Description
A one-pan comfort food recipe combining pillowy potato gnocchi, creamy butternut squash sauce, and savory Italian sausage. Ready in just 40 minutes, it’s a hearty and nutritious fall-inspired dinner perfect for weeknights or gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz Italian sausage, casings removed
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 10 oz potato gnocchi (fresh or frozen)
- 1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half for lighter version)
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup butternut squash puree (or 20 oz diced frozen squash)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp fresh sage, chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
- 1 stick salted butter (for brown butter variation)
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Fresh Parmesan cheese, for serving
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sausage and cook 4 minutes without moving, then flip and cook 2 minutes until browned.
- Add gnocchi, heavy cream, and chicken broth to the pan. Stir well, bring to a boil, then cover and cook 5 minutes.
- Stir in butternut squash puree and garlic. Cook 3-5 minutes until gnocchi are tender and sauce thickens.
- Remove from heat. Stir in half of the sage and thyme, then season with salt, pepper, and optional nutmeg. Garnish with remaining herbs and Parmesan before serving.
Notes
Fresh gnocchi cooks quickly—check tenderness after 5 minutes. Don’t over-salt; sausage already contains seasoning. For dairy-free, use coconut milk and dairy-free butter.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: One-Pan Skillet
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 485
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 820mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: butternut squash gnocchi, creamy gnocchi, italian sausage recipe, fall comfort food, one-pan dinner