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! 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.
Italian Sausage Gnocchi Ingredients:
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.
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!
Instant Pot Chicken and Noodles — this one cooks mostly hands off! Mango Salsa Chicken and Rice — so simple and flavorful. Crockpot Italian Beef — set it and forget it! Cabbage Soup — for a good dose of veggies!
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