This creamy Tuscan sausage gnocchi is the ultimate comfort food! Italian sausage, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, garlic, cream, and fresh basil make the most amazing sauce.
My husband loooved this recipe, and he doesn't even like creamy sauces. I had steak planned for dinner on the day I made this recipe, and I couldn't stop sneaking bites of this despite the very real risk of ruining my dinner. 😛
This recipe was inspired by my Tuscan sausage pasta, which has been a big hit - especially with my Instagram audience.
To make this recipe, I use the shelf-stable gnocchi found in the dry pasta aisle. I've had readers test similar recipes with fresh homemade gnocchi, and the one pan technique does not seem to work as well, so I would stick with the dry stuff.
I used half of a 5-pack of Johnsonville mild Italian sausages. Feel free to use hot Italian sausages if that's your thing! Oh, and if you feel so inclined, replace the chicken broth with white wine... it'll taste amazing.
I list basil as optional because the sauce is flavorful enough without it, but in my opinion, fresh basil is one of the true joys of life, so I use it whenever I can. I do not have a green thumb at all, but I look forward to growing fresh basil in my plant pots every year. Just use a small handful in this recipe and it's elevated to another dimension of OMGthisisgood.
More one pan gnocchi recipes you may like:
- Chicken Bacon Gnocchi
- 15 Minute One Pan Creamy Sun-dried Tomato and Basil Gnocchi
- One Pan Creamy Gnocchi with Sausage (it's quite similar to this recipe!)
- Creamy Tomato Gnocchi
- Creamy Mushroom and Spinach Gnocchi
These one-pan gnocchi recipes are just so good and easy to make that there's sure to be one that suits everyone's tastes. I've had a lot of happy readers use this gnocchi cooking method, so I'm always encouraged to keep the recipes coming. 😉
What to serve with Italian sausage gnocchi
It's quite rich and filling, so I recommend a salad or steamed veggies on the side.
This "Tuscan" sauce is pretty popular on the internet these days, and so I certainly jumped on that bandwagon. The Olive Garden made it famous, and for good reason. There's something magical about this flavor combo.
Love this sauce? Try these Tuscan-inspired recipes:
Let me know if you've made this Tuscan gnocchi recipe!
Questions? Leave me a comment below.
Creamy Tuscan Sausage Gnocchi
Ingredients
- 8.8 ounces Italian sausages crumbled
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy/whipping cream
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes
- 1 pound potato gnocchi
- 1.5 cups (packed) fresh baby spinach
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil (optional) to taste
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Take the sausage meat out of the casings and crumble it into a deep skillet. Sauté the sausage over medium-high heat, breaking it up as you go along, until browned (about 5-7 minutes).
- Stir in the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.
- Add the chicken broth, cream, lemon juice, sun-dried tomatoes, and gnocchi to the pan. Give it a good stir.
- Reduce the heat to medium and cover the pan. Cook for 5 minutes.
- Give the gnocchi a stir and then add in the spinach. Cover the pan again for 1-2 minutes until the spinach has wilted.
- Stir in the parmesan and basil (if using). Ensure the gnocchi is cooked through and the sauce is thickened to your liking (cook for another minute or two if necessary). Season with salt & pepper to taste and serve immediately.
Notes
- There is no need to pre-cook the gnocchi. It cooks right in the sauce and the starch released from the potatoes will thicken the sauce.
- Anything around the 8.8 oz ballpark for the sausages will work. I bought a 5-pack of Johnsonville mild Italian sausages and used half of it. Feel free to just buy sausage meat if that's easier.
- I used the oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes that come in a jar. I drained the oil prior to adding them to the skillet.
- Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.
Vinnie Davidson says
Made this tonight added a while chopped white onion in with the sausage and a couple of extra cloves of garlic (bit a garlic freak 🤣). I'm in the UK so instead of double cream I substituted it for 250grams low fat philadelphia soft cheese and a whole bag of spinach went in. Was so nice and creamy and not having the cream means it's easier on the calories. Definetly do it again
Natasha says
Nice!! Glad you enjoyed it, Vinnie!
Brian K. Hlady says
I made the recipe as listed and the only change is that I'd add less lemon next time, but only because I read teaspoon as tablespoon, so I used the juice of half a lemon because I had half a lemon. Time for new glasses.
An excellent dish, and enjoyed by all.
Natasha says
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Brian! 🙂
Linda says
The problem I have with cooking is that I never seem to have all the ingredients. This recipe sounded delicious, but alas, I didn't have some of the ingredients. I went for it anyway, and it still turned out fantastic! That's the sign of an excellent recipe!! I used a pound of ground sausage, wine instead of chicken broth, a can of fire roasted tomatoes instead of sun-dried, 2% milk instead of cream, and baby greens instead of just spinach. And still SO delicious!! I also added some purple peppers that I had when I was cooking the meat, and I think next time, I'll add mushrooms as well. I've got sun-dried tomatoes, heavy cream, and chicken broth on the shopping list now!! Can't wait to try it as is! Thanks so much for sharing this recipe!
