Hearty Italian Sausage Gnocchi Soup: Your Cozy Comfort Bowl

Italian sausage gnocchi soup is a warm and comforting dish that fills you up with its rich flavors.

This recipe has roots in traditional Italian cooking, bringing together hearty ingredients for a satisfying meal.

People who cook at home and those who cook for a living love this dish for its mix of soft potato dumplings and flavorful sausage.

The creamy texture and deep taste make it an ideal choice for chilly winter nights or whenever you’re in the mood for something cozy.

Different regions and families have their own twists on this tasty soup, adding to its unique charm across Italy.

Full of inviting aromas and wholesome ingredients, Italian sausage gnocchi soup remains a favorite in many kitchens around the world.

Why Italian Sausage Gnocchi Soup Feels So Cozy

• Quick and Hearty Comfort: Whip up this Italian sausage gnocchi soup for a soul-warming meal that comes together in just 30 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights when you crave something delicious but don't have hours to cook.
• Family-Friendly Flavor Explosion: Packed with tender gnocchi, savory sausage, and vibrant vegetables, this soup offers something for everyone – kids will love the soft potato dumplings while adults enjoy the robust Italian-inspired taste.
• Versatile One-Pot Wonder: Minimize cleanup with this simple recipe that uses a single pot, allowing you to create a restaurant-quality meal without creating a mountain of dishes, making it ideal for home cooks seeking convenience and great taste.
• Nutritious Crowd-Pleaser: Loaded with protein from sausage, vitamins from spinach and carrots, and comforting cream, this soup delivers a balanced meal that satisfies hunger and provides essential nutrients in one delightful bowl.

What Goes In Italian Sausage Gnocchi Soup

• Italian Sausage: Rich, flavorful meat that provides the soup's core taste and protein.
• Chicken Broth: Foundational liquid base with deep savory flavor, homemade or low-sodium preferred.

• Onion, Carrots: Classic soup vegetables adding sweetness and texture.
• Garlic: Aromatic ingredient providing depth and traditional Italian flavor.
• Spinach: Fresh green element adding nutrition and color at end of cooking.
• Tomatoes, Tomato Paste: Creates rich, tangy undertone and helps thicken soup.

• Heavy Cream: Adds luxurious richness and smooth texture to soup.
• Italian Seasoning: Blend of dried herbs that brings authentic Mediterranean profile.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential for balancing and enhancing overall flavor.
• Fresh Parsley: Optional bright garnish with fresh herb notes.
• Lemon: Optional acidic finish to brighten soup's flavor.

• Gnocchi: Soft potato dumplings that provide hearty, comforting texture.

• Olive Oil: Used for sautéing and building initial flavor base.

Steps To Make Italian Sausage Gnocchi Soup

Step 1: Sizzle the Sausage

• Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium-high heat
• Add sausage and break it into crumbly pieces
• Cook until meat turns golden brown
• Transfer cooked sausage to a separate plate

Step 2: Dance with Vegetables

• Pour remaining olive oil into the same pot
• Lower heat to medium
• Toss in: onions, carrots
• Sauté until vegetables soften
• Sprinkle garlic into the mix
• Stir and cook for another minute

Step 3: Create Liquid Magic

• Mix in tomato paste
• Cook briefly to enhance flavor
• Pour in: chicken broth, canned tomatoes, Italian seasoning, cooked sausage
• Swirl heavy cream into the pot
• Bring to a gentle boil
• Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes

Step 4: Introduce Gnocchi

• Skim any fat floating on top
• Drop gnocchi into simmering soup
• Cook until pillowy dumplings float
• Wait about 3 minutes

Step 5: Final Flourish

• Remove pot from heat
• Fold in fresh spinach
• Let spinach wilt naturally
• Season with salt and black pepper
• Ladle into warm bowls
• Optional: Sprinkle fresh parsley
• Optional: Squeeze lemon on top

Tips To Boost Your Italian Sausage Gnocchi Soup

• Boost Sausage Browning: Use high heat and avoid overcrowding the pan to achieve perfect caramelization, creating deeper flavor profiles for the soup.
• Cream Control: Add heavy cream at the end of cooking to prevent separation and maintain a smooth, silky texture without curdling.
• Gnocchi Perfection: Cook gnocchi directly in the soup for maximum flavor absorption and ensure they're fresh or frozen, not refrigerated, for the best texture.
• Vegetarian Swap: Replace Italian sausage with plant-based sausage or extra mushrooms and add smoked paprika for a similar rich, meaty taste without meat.
• Spice It Up: Customize heat levels by choosing mild or spicy Italian sausage, or add red pepper flakes for an extra kick of warmth and complexity.

How To Keep Italian Sausage Gnocchi Soup Warm

• Refrigerate: Transfer leftover soup to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Cool completely before sealing to prevent bacterial growth.
• Freeze: Pour cooled soup into freezer-safe containers, leaving some space for expansion. Freeze for up to 2 months. Avoid freezing gnocchi as they may become mushy when thawed.
• Reheat on Stovetop: Warm soup in a pot over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Add a splash of chicken broth if the soup seems too thick. Heat until thoroughly warm, about 5-7 minutes.
• Microwave Option: Place soup in a microwave-safe bowl, cover loosely, and heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval until heated through. Be careful not to overcook the gnocchi.

