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 Creamy Alfredo Gnocchi
- Spinach and Artichoke Gnocchi
- 15 Minute One Pan Creamy Sun-dried Tomato and Basil Gnocchi
- One Pan Gnocchi alla Vodka
- 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. As you can see, I have a bunch of similar recipes...
Love this sauce? Try these Tuscan-inspired recipes:
- Creamy Tuscan Ravioli (One Pan, 15 Minutes!)
- Creamy Tuscan Salmon Recipe
- Creamy Tuscan Chicken
- Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta Recipe
- Easy Creamy Tuscan Shrimp Recipe
Let me know if you've made this Tuscan gnocchi recipe!
Questions? Leave me a comment below.
Creamy Tuscan Sausage Gnocchi
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.
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
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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).
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Stir in the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.
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Add the chicken broth, cream, lemon juice, sun-dried tomatoes, and gnocchi to the pan. Give it a good stir.
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Reduce the heat to medium and cover the pan. Cook for 5 minutes.
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Give the gnocchi a stir and then add in the spinach. Cover the pan again for 1-2 minutes until the spinach has wilted.
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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.
Recipe 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.
Jodi says
Made this for a dinner party I hosted and this dish was amazing! It is very rich so I would definitely recommend serving with steamed broccoli and bread (to dip in the amazing sauce). I used white wine instead of chicken broth and added some lemon zest in addition to the lemon juice for added freshness. AMAZING and all my guests raved about it. Also was super easy to make so I pre-measured everything out and was able to entertain as I cooked the dish as well. A+.
Natasha says
Awesome!! I'm so glad it worked out so well! 🙂
Wendy says
"This is like eating at a nice restaurant. You should make this for company." - my husband
Seriously so good! Thank you
Natasha says
Wonderful!! I'm so glad it was a hit. Thanks for taking the time to comment!
Larry Naeyaert says
I made this recipe this weekend and it was amazing. I will definitely try more of your recipes.
Natasha says
So glad to hear that!! Thanks, Larry!
Devon says
I’ve never cooked with sun dried tomatoes. Is there a certain kind you recommend?
Natasha says
Hi! I like the ones packed in oil (I drain them prior to adding them to recipes). I don’t really have a fav brand, but if you can find Delallo ones you may want to give them a try. I’ve worked with the brand and I love all the products of theirs I’ve tried so far.
Katie says
I cannot stop making this dish! We’ve had it two different back to back nights for dinner. Its so amazingly good and “the best thing I’ve ever made by a landslide” said my husband. I caught him literally licking the bowl! So so good!
Natasha says
That makes me so happy!! 🤗♥️
Holly says
This was a huge hit with my family! I used a half can of garlic and olive oil petite diced tomatoes in place of the sun-dried tomatoes. Such a hearty, delicious recipe! Thank you!
Natasha says
I'm so glad you all enjoyed it! XO
Sharee says
Just made this tonight for supper. I didn't have cream, so I used half-and-half instead and I added a little white wine to thin the sauce just a tad. It came out really wonderful! After the first bite my husband said "This is a 5(-star). You can make this again any time!" You hit the nail on the head with this comfort-food-style dish.
Thank you! 👏👏😊😊
Natasha says
I'm so glad it worked out!! 🙂 You're very welcome!
Evie says
Natasha,
This recipe is amazing! Thank you so much. I didn't have any sun-dried tomatoes. So I will have to make again, soon!
Natasha says
You're very welcome!
Melissa says
I have fallen in LOVE with this recipe. Wanted to see if you knew of any healthier alternatives to the cream that could work?
Natasha says
I'm so glad you like it!! Honestly, it's so tasty because of the cream... I wish the best things in life were lower in calories too lol. You could try half-and-half and see if you still like it... that'll take out some of the calories, and the sauce should still thicken up somewhat because of the potato starch. Let me know!
Matt G says
Im making this tonight for dinner and I’m super excited! My question for you is this: my wife could only find frozen gnocchi...should I thaw them first?
Natasha says
Hi Matt! I think it will be fine to add them frozen. It may take another few minutes to cook, but I'm worried they will go soggy if you thaw them first. Let me know how it goes!
Amy Goldberg says
The family loved this recipe!! The flavors are great together. I always forget to add salt, it has become a daily joke in the family.
Natasha says
So happy to hear it was a hit, Amy!! Lol on the salt. It's the reverse in my house. 😀 I add too much if anything haha.
Jani says
I’m a foodie who loves to cook. I have been able to cross a lot of recipes and ideas off my to-make list while [...]. I was eager to get to this one. Wholly gnocchi!!! This dish took me back to a restaurant I visited in the Chianti region of Tuscany last November. I loved it and so did my mom (who is the beneficiary of all my cooking). The flavor was on point. I used turkey Italian sausage and potato & spinach gnocchi, added shallots to the pan while browning the meat, and added dried basil and freshly cracked black pepper at the end. This recipe’s a keeper. Grazie! 🙂
Natasha says
That makes me so happy!! So glad you enjoyed it and it reminded you of Italy. 🙂 (I edited your comment since bloggers have been advised not to use words associated with the current situation as it could impact our search rankings).
Mae says
Can I use whole milk instead of cream?
Natasha says
There's a chance the sauce will separate, and it may not thicken up as well.
Lexi says
Holy crap! My boyfriend and I made this together through FaceTime (he lives in another state) It was not just simple but incredibly delicious! We got to sit and enjoy our home cooked dinner together. Thank you for this recipe. Will definitely make again!
