A knob assembly for a gas cooktop is provided that includes a receptacle mounted between a valve and a knob. The knob directly mounts to a knob control rod and is configured to mount in a vertical plane perpendicular to a plane defined by a horizontal support surface for a cooking receptacle. The receptacle includes a receptacle abutment wall, a receptacle wall extending from the receptacle abutment wall, and a control rod aperture wall formed through the receptacle abutment wall. The control rod aperture wall is sized and positioned to support insertion of the knob control rod therethrough. The receptacle abutment wall is configured to abut a back of a control panel when the knob assembly is mounted to the control panel. The receptacle wall is sized and positioned within a knob aperture wall formed through the control panel when the knob assembly is mounted to the control panel.