Natasha says
I'm so glad to hear that!! Thank you! 😀
Kristyn Candido says
Do you think the heavy cream can be non dairy? Maybe coconut or oat?
Natasha says
I think you could give it a try. The starch in the gnocchi should help thicken the sauce so subs will be more forgiving in this recipe. The flavor will change a bit, though, but if you like the taste of those, it should be ok. Let me know if you try, and I hope you like the recipe! 🙂
Vinnie says
I made this tonight and replaced the cream with 250grams of light philladelphia soft cheese. Was so gd
Jeanie says
If you're using spinach flavoured gnocchi, would you still add fresh spinach to this recipe?
Natasha says
I probably would since it's quite different, but entirely up to you! 🙂
Michele says
Hi!
2 questions:
1. Can you use frozen gnocchi
2. Can this be made in advance for a crowd? Thank you, Michele
Natasha says
Hi Michele! Frozen gnocchi should be fine. I would just let it cook a little longer. Perhaps reduce the heat a little so it doesn't start burning on the outside before it's cooked inside. So, the sauce tends to get really thick when re-heated. It's not something I would make too far ahead. You may need to thin the sauce when reheating it (like add a little more cream or some chicken broth).
Gigi Federico says
I’m always looking for gnocchi recipes cause my husband is a gnocchi fiend. Used half and half instead of heavy cream and it turned out great!
Natasha says
So glad you enjoyed it, Gigi!
Alison says
Hi over in the UK. When you say 1 cup, roughly I'm mil how much would you use. X
Natasha says
Hi! Roughly 250 ml (I think technically it's 236 ml for a US cup).
Beth D says
My husband isn’t a gnocchi fan so with him gone tonight I decided to make this for me. It is great! So easy and fast to put together plus I’ll have leftovers for lunch. Thank you!
Natasha says
Haha I love that!! I'm so happy you enjoyed it! 🙂
Katherine Baldassarre says
Loved the recipe. I didn't have everything on had so I made few alterations, but still yummy. I didn't have any spinach so I just chopped up a tomato for something extra. I used mild Italian sausage but added a little pepper flakes. Lastly I didn't have heavy cream on had so I used @ 2oz Neufchatel cheese. Will make this one again.
Natasha says
I'm glad that you were able to tweak it and enjoyed it!
Liz C says
I don’t normally write reviews but this recipe is EASY and AMAZING! I had spicy Italian sausage to make a pasta dish but was feeling gnocchi. I normally make gnocchi from scratch but wasn’t feeling all the work. Read the reviews and decided to give packaged gnocchi a try. LOVE that you don’t have to boil first. Of course it’s not homemade but TOTALLY works with this recipe. I used white wine instead of chicken broth and didn’t need salt or pepper because of the spicy sausage. My family LOVED it and so did I because it only took 20 minutes to make. Thank you for this recipe and making this meal so easy to prepare!
Natasha says
Appreciate you writing me a review, Liz! So pleased you enjoyed it. 🙂
Dani says
This is one of my favorite recipes. I am lactose intolerant so I switch the heavy cream for cashew cream, which makes it super thick and yummy. I have also put shredded chicken in with mine! Great recipe!
Natasha says
I'm so glad you like it and are able to make it dairy-free!! 🙂
Patricia Huggins says
My daughter gave this recipe to me. I used the gluten free gnocchi. My husband and I loved it. She was right: because it is so rich, it needs a salad, and for those who don’t have to eat gluten free, I recommend Italian bread.
Natasha says
I'm so pleased that you enjoyed it!! 🙂
Nicole says
This was great - tasty and quick! I don't eat dairy so I just replaced the heavy cream with more broth (2 cups total), and it still worked - the starch from the gnocchi made it super creamy. I added some dairy-free butter on top to give it extra richness. I also added in some zucchini I had lying around - next time I might add broccoli. Thanks for the recipe!
Natasha says
I'm so glad it worked out for you! 🙂 You're welcome, Nicole!
Justin R. Apakian says
Everyone loved it! It came out looking exactly like the picture, took no time at all to cook, and tasted amazing. If you like real authentic Italian food, this dish will not disappoint! Thank you
Natasha says
Fantastic!! 🙂
Mary says
I made this recipe for a friend when it was posted about a year and a half ago. Turns out she is still thinking about it because she just asked for the recipe. I'm glad she reminded me of it because I'll put it back in my dinner recipe rotation now that our schedule is getting back to normal.
I can't always get fresh produce but frozen spinach works well for this, I just wring out as much water as possible before adding it in.
Natasha says
I love that!! 🙂 So happy it's back in your rotation and on your friend's mind too. 😉
Katherine says
We make this every other week for our family and looooove it. Our fav!
Question- I need to tripple it for a group dinner next month. How long should I cook the gnocchi before adding the spinach when I’m using three times as much
Natasha says
Excellent! So glad it's a regular for you guys. 🙂 I would probably just use a pot/dutch oven type thing and perhaps stir it more often, but I don't think it'll need a lot more cooking time.
Sandra says
Absolutely delicious. Forgot the lemon but I think it turned out great
Natasha says
Thank you!!
natalie says
I never leave a comment on recipes but this is SO good. Added some sour cream in there and that took it to a whole new level. Big fan, will definitely be making it again!
Natasha says
I really appreciate you reviewing this recipe - it helps us bloggers out! So glad you liked it! 🙂
Karen Riegelman says
So good! I had refrigerated gnocci so that's what I used. Out of Parmesan cheese, but it tasted delicious without it. Will be making again!
Natasha says
Wonderful!!
Michele says
This recipe is delicious! I substituted half and half for heavy cream and used 1 pound of sausage. It was perfect and so easy to make. Can you please supply the nutrition values.
Natasha says
So glad you enjoyed it, Michele! Just updated it to include the nutrition info for you. Please keep in mind it'll vary based on ingredients you use and how well you actually measure it out (nutrition is for 1/4 of the recipe), so just take it as an estimate.
Annie Mills says
This recipe was easy to follow and turned out amazing! The whole family ate it, even the littles!!
Natasha says
Fantastic! That's what I like to hear. 🙂
Allison says
Natasha- thank you for sharing! This dish is so easy and absolutely delicious! I used smoked chicken Italian sausage and it came out perfectly. My husband just said it’s one of the top meals I have ever made so I will definitely be making again! Thank you! 🙂
Natasha says
You're very welcome!! 🙂 Love that.
Ruth says
This was fab! I subbed Conecuh slices for the ground sausage - easier for the vegetarian to pick out. Served with an extra squeeze of lemon and basil on top.
Natasha says
Excellent! 🙂
Jules says
How do you recommend reheating left overs? (party of one over here lol)
Natasha says
Hi! I'd reheat them in a covered saucepan over a fairly low heat, stirring every so often. You may need to add a splash more cream or broth just to restore the sauce's consistency if it seems a bit thick. 🙂
Angela says
This has been my sleeper recipe for years!! I also use diced ham or sausage and vary gnocchi or tortellini. I use Asiago cheese. Something in the mix of cheese, cream and lemon creates such a rich buttery tasting sauce.
Natasha says
Awesome!! So glad it's a favorite of yours. XO
Angelina says
Hi, we love this meal! Can it be frozen? I'd like to bring dishes to some new moms and would love if they could toss it in the freezer for when they really need it.
Natasha says
I'm so pleased you like it!! I haven't actually tested freezing it. In theory, it should be fine... but I'm a little concerned the sauce could go a bit gloopy/or separate when reheated. I'd definitely warm it up on a low heat and probably add a little more broth and/or cream to restore the sauce to its former glory.
Keira says
Love your website and all of your recipes! This one has become a regular thing in my house. Everyone loves it! I serve it with a salad and usually broccolini or another veg so we don't feel so guilty 😉 This is a heavy one for sure, but it makes us feel so warm and happy in the colder months.
Natasha says
Thank you so much!! I'm so glad that you guys enjoy it. Yup, it's definitely rich haha... good call on the salad and veg!!
Carleigh says
So delicious! I used half pound of mild italian ground sausage and added additional red pepper flakes. Super tasty and a great weeknight meal.
Natasha says
So glad you enjoyed it!
Le Ann Helm says
This was amazing- I used s pound of hot Italian sausage- a definite hit!!!
Natasha says
Wonderful!!
Kat says
Making this again because I still have sausage! Impressed my husband and myself honestly!
Natasha says
Awesome!! 😀
Tess says
Delicious! I put in all five sausages I bought and it was too much sausage. Definitely just use three or so. Definitely recommend this recipe though as a comfort food.
Natasha says
So glad you liked it!!
Kathryn says
Could you use Italian Chicken Sausages for this recipe?
Natasha says
For sure!
Shar says
Easy and delicious
Natasha says
🙂
Jill says
I have made this just about once a week for the last 2 years.....and now just reviewing! As is, it is a total crowd pleaser. Since I've made it a bazillion times, here are my tweaks: We grill sausages outside and chop and add them at the last minute. We like everything super saucy, so I double the cream and broth. I fry up some bacon with the garlic to get it going in the beginning. Thank you for the inspiration!
Natasha says
Wow that's great!! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave me a comment. XO