Italian Sausage Gnocchi Skillet

Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 5 servings

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This Italian Sausage Gnocchi Skillet is an easy dinner made in one pot with just six ingredients – savory sausage, pillowy gnocchi, heavy cream, pasta sauce, spinach, and mozzarella cheese! Ready in 30 minutes or less. 

a large skillet full of italian sausage gnocchi with wooden ladle inside.

If you like this recipe, you’ll also love this Sausage Orzo Soup, Three Cheese Gnocchi Bake, and Sausage Tortellini Soup!

Comfort food season is in full swing and this Italian Sausage Gnocchi Skillet is one of our favorite go-tos!

This one pan meal is the perfect quick dinner for those days when you don’t feel like spending much time or effort in the kitchen! I grab the shelf-stable ones from the pasta aisle and they make cozy meals like this so quick to throw together.

One of the best things about gnocchi is how quickly it cooks up perfectly. If you’re boiling pre-made gnocchi, they cook up in just 2-4 minutes, and in this recipe, they cook up tender and fluffy in not much longer!

They make this recipe the perfect weeknight dinner win — quick, cozy, and a crowd-pleaser!

grey plate full of italian sausage gnocchi with parmesan sprinkled on top.

Check out this Gnocchi with Sausage, Spinach and Tomatoes, Italian Sausage Gnocchi Soup, or this Slow Cooker Chicken Gnocchi Soup next!

Why we love this creamy Sausage Gnocchi Skillet:

  • 30-minute meal: If busy weeknights are infringing on your dinner game, then you’ll love this quick comfort food dish! It only takes 30 minutes to make the entire meal, perfect for busy days or days when you don’t feel like cooking. 
  • Easy: You only need six ingredients to whip up this easy meal, and you probably already have most of them in your pantry or fridge!
  • One-pot: Forget the mountain of dishes after a meal. This one-pot meal uses a large skillet to cook everything! It’s the perfect low-fuss, minimal clean-up meal.
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Italian Sausage Gnocchi Ingredients:

ingredients needed for italian sausage gnocchi skillet in bowls and plate.
  • Mild Italian sausage: you can use ground sausage or Italian sausage links. Just make sure to remove the casings and crumble the sausage if using links! If you like extra spice, use hot Italian sausage instead.
  • Tomato-based pasta sauce: use your favorite marinara sauce.
  • Heavy cream: this adds a creamy, velvety texture to our gnocchi skillet!
  • Dried potato gnocchi: this can be found in the pasta aisle at your local grocery store. Make sure you use shelf-stable store-bought gnocchi as it holds up better than homemade gnocchi. 
  • Chopped fresh spinach: we can’t forget the veggies! Adding fresh spinach adds a little green and gives you a serving of veggies. 
  • Shredded mozzarella cheese: mozzarella is a classic Italian cheese and gets perfectly melty in this skillet! You can also add some parmesan cheese on top alongside the mozzarella.

How to make this Gnocchi Sausage Skillet:

This one-pot meal is so easy to make! For a full list of recipe instructions, scroll down to the recipe card.

  • Cook the sausage.
  • Add in tomato sauce, cream, salt and pepper. Stir until combined.
  • Add gnocchi and stir to coat. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, cover, and cook until gnocchi is tender. 
  • Stir in spinach and top with shredded cheese. Cover and let the cheese melt before serving.

Tips for making this Italian Sausage Gnocchi Skillet:

  • Choose ingredients you love: because there are so few ingredients in this recipe, every one counts. Choose ingredients that have great flavor, and they will take this recipe over the top!
  • Don’t overcook: gnocchi cooks very quickly (5-8 minutes), so keep an eye on the skillet and stir regularly so that every gnocchi is cooked evenly. We want fluffy but not mushy!
  • Add your own spin: this recipe is amazing on its own, but there are a lot of different ways you can make it your own, and I’ve included a bunch of ideas down below!

Variations and Substitutions for this Gnocchi Skillet:

  • Swap out the mild Italian sausage for a spicy sausage or Italian chicken sausage, or use ground beef or turkey instead! (Although you’ll want to add extra seasoning if going that route).
  • Swap out the sausage for some of this Crockpot Shredded Chicken or Instant Pot Shredded Chicken if you have a batch prepped in the fridge!
  • Use a little more tomato sauce or a little more cream to customize the sauce to your preferences.
  • Use light cream or whole milk to make this recipe a little lighter.
  • Swap out the spinach for kale or other vegetables. Just keep in mind how long they need to cook and them earlier in the recipe if need be.
a large skillet full of italian sausage gnocchi with parsley in the background.

How to store this sausage and gnocchi skillet:

Store leftover sausage and gnocchi in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. 

Can I freeze this recipe?

