Description
Enjoy a comforting creamy sausage gnocchi dish featuring Italian sausage, a rich cream sauce, fresh spinach, and tender gnocchi. Perfect for weeknight dinners or special occasions, this recipe is sure to delight!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound of Italian sausage (mild or spicy, based on preference)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 pound gnocchi (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 cup spinach (fresh or frozen, if using frozen, thaw and drain excess water)
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
- Remove the casing from the Italian sausage and crumble it into the skillet.
- Cook the sausage for about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it is browned and cooked through. Use a wooden spoon to break it into smaller pieces as it cooks.
- Once cooked, transfer the sausage to a plate and set aside. Leave the drippings in the skillet for added flavor.
- In the same skillet, add the diced onion and sauté for about 3-4 minutes until it becomes translucent.
- Add the minced garlic, dried oregano, dried basil, and red pepper flakes (if using) to the skillet. Sauté for an additional 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Pour in the chicken broth, scraping the bottom of the skillet to deglaze and incorporate any browned bits from the sausage. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
- Once the broth is simmering, reduce the heat to low and stir in the heavy cream. Mix well to combine.
- Add the cooked sausage back into the skillet, stirring to incorporate it into the creamy sauce.
- Season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste. Allow it to simmer gently for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly.
- While the sauce is simmering, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Add the gnocchi to the boiling water. Cook according to package instructions, usually about 2-3 minutes, or until they float to the surface.
- Once the gnocchi are cooked, use a slotted spoon to transfer them directly into the skillet with the creamy sausage sauce. Reserve a little pasta water in case you need to thin the sauce later.
- Gently toss the gnocchi in the sauce to coat them evenly. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to reach your desired consistency.
- Add the spinach to the skillet and stir until it wilts and is evenly distributed throughout the dish. This should take about 1-2 minutes.
- Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese, allowing it to melt into the sauce and enhance the creaminess. Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.
- Once everything is well combined and heated through, remove the skillet from the heat.
- Serve the creamy sausage gnocchi in bowls, garnished with freshly chopped parsley for a pop of color and flavor.
- For an extra touch, sprinkle additional Parmesan cheese on top before serving.
- If you have leftovers, allow the dish to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- To reheat, place the gnocchi in a skillet over medium heat. Add a splash of chicken broth or cream to loosen the sauce.
Notes
- Feel free to adjust the spice level by choosing mild or spicy sausage and adjusting the red pepper flakes.
- For a lighter version, you can substitute half-and-half for the heavy cream.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes