Creamy Italian Sausage Gnocchi: A Cozy Family Recipe

Every creamy Italian sausage gnocchi dish represents culinary comfort at its finest.

Hearty ingredients dance together, creating a symphony of robust flavors and textures.

Home cooks adore this soul-warming meal that revamps simple components into something extraordinary.

Rich, velvety sauce envelops tender potato dumplings and savory meat with Mediterranean-inspired elegance.

Delightful aromas will fill your kitchen, promising an experience far beyond typical weeknight dinners.

Spices and carefully selected ingredients elevate this recipe from mundane to magnificent.

Each bite promises a delectable journey through traditional Italian countryside cooking.

Why You’ll Love Sausage Gnocchi

• Savor Quick Comfort: This recipe delivers a hearty, satisfying meal in under 30 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights when you crave something delicious but have limited time.
• Creamy Texture Explosion: The combination of heavy cream, tomato sauce, and melted mozzarella creates a luxuriously smooth sauce that perfectly coats the pillowy gnocchi, offering a rich and indulgent eating experience.
• One-Skillet Wonder: Minimal cleanup and straightforward cooking steps make this dish a go-to for home cooks who want maximum flavor with minimal kitchen effort, allowing you to enjoy a restaurant-quality meal without the hassle.
• Customizable Flavor Profile: The recipe easily adapts to personal preferences by swapping sausage types, adding different herbs, or adjusting spice levels, making it a versatile and crowd-pleasing dinner option.

What Goes in Sausage Gnocchi

• Italian Sausage: Flavorful protein that adds rich, spicy taste to the dish, best when fresh and high-quality ground meat.

• Heavy Cream: Creates a smooth, luxurious sauce base with velvety texture.
• Mozzarella Cheese: Melts beautifully, providing a creamy and stretchy topping with mild, fresh flavor.

• Gnocchi: Soft potato dumplings that serve as the hearty pasta base, store-bought or fresh work well.
• Tomato Sauce: Provides tangy, rich base for the sauce, select a smooth and well-seasoned variety.
• Spinach: Fresh green vegetable that adds nutrition and color, tender leaves work best.

• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance and balance the overall flavor profile of the dish.

Cooking Sausage Gnocchi Made Easy

Step 1: Brown the Sausage

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Crumble the Italian sausage into the pan, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks. Sauté until the meat is completely golden and no pink remains, about 6-8 minutes.

Step 2: Create Creamy Sauce

• Tomato sauce
• Heavy cream
• Salt
• Black pepper

Stir everything together until the sauce becomes smooth and well-blended.

Step 3: Cook the Gnocchi

Gently fold the gnocchi into the saucy mixture, ensuring each pillow is completely coated. Bring the skillet to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Cover and let it bubble away for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. If the sauce looks too thick, splash in some water or chicken broth to keep it silky.

Step 4: Final Flourish

When the gnocchi are perfectly tender, fold in the chopped spinach. Sprinkle the top generously with shredded mozzarella cheese. Cover the skillet and let the residual heat transform the cheese into a melty, irresistible blanket.

Pro Tips for Sausage Gnocchi

• Sear Sausage Perfectly: Brown the sausage over medium heat, breaking it into small, crispy pieces for maximum flavor development.
• Control Sauce Consistency: Add water or broth gradually if the sauce becomes too thick, ensuring a smooth, creamy texture that coats the gnocchi evenly.
• Prevent Gnocchi Sticking: Stir frequently during cooking to stop gnocchi from clumping or burning at the bottom of the skillet.
• Melt Cheese Strategically: Let residual heat melt the mozzarella, creating a luxurious, stringy cheese topping without overcooking.
• Fresh Spinach Balance: Add spinach at the end to maintain its bright color and prevent wilting, keeping the dish looking vibrant and fresh.

Saving Leftover Sausage Gnocchi

• Refrigerate the gnocchi dish in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Store leftovers for 3-4 days in the refrigerator, ensuring the container is sealed tightly to maintain freshness. When reheating, transfer the portion to a microwave-safe dish and sprinkle a few tablespoons of water or broth to prevent dryness. Microwave on medium power for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through to distribute heat evenly. Alternatively, warm the gnocchi in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding a splash of broth to restore the creamy sauce's original consistency. Check the internal temperature reaches 165°F for food safety. For best results, consume reheated gnocchi immediately to enjoy its original texture and flavor.