Best Pairings For Italian Sausage Gnocchi Soup

• Elevate Wine Selection: Choose a medium-bodied Italian red like Chianti or Sangiovese to match the soup's rich tomato and sausage profile, enhancing its robust flavors with complementary wine notes.
• Craft Perfect Bread Companion: Serve crusty garlic bread or focaccia alongside the soup, allowing diners to soak up the creamy broth and add delightful textural contrast with crispy, herb-infused bread.
• Design Refreshing Side Salad: Prepare a light arugula salad with shaved parmesan, lemon vinaigrette, and toasted pine nuts to provide a fresh, zesty counterpoint to the hearty soup's warmth and richness.
• Introduce Bright Garnish Option: Top the soup with fresh basil leaves or a sprinkle of extra parmesan cheese to add brightness and an extra layer of savory complexity that elevates the overall dining experience.

Try These Changes For Italian Sausage Gnocchi Soup

• Gluten-Free Version: Replace regular gnocchi with gluten-free potato gnocchi, ensuring all ingredients like tomato paste and broth are certified gluten-free.
• Vegetarian Adaptation: Swap Italian sausage with plant-based sausage crumbles or chopped mushrooms for a hearty, meat-free alternative.
• Low-Carb Option: Substitute gnocchi with cauliflower gnocchi or spiralized zucchini noodles to reduce carbohydrate content while maintaining soup's rich flavor profile.
• Dairy-Free Modification: Use coconut cream instead of heavy cream and skip cheese garnishes to create a lactose-free version that preserves the soup's creamy texture.

Common Questions On Italian Sausage Gnocchi Soup

• Can I use a different type of sausage in this recipe?

Yes, you can substitute Italian sausage with other varieties like spicy sausage, chicken sausage, or even plant-based sausage alternatives. Just ensure the sausage complements the soup’s flavor profile.

• Is this soup suitable for meal prep?

Absolutely! This soup can be prepared in advance and stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop, adding a splash of broth if needed to maintain consistency.

• How can I make this soup more protein-rich?

Add cooked white beans, diced chicken, or increase the amount of sausage. These options will boost the protein content and make the soup more filling.

• Can I make this soup vegetarian?

Yes, replace the sausage and chicken broth with plant-based alternatives. Use vegetable broth, mushroom sausage, or crumbled tofu to maintain a similar texture and flavor profile.

Cozy Italian Sausage Gnocchi Soup Recipe

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4.6 from 31 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Hearty Italian Sausage Gnocchi Soup brings comfort straight from rustic kitchens of Italy, warming hearts with rich, savory flavors. Pillowy gnocchi and spicy sausage dance together in a creamy broth, promising pure culinary satisfaction for hungry souls.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Protein:

• 1 pound Italian sausage (casings removed)

Vegetables and Aromatics:

• 1 onion, diced
• 2 carrots, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 cups fresh spinach

Liquids and Seasonings:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 (15-ounce) can chopped tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• ½ cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• Salt and black pepper, to taste

Other Ingredients:

• 1 pound gnocchi

Optional Garnishes:

• Fresh parsley, chopped
• Lemon wedges

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Instructions

1. Render the sausage in a spacious soup vessel, utilizing olive oil over medium-high thermal intensity. Fracture the meat into crumbled fragments while ensuring thorough caramelization. Transfer the browned protein to a temporary holding area.
2. Reduce cookware temperature to medium and introduce additional olive oil. Incorporate diced onions and carrots, gently coaxing them toward translucency and tender submission. Introduce minced garlic, allowing its aromatic essence to permeate the vegetable medley.
3. Integrate tomato paste, stirring vigorously to develop rich underlying flavors. Stream chicken broth and canned tomatoes into the evolving mixture. Sprinkle Italian seasoning across the liquid landscape and reintroduce the previously prepared sausage.
4. Cascade heavy cream into the simmering concoction, creating a velvety foundation. Allow the liquid to achieve a gentle bubbling state before reducing thermal intensity. Let the soup harmonize its components for approximately ten minutes.
5. Skim any accumulated surface lipids to enhance visual clarity and texture. Carefully drop gnocchi into the liquid, monitoring their buoyancy as they float to the surface within three minutes.
6. Extinguish thermal source and fold fresh spinach into the soup, witnessing its immediate wilting. Season comprehensively with salt and pepper according to personal preference. Ladle into serving vessels and optionally embellish with fresh parsley and a citrusy lemon accent.

Notes

• Swap out Italian sausage for plant-based alternatives like vegetarian sausage or crumbled tofu to create a vegetarian version of this hearty soup.
• Use gluten-free gnocchi to make the recipe suitable for those with gluten sensitivities, ensuring everyone can enjoy this comforting dish.
• Enhance the soup’s nutrition by adding extra vegetables like zucchini or bell peppers during the sautéing stage for

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 400
• Sugar: 5 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 25 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 18 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg