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This creamy Tuscan sausage gnocchi recipe is the ultimate comfort food! It has sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and fresh basil in a decadent garlic parmesan cream sauce.

Try my Gnocchi with Tomato Sauce or Sausage Gnocchi Soup next.

closeup of a skillet with creamy italian sausage gnocchi

Why you’ll love it

The Italian-inspired sauce is really the star of this easy gnocchi recipe. It has that magical “Tuscan” ingredient combo that Olive Garden made famous of sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and basil. Flavorful Italian sausage and pillowy gnocchi make it even tastier!

I’ve had a lot of happy readers use the one-pan cooking technique for gnocchi. It’s quick, and there’s no fussing around with multiple pans, so cleanup is a breeze. This Italian sausage gnocchi will fast become a family favorite for cozy cravings.

What you’ll need

  • Sausage – I use half of a 5-pack of mild Italian sausages. Feel free to use hot Italian sausages if that’s your thing!
  • Garlic – for lots of savory flavor
  • Chicken broth – the base of the sauce
  • Heavy cream – to make it luxurious
  • Lemon juice – it balances the sauce with a touch of acidity to add more dimension
  • Sun-dried tomatoes – I prefer the ones packed in oil
  • Gnocchi – I use shelf-stable gnocchi found in the dry pasta aisle
  • Parmesan – for a cheesy quality. Grate your own for best results.
  • Fresh spinach and basil – it elevates this dish so much with a pop of freshness!
ingredients for tuscan sausage gnocchi in prep bowls

Helpful tips

  • Can I use homemade gnocchi? 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.
  • Do I cook the gnocchi first? Nope! It cooks right in the sauce, and the starch released is really important to thicken the sauce.
  • Mine is thickening too fast/slowly. Since ovens and cookware vary, make adjustments to any one pot recipe. Turn it down if your stove runs hot/add more liquid. Or just give it more time if it’s not thickening up.

How to make creamy sausage gnocchi

This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.

sauteing italian sausage in a skillet and adding in gnocchi and tomatoes

In a skillet, sauté the sausage meat until browned, breaking it up with your spoon as you go along. Stir in the garlic, and cook until fragrant. Stir in the broth, cream, lemon juice, sun-dried tomatoes, and gnocchi.

adding spinach, parmesan, and basil to a skillet with creamy gnocchi

Cover the pan, and cook for about 5 minutes. Stir, then add in the spinach. Cover and cook until the spinach has wilted. Stir in the parmesan and basil, and cook until thickened up as desired. Season with salt & pepper generously.

Tools for this recipe

Check out Natasha’s favorite kitchen essentials, gadgets, and cookware!

Substitutions and variations

  • If you feel so inclined, replace the chicken broth with white wine (e.g., pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc) . It’ll taste amazing.
  • Sub the cream at your own risk. It might not turn out the way it should and could possibly curdle.
  • You can swap the sun-dried tomatoes with a medium chopped tomato instead.
  • Want to make this with regular pasta? Try my Tuscan Sausage Pasta instead.

What to serve with Italian sausage gnocchi

  • It’s quite rich and filling, so I recommend a salad or steamed veggies on the side. My Creamy Pesto Dressing is a bright dressing you’ll love, or make this Super Simple Parmesan Arugula Salad.
  • I like serving fresh crusty bread and olive oil and balsamic vinegar for dipping it in with any Italian-style dish.

Leftovers and storage

  • Store leftover gnocchi for 3-4 days in the fridge.
  • Reheat on the stove over a low heat, and you might want to add another splash of broth or cream when reheating.
  • I don’t recommend freezing this one.
a bowl with tuscan sausage gnocchi and parmesan

If you made this Tuscan gnocchi recipe, please leave a star rating and review below! I’d love to hear from you. You can also tag me on Instagram.

closeup of a skillet with creamy italian sausage gnocchi
4.97 from 122 votes

Creamy Tuscan Sausage Gnocchi

This creamy Tuscan sausage gnocchi recipe is the ultimate comfort food! It has sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and fresh basil in a decadent garlic parmesan cream sauce.
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 20 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients 

  • 11 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.
  • I used 3 sausages from a 5-pack of Johnsonville hot Italian sausages. Anything in the 11 oz ballpark will work, or you can even use more sausage meat if you wish. You can use hot Italian sausages if you prefer.
  • I used the oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes that come in a jar. I drained the oil prior to adding them to the skillet.

Nutrition

Calories: 734kcal, Carbohydrates: 49g, Protein: 23g, Fat: 51g, Saturated Fat: 25g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 17g, Cholesterol: 138mg, Sodium: 1315mg, Potassium: 591mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 2099IU, Vitamin C: 9mg, Calcium: 211mg, Iron: 6mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

© Salt & Lavender Inc. Content and photographs are copyrighted. Sharing this blog post is much appreciated, but copying and pasting full recipes without authorization to social media is strictly prohibited.

Leave a star rating and comment below!

This recipe was originally published on August 7, 2019. It’s been updated with new photos and better instructions but is the same great recipe!


Hi! I’m Natasha.

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4.97 from 122 votes (8 ratings without comment)

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319 Comments

  1. CarolZ says:

    5 stars
    So delicious and so easy!

    1. Natasha says:

      Thank you, Carol!

  2. Cheryl Denny says:

    5 stars
    Wow! Absolutely delicious and so fast and easy!

    1. Natasha says:

      Thank you!! Glad you liked it, Cheryl!

  3. Sarah says:

    5 stars
    Wow! Delicious and quick. My family said it’s in their top 3 dinners of all time.

    1. Natasha says:

      I love that!! 😀 Thanks, Sarah!

  4. Brittney Bales says:

    Could you substitute pasta for the gnocchi?

  5. Diana says:

    Hello! Can you sub coconut cream for the heavy cream? Thank you!

    1. Natasha says:

      Hi Diana! I think that should be ok, but I haven’t tested it. The flavor may change a bit, but if you enjoy the swap in other recipes, you should be ok. Let me know if you try! 🙂

  6. Tari Blankman says:

    5 stars
    This meal is a regular in our home- so good!

    1. Natasha says:

      Thank you so much, Tari! Glad to hear it!

  7. Cora says:

    5 stars
    I made this for the first time last night. It’s perfect! The little bit of lemon really comes through and the sundried tomatoes are super flavorful. Quick to make, plus all I had to clean was one pot and my measuring cup. I’m so happy I tried this out! I will be making it again exactly as is.

    1. Natasha says:

      Wonderful!! 😀 Thanks so much, Cora!

  8. Melissa says:

    Is this the same if you are making fresh gnocchi and not store bought? Or do I need to cook them first?

    1. Natasha says:

      Hi! I don’t recommend using homemade gnocchi for the one pan technique. It’s delicate and can fall apart. Yes I’d make the sauce separately.

  9. Sherrille says:

    5 stars
    Rich, decadent and EASY! Definitely making this again and again!

    1. Natasha says:

      I’m thrilled to hear it, Sherrille!! 😀 Thank you so much for your 5-star review! 😀

  10. Colleen says:

    5 stars
    Looks amazing! Could I leave out the sausage? I’m expecting vegetarian guests.

    1. Natasha says:

      Hi! Sure. I also do have some vegetarian gnocchi recipes on my site if you just type “gnocchi” into the search bar and see what comes up. 🙂

    2. Nicole says:

      5 stars
      Hi! I actually made this recipe as a vegetarian. I used Gusta Italian sausages (vegan) instead of meat sausages. The dish turned out divine! I will 100% add to our families dinner rotation!

      1. Natasha says:

        Excellent!