Gnocchi with Tomato Sauce and Italian Sausage Recipe
This comforting Gnocchi with Tomato Sauce recipe features tender gnocchi cooked with savory Italian sausage, sautéed mushrooms, fresh spinach, and a flavorful tomato sauce infused with garlic and Italian seasoning. Ready in just about 30 minutes, this one-pan skillet meal is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner that’s hearty and satisfying.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 8 oz mushrooms (crimini, sliced)
- 15 oz Italian sausage (crumbled)
- 16 oz gnocchi (uncooked)
- 5 cloves garlic (minced)
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning (or Herbs from Provence)
- Red pepper flakes (to taste)
- 13 oz tomato sauce (such as tomato pasta sauce or marinara, preferably with chunks of tomato)
- ½ cup chicken broth (or water)
- 6 oz fresh spinach
- Salt and coarsely ground black pepper (to taste)
- Fresh thyme (for garnish)
Instructions
- Heat the oil: In a large, high-sided skillet over medium heat, warm 1 tablespoon of olive oil to prepare for sautéing.
- Sauté mushrooms: Add the sliced crimini mushrooms to the skillet and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until they are cooked through but still tender. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Once done, remove the mushrooms from the skillet and set aside.
- Cook sausage: Using the same skillet, add the crumbled Italian sausage and cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring until the sausage is fully cooked and browned. Drain off any excess fat from the skillet.
- Add gnocchi and sauce: To the cooked sausage in the skillet, add the uncooked gnocchi, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, tomato sauce, and chicken broth or water. Increase heat slightly to bring the mixture to a boil, stirring well to combine all ingredients.
- Simmer gnocchi: Reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring frequently, for about 5 minutes until the gnocchi start to soften and absorb the flavors.
- Add spinach: Stir in the fresh spinach and continue cooking for another 5 minutes until the spinach wilts and the gnocchi are cooked through completely.
- Finish and garnish: Mix all ingredients well. Remove the skillet from heat. Adjust seasoning with salt, coarse black pepper, and additional red pepper flakes if desired. Top the dish with the cooked mushrooms and garnish with fresh thyme before serving.
Notes
- You can substitute chicken broth with water to reduce sodium content.
- Use fresh or frozen gnocchi according to your preference; just adjust cooking time if frozen.
- Adjust red pepper flakes quantity to your spice tolerance.
- For a vegetarian version, omit Italian sausage and add more mushrooms or plant-based protein.
- Serve with grated Parmesan cheese for extra flavor, if desired.
Keywords: gnocchi, Italian sausage, tomato sauce, mushroom, spinach, quick dinner, skillet meal
