This Italian sausage and spinach gnocchi recipe is the perfect crowd-pleasing meal! Creamy spinach gnocchi and sausage Between Italian sausage, fresh baby spinach, creamy cheeses, and pillowy gnocchi, this pasta bake will become an instant family favorite.
What is Gnocchi?
Made from potatoes and flour, gnocchi are soft, pillowy dumplings that are perfect for a quick and easy weeknight meal. Best of all, this sausage and spinach gnocchi recipe is simple to make and perfect for any night of the week.
Why you will love this Baked Gnocchi Recipe
This sausage and spinach gnocchi recipe features pre-made potato gnocchi. You'll find gnocchi sold in vacuum packed bags in the pasta aisle at most grocery stores. This baked sausage and spinach gnocchi combines the best of fresh & fast.
Jump to:
- What is Gnocchi?
- Why you will love this Baked Gnocchi Recipe
- Ingredients needed
- How to make Spinach Gnocchi and Sausage
- Serving suggestions
- Substitutions that work
- Equipment
- Top Tips
- Frequently asked questions
- Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love
- Connect with Smells Like Delish!
- 📖 Recipe
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Ingredients needed
This baked gnocchi and sausage, with cream cheese sauce and fresh spinach, is one of our favorites.
- Olive oil
- Onion - diced.
- Garlic - minced.
- Italian Sausage - bulk, crumbled. Choose either sweet or spicy.
- Spinach - use fresh, small baby spinach leaves.
- Nutmeg - fresh grated, or ground.
- Vacuum packed gnocchi - any brand or variety, approx 12 oz to 16 oz.
- Cream cheese - room temperature.
- Heavy cream
- Whole milk
- Parmesan cheese - fresh grated.
- Parsley - chopped for garnish
- Salt
- Pepper
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How to make Spinach Gnocchi and Sausage
Shop for and gather up all the ingredients you are going to need. Choose fresh spinach, or baby kale, or other fresh nutrient rich greens. You can use sweet or spicy Italian sausage also in this gnocchi and sausage recipe.
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Prepare the sausage
- Brown the sausage, onions, and garlic.
- Toss in and wilt the spinach.
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Prepare the Gnocchi pasta
- Cook gnocchi according to directions on the package. Drain and set aside. Finish preparing the sauce.
- Add the cream, cream cheese, and remaining ingredients, except for the grated cheese. Bring to a simmer.
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Putting it together
- Add the boiled gnocchi to skillet of creamy sausage & spinach. Add the ground nutmeg.
- Mix everything together so all the gnocchi is covered in sauce.
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Bake and Serve Sausage and Spinach Gnoochi
- Pour the sauce covered gnocchi into a prepared casserole dish. Cover with the grated cheese.
- Bake until golden brown and crispy edges. Serve immediately for a hearty, filling main dish.
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Serving suggestions
This Italian sausage and spinach gnocchi bake is splendid with just a simply prepared salad, Air Fryer Broccolini, or Air Fryer Frozen Green Beans as an accompaniment. Perfect for dinners main course or as a hearty lunch. Leftovers are perfect for taking to work also.
Substitutions that work
If you can't find gnocchi pre-made, than bow tie pasta is also fabulous for this recipe.
You can use any greens in place of the spinach. Swiss Card, Kale, Baby Power Greens even.
Equipment
Top Tips
- Using gnocchi that is pre-made lets gnocchi dishes be an every day occurrence. Making gnocchi from scratch is an all day affair!
- Save even more time by starting your boiling water for cooking the gnocchi pasta about the same time you start browning the sausage & onion.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, it does. And the leftovers are even more flavorful.
Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love
Connect with Smells Like Delish!
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📖 Recipe
Spinach Gnocchi and Sausage
Ingredients
- 16 oz gnocchi pasta pre-made
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 8 oz Italian sausage sweet or spicy, remove from casings
- ½ teaspoon salt more to taste if needed
- ½ teaspoon black pepper ground
- 16 oz spinach leaves fresh baby spinach leaves
- 4 oz cream cheese
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup milk
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg ground
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese grated
- ¼ cup parsley chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Spray non stick spray or oil the interior of a 3 quart oven proof casserole dish. Set aside.
- Start a 3 quart pan with water to boil. When the water starts to boil, add the pre-made gnocchi and cook according to directions on the package. Drain and set aside. While waiting for water to boil and gnocchi to cook, prepare the sauce.16 oz gnocchi pasta
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, and Italian sausage (removed from the casings). Season with salt & black pepper, to taste. Cook 5 to 6 minutes, breaking up sausage and stirring until vegetables are tender and sausage browned.2 tablespoon olive oil, 1 onion, 2 cloves garlic, 8 oz Italian sausage, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Add the spinach and continue cooking until spinach wilted, about 1 minute.16 oz spinach leaves
- Add the cream cheese, heavy cream, milk to the sausage mixture and continue cooking another 2 - 3 minutes until the cream sauce is bubbly and the cream cheese is melted. Sprinkle in the ground nutmeg and stir.4 oz cream cheese, ½ cup heavy cream, ½ cup milk, ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- Add your boiled and drained gnocchi to the skillet of sausage and cream sauce. Stir to coat the gnocchi. Transfer the contents of the skillet to the prepared casserole dish.
- Top with the grated Parmesan cheese. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until everything is hot and bubbly, the cheese melted, and the top of the casserole is light golden brown.1 cup Parmesan cheese
- Top with basil leaves and serve immediately.¼ cup parsley
Notes
- Using gnocchi that is pre-made lets gnocchi dishes be an every day occurrence. Making gnocchi from scratch is an all day affair!
- Other greens are terrific in place of spinach.
- Save even more time by starting your boiling water for cooking the gnocchi pasta about the same time you start browning the sausage & onion.
Nutrition
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Dahn says
Oh my goodness, I love gnocchi and this looks fabulous. I love the addition of sausage.