Description
This creamy one pan gnocchi with sausage and zucchini is a hearty, flavorful dish that combines tender potato gnocchi, savory Italian sausage, and fresh vegetables in a rich tomato cream sauce. Easy to prepare with minimal cleanup, it’s perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Sausage and Vegetables
- 16 ounces sweet or mild Italian sausage
- 1 cup diced onion (about 1 medium onion)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 16 ounces (1 large or 2 medium) zucchini, quartered and cut into ½ inch pieces (about 3 cups)
Tomato Base and Liquid
- 1 can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
- ¼ cup water
Gnocchi and Greens
- 16 ounces potato gnocchi
- 5 ounces baby spinach leaves
- ½ cup chopped fresh basil, more for topping if desired
Cream and Cheese
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese, additional for serving
Instructions
- Brown the Sausage and Onion: In a 5 to 6 quart Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the Italian sausage and diced onion, breaking up large pieces of sausage with a spoon. Continue cooking until the sausage is no longer pink and the onions start to soften, about 5 to 6 minutes.
- Sauté Zucchini and Garlic: Add the quartered zucchini pieces and minced garlic to the pan, and cook for an additional 5 to 6 minutes until the zucchini begins to soften but still holds some firmness.
- Add Tomatoes and Water, then Simmer: Pour in the undrained diced tomatoes and ¼ cup water. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer to meld the flavors together.
- Cook the Gnocchi: Stir in the potato gnocchi thoroughly to combine. Cover the pan, reduce heat to low, and let simmer for 6 to 7 minutes or until the gnocchi is tender, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Incorporate Greens and Cream: Stir the baby spinach leaves and chopped fresh basil into the pan until the spinach just begins to wilt. Then, stir in the heavy cream and shredded Parmesan cheese. Turn off the heat, cover the pan, and let it sit for 5 minutes to thicken.
- Final Taste and Serve: Give the dish a good stir, taste, and adjust the seasonings as needed. Serve the gnocchi in shallow pasta bowls topped with additional Parmesan cheese and fresh basil if desired.
Notes
- A steaming bowlful of creamy one pan gnocchi with sausage and zucchini is perfect for a cozy and satisfying weeknight meal.
- For a milder flavor, use sweet Italian sausage; for more spice, opt for hot sausage.
- Fresh herbs like basil really brighten the dish and can be adjusted based on personal preference.
- Leftovers keep well and can be reheated gently on the stovetop with a splash of water or cream to loosen the sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.75 cups
- Calories: 521 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 921 mg
- Fat: 33 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 39 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 19 g
- Cholesterol: 83 mg