Natasha says
Aww I like how you did that for date night! 🙂 So glad you enjoyed it!
Shandi says
Is there something I can substitute the sausage for? Beef?
Natasha says
Beef should be good!
Amelie says
Thanks for the recipe, it was so good! My boyfriend is hard to please and he loved it!!!
Natasha says
You're very welcome!
DAS says
Hi - what’s your favourite brand name of ready-made gnocchi? I too live in Alberta so was wondering what you use? Thanks!
Natasha says
Hi! I used to buy the one sold at Safeway... but they stopped selling it. the brand name is now slipping my mind. 🤦♀️ I now buy the President’s Choice one from Loblaws and it’s not bad.
Tovie says
This is really really good! Can't have dairy so I subbed almond milk for the cream (normally I would use like an almond creamer but don't have and I'm not going out) and Daiya mozzarella for the parmesan. Now all it needs is a crusty loaf of bread...
Natasha says
So glad it worked out for you!!
SG says
Have you ever tried making the recipe with TJs cauli gnocchi? If not, do you think it would work?
Natasha says
Hi! I don't live in the States, so unfortunately I have not had the opportunity to try TJ's gnocchi. I think you could try, but since it's cauliflower, there's no starch to thicken the sauce. You may need to cook it a bit longer to reduce the sauce. I know some people have tried the TJ gnocchi with my recipes and they have liked it. Let me know how it goes!
Amanda Hewer says
I've made this several times over the past few months and it's so good. Just tried the same recipe but swapped out the sun dried tomatoes for pesto and it's also delicious if you're looking for another alternative. 🙂 Thanks for all the delicious recipes!
Natasha says
Ooh good idea on the pesto!
Lindsay H says
Damn this was good! I didn’t change a thing. Making a double batch for visitors tonight. I LOVE this recipe blog site!!!
Natasha says
So glad to hear it, Lindsay! XO
Victoria says
So yummy! I doubled the sausage (because that’s how it came packaged and it would be wasted if I didn’t use it) but I didn’t think it was too sausage-y!! Will definitely make again!
Natasha says
That's awesome!! Can't go wrong with more sausage. 😀
Robo Sutherland says
One of the easiest and best recipes I’ve made from your blog. Thank you.
Natasha says
I'm so happy to hear that!! Thanks for letting me know! 🙂
Cait Bradley says
We tried this recipe for the first time last week and we are OBSESSED. We love hot sausage so we did use hot sausage and it was delicious. We love it so much I invited my in-laws over for dinner this week so I can cook it for them as well. This will be a staple in our home from now on. Thank you for sharing the recipe!!
Natasha says
Aww so glad to hear it! 😀
Alli says
This is one of our household's favorite recipes currently. We've made it three times in the past three weeks! I use an entire pack of sausage (it's really sausage-y, which my husband loves), but otherwise I follow the recipe exactly. Thank you for another awesome recipe!
Natasha says
That's awesome!! Thanks for letting me know, Alli! 🙂
Amanda morgan says
Are the sun dried tomatoes supposed to be in oil or the dry packaged ones?
Natasha says
I buy the ones in oil, but either will work! Let me know if you try this recipe, Amanda 🙂
Christina says
Made this for my boyfriend and I this past Saturday, OMG it was AMAZING!! We are big on flavor and this did not disappoint, there were no leftovers and we loved it so much we made another batch for dinner on Sunday! Thank you for such a delicious meal! 🙂
Natasha says
That's so great!! Thanks for letting me know 😀
Liz Romero says
Hi! I decided to add the fresh basil but wasn’t sure if it was supposed to be chopped or whole ? What do you suggest ?
Natasha says
Hi! I usually just tear it into smallish pieces (or you can slice it). It's pretty delicate, so chopping it can kinda crush it. But it's all good. 🙂
MH says
Made this tonight, but with just regular pasta. It was so good and had so much flavor! Definitely making again soon!
Natasha says
So happy you liked it!
Holly Roose says
Five stars for sure! Thank you so much for the recipe! It was an absolute hit at our house!!
Natasha says
You are very welcome, Holly!
Marion says
Loved it looking forward to cooking some more recipe,s
Natasha says
Great! Thank you 🙂
Deborah Tower says
Question? Did you buy frozen gnocchi and cook first? Or thaw?
Natasha says
Hi! I bought the dry stuff that you get in the pasta aisle (I explain in the post). I think it would work with frozen gnocchi. You may need to give it an extra minute or two. Let me know how it goes. ❤️
Dana Tagliafico says
Can’t wait to try this one! The one from last week was a hit! I used half and half instead of cream since I had in hand and at first the sauce curdled but once finished it came together. Have you ever used evaporated milk instead of heavy cream?
Natasha says
Hi Dana! So glad you liked the other recipe. 🙂 Nope, I haven't used anything besides heavy (or whipping) cream. I've had curdling problems before too, that's why I use it, as well as IMO the taste is just richer and better. I don't often cook with evaporated milk, but let me know if you give it a try.
Leighann Ferguson says
One of the most delicious recipes I’ve tried in a long time.
Easy and quick to make but so so tasty.
Made for the family and it was clean plates all round.
Can’t wait to try more of these recipes
Natasha says
I am so happy you liked it!! 🙂 Thanks for letting me know!
Meghan | Fox and Briar says
Love this recipe! Such a flavor bomb!
Natasha says
Thanks so much, Meghan!