Serving Ideas for Sausage Gnocchi

• Uncork a Robust Red Wine: Pair this creamy, hearty dish with a bold Italian red wine like Chianti or Sangiovese to complement the rich sausage and tomato sauce flavors.
• Serve with Crusty Garlic Bread: Create the perfect sidekick by toasting a rustic Italian bread with garlic butter, ideal for soaking up the luxurious sauce and adding extra texture.
• Create a Fresh Side Salad: Balance the dish's richness with a crisp arugula salad dressed in lemon vinaigrette, bringing a bright, tangy contrast to the creamy gnocchi.
• Add a Zesty Herb Garnish: Sprinkle fresh basil or parsley on top to introduce a burst of fresh herbaceous flavor that cuts through the dish's creaminess and adds a vibrant finishing touch.

New Twists on Sausage Gnocchi

• Spicy Chorizo Fusion: Replace Italian sausage with spicy chorizo and add roasted red peppers for a bold, smoky flavor profile that brings exciting heat to the classic dish.
• Mediterranean Herb Garden: Swap spinach for fresh arugula, incorporate crumbled feta cheese, and sprinkle dried oregano and basil to create a lighter, more herbaceous version of the original recipe.
• Vegetarian Mushroom Wonder: Substitute sausage with mixed wild mushrooms like shiitake and cremini, use vegetable broth instead of meat, and add nutritional yeast for a rich, umami-packed vegetarian alternative.
• Creamy Seafood Upgrade: Replace sausage with succulent shrimp or crab meat, use white wine instead of tomato sauce, and garnish with fresh parsley to transform the gnocchi into an elegant seafood experience.

Creamy Italian Sausage Gnocchi Delight Recipe

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4.6 from 15 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Creamy Italian Sausage Gnocchi Delight blends hearty Italian sausage with pillowy potato gnocchi in a rich, velvety sauce. Rustic comfort meets gourmet elegance, inviting you to savor each luxurious, flavor-packed bite.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Protein:

• 375 grams (¾ lb) mild Italian sausage, casings removed

Starch:

• 500 grams (1 lb) dried potato gnocchi

Dairy and Sauce:

• 1½ cups tomato-based pasta sauce
• ¾ cup heavy cream
• 1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Vegetables and Seasonings:

• 1½ cups chopped fresh spinach
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ⅛ teaspoon black pepper

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Instructions

1. Preheat a large skillet over medium heat and crumble the Italian sausage into the pan, cooking thoroughly until the meat transforms into golden-brown, crispy fragments, breaking it down into small, uniform pieces.
2. Pour the tomato sauce and heavy cream into the skillet with the caramelized sausage, seasoning generously with salt (or 2.5 grams) and freshly ground black pepper (or 0.5 grams). Whisk the ingredients together until they form a smooth, integrated sauce.
3. Gently introduce the packaged gnocchi directly into the simmering sauce, ensuring each potato dumpling becomes completely enveloped in the rich, creamy mixture. Allow the contents to bubble softly, reducing heat to prevent scorching.
4. Cover the skillet and let the gnocchi poach for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring intermittently to prevent adherence to the pan’s surface. If the sauce appears excessively thick, gradually introduce 2 to of water or chicken broth to maintain a luxurious consistency.
5. Fold the freshly chopped spinach leaves into the skillet, allowing them to wilt naturally from the residual heat and absorb the surrounding flavors.
6. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese across the surface, creating a blanket of melting dairy that will cascade over the gnocchi. Cover momentarily to encourage complete cheese melting.

Notes

• Opt for fresh, high-quality Italian sausage to enhance the dish’s rich flavor profile.
• Ensure gnocchi are cooked perfectly by stirring frequently and monitoring sauce consistency during simmering.
• Mozzarella cheese melts beautifully when added off direct heat, creating a creamy, luxurious finish.
• Chopped spinach adds nutritional value and vibrant color to the hearty one-pan meal.
• Select soft, pillowy gnocchi that will absorb the creamy tomato sauce effectively.
• Adjust sauce thickness with water or broth if it becomes too dense during cooking.

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 655 kcal
• Sugar: 4 g
• Sodium: 1100 mg
• Fat: 45 g
• Saturated Fat: 22 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
• Trans Fat: 0.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 35 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 30 g
• Cholesterol: 125 mg