You can freeze this gnocchi recipe, however keep in mind that the texture of the gnocchi will be softer after having been frozen. If you prefer it perfectly al dente, I recommend making this recipe just before serving.

How to make this Gnocchi recipe ahead:

This recipe is just as delicious prepped ahead and reheated later on!

If you know you’ll be reheating it, be sure you don’t overcook the gnocchi, as it will cook further when you reheat it.

Cover tightly and refrigerate for up to 4 days.

To reheat, add a splash of water, milk, or chicken broth and place on the stove over medium-low heat, stirring often, until warmed through. Serve!

What to serve with this Italian Sausage Gnocchi Skillet:

This dish is pretty filling on its own, but you could add a light side salad for some extra greens.

If you need something to soak up that creamy sauce, I suggest serving some No Knead Artisan Bread, Homemade Breadsticks, or Garlic Bread on the side! 

More easy dinners you’ll love!

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Italian Sausage Gnocchi Skillet

5 from 19 votes
This Italian Sausage Gnocchi Skillet is an easy dinner made in one pot with just a few ingredients! Ready in 30 minutes or less.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Cuisine American, Italian
Course Main Course
Servings 5 servings
Calories 664cal

Ingredients

  • 375 gram package mild Italian sausage (about ¾ lb), casings removed
  • cup tomato-based pasta sauce
  • ¾ cup heavy cream
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • teaspoon black pepper
  • 500 grams dried potato gnocchi (about 1 lb)
  • cups chopped fresh spinach
  • cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

  • In a large skillet, cook sausage over medium heat until browned.
  • Stir in tomato sauce, cream, salt and pepper. Stir until combined.
  • Add gnocchi and stir to coat. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, cover and cook for 5-10 minutes, stirring often, until gnocchi are tender. If most of the liquid is absorbed but the gnocchi is still not cooked through, add a splash of water or broth and continue cooking.
  • Stir in spinach and top with shredded cheese. Cover and let cheese melt before serving.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 664cal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 45g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Cholesterol: 124mg | Sodium: 1696mg | Potassium: 518mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1914IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 246mg | Iron: 6mg
Keywords gnocchi recipe, italian sausage gnocchi

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Meet Ashley

My name is Ashley Fehr and I love creating easy meals my family loves. I also like to do things my way, which means improvising and breaking the rules when necessary. Here you will find creative twists on old favorites and some of my favorite family recipes, passed down from generations!

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Comments

  1. Claire says

    This was excellent and so easy! I only had half and half on hand, it worked perfectly. I also used sweet Italian chicken sausage and beef. It was seriously good. I usually don’t like cooked spinach but it was perfect in this dish.

    • The Recipe Rebel says

      Hi Judy! Iโ€™ve only tested the recipe as written. If you decide to experiment let me know how it goes.

    • The Recipe Rebel says

      Hi Alisia! Tomato sauce may work but it is typically thinner than a jarred pasta sauce. If you decide to experiment, let me know how it goes!

  2. Katina M Durst says

    My WHOLE family loved this, even my picky 6 year old and hubby!!! He even asked me to make again, which he seldom asks that. Definitely putting this recipe in my normal rotation. Thank you so much for such a quick and delicious meal.

  3. Shawn says

    A true family favorite now that I can make in a flash. I’ve swapped spinach with kale, sweet sausage for spicy, and the kids still devour it. So easy and so much flavor, thank you Ashley!

  4. Tami G says

    Just made this tonight, it was delicious! Really rich but I expect no less from any gnocchi dish. Super quick and easy, perfect for weeknight. Looking forward to the leftovers!

  5. Monica Bernardino says

    Super delicious and very italian comfort food but there’s one more missing ingredient especially the McCormick italian seasonings. That’ll make the super extra flavor will blow your minds out. Thumbs up you agree with that.

  6. Libbyg says

    โญ๏ธSimple ingredients
    โญ๏ธEasy prep
    โญ๏ธReady in 30 minutes or less
    โญ๏ธTastes delicious
    โญ๏ธDefinitely a new family favourite

  7. Jen says

    As I’m scrolling through the photos, my stomach is growling more and more! Looks like I know what I’m making for dinner tonight. Can’t wait!

  8. Shelley says

    We absolutely adore gnocchi at my house, and creamy tomato sauce is a favorite indulgence of mine – this is a perfect combination! Love that it’s so easy with just a handful of ingredients. And great tips for little tweaks and swaps to make it a bit lighter or change up veggies. Oh! And super excited that this can be made several days in advance – so perfect for busy nights!

  9. Jane Saunders says

    I love how quick to prepare this meal is and it’s a great way to incorporate spinach into a family meal.

5 from 19 votes (7 ratings without comment)

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