Pin it A comforting, rich weeknight dinner featuring pillowy gnocchi, savory Italian sausage, and a velvety tomato-cream sauce.
I first served this creamy tomato and sausage gnocchi to my family on a busy weeknight and was delighted by how quickly it disappeared from the table.
Ingredients
- Potato gnocchi: 500 g (1 lb) store-bought or homemade
- Heavy cream: 100 ml (1/2 cup)
- Parmesan cheese: 40 g (1/4 cup) freshly grated
- Italian sausage: 300 g (10 oz) mild or spicy, casings removed
- Yellow onion: 1 medium, finely chopped
- Garlic: 2 cloves, minced
- Canned crushed tomatoes: 400 g (14 oz)
- Baby spinach: 100 g (3.5 oz) optional
- Fresh basil: 2 tbsp chopped plus extra for garnish
- Olive oil: 2 tbsp
- Dried oregano: 1/2 tsp
- Chili flakes: 1/4 tsp optional
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper: to taste
Instructions
- Boil water:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Cook sausage:
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sausage, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook for 4 5 minutes until browned and cooked through.
- Sauté onion and garlic:
- Add chopped onion and cook until softened about 3 minutes. Stir in garlic oregano and chili flakes cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add tomatoes and season:
- Pour in crushed tomatoes add salt and pepper to taste and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Add cream:
- Stir in heavy cream and reduce heat to low. Simmer gently for 2 3 minutes until sauce is creamy.
- Add greens and basil:
- Add spinach if using and basil stirring until spinach wilts.
- Cook gnocchi:
- While sauce simmers cook gnocchi according to package directions until they float to surface about 2 3 minutes.
- Combine and serve:
- Drain gnocchi and add directly to sauce. Toss gently to coat and heat through for 1 2 minutes. Stir in Parmesan cheese adjust seasoning if needed and serve hot garnished with extra basil.
Pin it This dish always brings the family together around the dinner table, sparking stories and laughter over each comforting bite.
Required Tools
Large pot Large skillet Wooden spoon or spatula Colander Chefs knife and cutting board
Allergen Information
Contains Wheat (gnocchi) Milk (cream Parmesan) and may contain Egg (depending on gnocchi brand) Sausage may contain additional allergens please check labels Always double check ingredient labels for specific allergens.
Nutritional Information
Calories 530 Total Fat 29 g Carbohydrates 49 g Protein 19 g per serving.
Pin it 
This creamy tomato and sausage gnocchi recipe is a quick comforting meal that you can easily customize to your taste and occasion.
Recipe FAQs
- → What type of sausage works best?
Italian sausage, either mild or spicy, enhances the dish with rich and savory notes. You can substitute with chicken or turkey sausage for a lighter option.
- → Can I use homemade gnocchi?
Yes, homemade or store-bought potato gnocchi both work well. Cook them until they float to ensure tenderness before adding to the sauce.
- → Is it possible to add vegetables?
Spinach is an optional addition for extra greens, and sautéed mushrooms or roasted red peppers can bring additional depth to the flavors.
- → How do I adjust seasoning?
Season the tomato-cream sauce with salt, pepper, oregano, and chili flakes to taste, balancing richness with subtle heat and herbal notes.
- → What can I serve alongside this dish?
This dish pairs beautifully with a crisp green salad and a glass of Chianti or your favorite medium-bodied red wine.