smooth. Top with whatever your heart desires!

Pantry Essentials

Fridge Essentials

  • Cage-free eggs (I like Vital Farms; I get them from Whole Foods)

  • Chopped organic kale

  • Organic baby spinach

  • Smoked no-added-sugar wild salmon (I like Whole Foods brand)

  • Avocados

Freezer Essentials

  • Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocchi (duh, stock up)

  • Paleo/gluten free cauliflower pizza crust

  • Gluten free bread of choice (I like Base Culture bread from Erewhon, but Costco has great GF bread too)

  • Organic broccoli (I get big packs from Costco or Whole Foods)

  • Butternut squash (from Whole Foods)

  • Organic blueberries (I get big packs from Costco or Whole Foods)

  • Bananas (I freeze ripe bananas myself)

  • Riced cauliflower (from Whole Foods or Costco)

  • Grass-fed ground beef (I get mine from ButcherBox)

  • Wild caught Alaskan salmon (I get mine from ButcherBox)

  • Grass-fed beef hot dogs/breakfast sausage (I get breakfast sausage from ButcherBox and grass-fed hot dogs from Costco)

  • Gluten free/paleo tortillas (I like Mikeys, Siete Foods, The Real Coconut)

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