Description
This creamy butternut squash and sausage gnocchi is a cozy, 30-minute meal that combines sweet roasted squash, savory Italian sausage, and pillowy gnocchi in a velvety, comforting sauce—perfect for fall evenings or an easy, elegant dinner.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 pound Italian sausage (sweet or spicy), casings removed
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup roasted butternut squash purée
1/2 cup heavy cream or full-fat coconut milk
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Salt and black pepper to taste
16 ounces gnocchi (store-bought or homemade)
Fresh sage leaves for garnish
Additional Parmesan for serving
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add sausage and cook, breaking it apart, until browned and fully cooked, about 6–8 minutes.
- Stir in minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add butternut squash purée and heavy cream. Bring to a gentle simmer.
- Mix in Parmesan cheese, nutmeg, and optional red pepper flakes. Stir until smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Meanwhile, cook gnocchi according to package instructions. Drain and reserve some pasta water.
- Add cooked gnocchi to the sauce and toss gently to coat. Add reserved pasta water if needed to loosen sauce.
- Serve hot, garnished with fresh sage and extra Parmesan.
Notes
Use full-fat coconut milk for a dairy-free alternative.
Swap sausage with mushrooms or plant-based sausage for a vegetarian version.
Use gluten-free gnocchi if needed.
Roast cubed butternut squash at 400°F for 25–30 minutes to make homemade purée.
Reheat leftovers gently with a splash of cream or water to loosen the sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
