If a quick-and-easy comfort meal is what you’re craving, then this is the perfect recipe for you. My One-Pan Italian Sausage Gnocchi is a creamy, hearty pasta dish that comes together in just 30 minutes. It’s full of fluffy gnocchi, hearty Italian Sausage, and a creamy tomato sauce for a classic comfort recipe made in minutes.
Whenever I think of comfort food, I think of two main ingredients: pasta and sausage. There is truly nothing better than a rich and creamy pasta paired with hearty, spicy Italian sausage. It’s why I love having recipes like my Healthy Baked Ziti and my Ultimate One-Pot Lasagna Soup in my repertoire, for those nights where I can’t stop craving comfort food.
This recipe combines those two comforting ingredients together for what is truly one of my most favorite recipes yet. This dish is a true timeless recipe, and is one that your family will want to run to time and time again. My boys cannot get enough of this creamy pasta dish, and as a mom, that is a “win” in my book. Another win? The fact that this also happens to be a one-pot recipe.
One-pot recipes are the perfect dishes for those busy weeknights where you don’t want to be left with a sink-full of dishes. And, most one-pot recipes come together with minimal prep, making them quick and easy to prepare. Don’t believe me? Just try out some of my one-pan recipes, like my Saucy Coconut Chicken or my Lemon Chicken Orzo!
What You Need to Make This One-Pot Comfort Meal
- Olive Oil: To cook the sausage, I like to choose a better-for-you oil such as olive oil.
- Mild Italian Sausage: Mild Italian sausage is an essential part of this recipe. Just be sure to remove the casing from the sausage before cooking.
- Yellow Onion: Yellow onion has a mild, onion flavor that tastes perfect in this recipe.
- Garlic: I always recommend using fresh garlic, whenever possible. The flavor is truly unbeatable!
- Italian Seasoning: A pinch of Italian seasoning adds the best flavor.
- Marinara Sauce: Warm, hearty marinara sauce is a key ingredient in this recipe. I like using Rao’s!
- Chicken Broth: Rich chicken broth adds a delicious flavor to this pasta recipe!
- Potato Gnocchi: Potato gnocchi is a soft, pillowy pasta that you can find pre-made in the pasta section of your local grocery store. And if you want a gluten-free option, you can try substituting the gnocchi for Cauliflower Gnocchi.
- Spinach: Fresh spinach works best in this recipe, for a delicious pop of color and flavor.
- Heavy Cream or Coconut Milk: I prefer to use full-fat coconut milk to keep this recipe dairy-free, but heavy cream also works well, here.
- Parmigiano Reggiano: Parmigiano Reggiano is truly the best of the best when it comes to parmesan cheese, and is absolutely worth the small splurge.
- Sea Salt and Black Pepper: Sea salt and black pepper add the perfect finishing touch to this dish!
How To Make This Simple & Easy Sausage Pasta Dish
To make this dish, start by heating a large, deep skillet, on the stove, over medium heat, adding the olive oil into the pan. Dice the onion and mash the garlic; then, once the oil is hot, add in the onion and cook for about 2-3 minutes, then add in the sausage and use your spoon to break it apart into small pieces. Allow it to cook until it’s browned. If desired, drain the excess fat from the pan.
Next, add in the mashed garlic and Italian seasoning and stir for another minute. Then, pour in the marinara sauce and broth. Mix everything together well, then add in the gnocchi.
Bring the dish to a gentle boil, then- once it’s boiling, reduce the heat to low and allow it to simmer until the liquid has slightly reduced and the gnocchi is cooked through. This should take approximately 6-8 minutes. Then, add in the fresh spinach and coconut milk or heavy cream and stir until the spinach has wilted, approximately 1-2 minutes.
Finally, grate in the Parmigiano Reggiano and mix in the sea salt and ground black pepper to taste. Once it’s done, remove it from the heat. Allow it to cool slightly, then serve and enjoy!
If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a review and rating below! To see more recipes and behind the scenes, follow along on Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube! I’m also now on Pinterest, so stop by and take a look at what’s new.
** Photography by Tanya Pilgrim
Ingredients
- 2 Teaspoons Olive Oil
- 1 Pound Mild Italian Sausage, casing removed
- 1 Medium Yellow Onion, finely diced
- 4 Cloves Garlic, mashed
- 2 Teaspoons Italian Seasoning
- ¾ Cup Marinara Sauce
- 1 ¾ Cup Chicken Broth
- 16 Ounces Fresh Potato Gnocchi
- 3 Cups Fresh Spinach
- ⅓ Cup Heavy Cream or Coconut Milk
- ½ Cup Parmigiano Reggiano, freshly grated + more for topping, if desired
- Sea Salt, to taste
- Ground Black Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Start by heating a large, deep skillet, on the stove, over medium heat, adding the olive oil into the pan.
- Dice the onion and mash the garlic; then, once the oil is hot, add in the onion and cook for about 2-3 minutes, then add in the sausage and use your spoon to break it apart into small pieces. Allow it to cook until it's browned. If desired, drain the excess fat from the pan.
- Next, add in the mashed garlic and Italian seasoning and stir for another minute.
- Then, pour in the marinara sauce and broth. Mix everything together well, then add in the gnocchi.
- Bring the dish to a gentle boil, then- once it’s boiling, reduce the heat to low and allow it to simmer until the liquid has slightly reduced and the gnocchi is cooked through. This should take approximately 6-8 minutes.
- Then, add in the fresh spinach and coconut milk or heavy cream and stir until the spinach has wilted, approximately 1-2 minutes.
- Finally, grate in the Parmigiano Reggiano and mix in the sea salt and ground black pepper to taste.
- Once it’s done, remove it from the heat. Allow it to cool slightly, then serve and enjoy!
Rate & review
SELECT A RATING and tell me what you think!
What others are saying
My family loved this. My husband said this was a top 3 meal. It’s so good!
Wow, what an honor! Thank you so much, Carrie!
Delicious but watch the salt. I used salted broth and with the Marinara plus the parmesan found it to be a little too salty. Next time I will use unsalted broth and add salt as needed. I used GF gnocchi.
This is insanely delicious and couldn’t be any easier. I added some chili flakes for heat.
Yum! Thank you so much for your review, Cydnee!
Very easy and delicious! I will make this again!
Yay! I am thrilled to hear that, Logan!
I am not normally a fan of typical “Italian” flavors, but I was DRINKING this soup! The flavor was absolutely insane and the base of the soup was perfectly creamy.
WOW! That makes me SO happy to hear, MacKenzie!! Thank you so much for your review!
Absolutely delicious! I used spicy Italian sausage for some heat and it was perfect! Will definitely be making again.
I am so happy to hear that, Emily! Thank you so much for your review!
I made this and absolutely loved it!!! I used Hot Italian Sausage. We like spice. So easy.
Was even great leftover…
Definitely a keeper.
Thank you
I am so happy to hear that, Julie! Thank you so much for your review!
I made this for the first time today for a group of seven, and they devoured it. All 5 kids (ages 12 to 25) are already asking when I am making it again 🙂 When I tell you there was not a drop left in the pan, I mean that! So simple but SO good!
Absolutely fabulous! Served for Sunday supper and the crowds went wild. My Italian grandma would be so proud! Thank you for a great recipe,
Love this recipe! This is now one of my go-to recipes because both my kids love it too, and there are never any leftovers!