🎉 Introduction
If you’re craving a warm, comforting soup that feels like a hug in a bowl, this Creamy Italian Sausage Gnocchi Soup is the dreamy dish you need. Inspired by classic Italian flavors, this soup brings together savory beef Italian sausage, pillowy gnocchi, vibrant vegetables, aromatic herbs, and a silky, creamy broth that turns every spoonful into pure comfort.
This recipe is perfect for chilly weather, cozy nights at home, busy weeknights, or feeding a hungry family. It’s hearty enough to stand as a full meal yet delicate enough to feel elegant. The gnocchi adds a comforting, chewy bite; the beef sausage infuses smoky, savory richness; and the cream brings everything together into a velvety, luxurious soup.
Simple ingredients transform into something spectacular, making this one of the most loved soups for fall and winter. Once you try it, you’ll want to make it again and again.
🧰 Equipment Needed
- Large soup pot or Dutch oven
- Cutting board
- Knife
- Measuring spoons & cups
- Wooden spoon
- Ladle
🛒 Ingredients
Protein
- 1 lb beef Italian sausage (mild or spicy)
Vegetables
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup carrots, sliced
- 1 cup celery, chopped
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
Broth
- 4 cups chicken broth
Pasta
- 1 lb potato gnocchi
Creamy Base
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 tbsp butter
Seasonings
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ¾ tsp salt
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional for heat)
👩🍳 Directions
Step 1 — Brown the sausage
Heat a large soup pot over medium heat.
Add beef Italian sausage and cook until browned, breaking it into small pieces.
Remove excess fat if needed.
Step 2 — Add vegetables
Add onion, carrots, and celery to the sausage.
Cook 6–8 minutes until vegetables soften.
Stir in minced garlic and cook 1 minute more.
Step 3 — Build the broth
Add diced tomatoes, chicken broth, basil, oregano, paprika, pepper, and salt.
Stir well and bring to a gentle simmer.
Step 4 — Add gnocchi
Add the potato gnocchi to the pot.
Cook 3–4 minutes until they float and become tender.
Step 5 — Add cream & butter
Lower the heat and stir in the heavy cream and butter.
Let everything warm together without boiling.
Step 6 — Add spinach
Stir in fresh spinach and cook 1–2 minutes until wilted.
Step 7 — Taste & adjust
Adjust seasoning with more salt, pepper, or red pepper flakes.
Step 8 — Serve warm
Ladle soup into bowls and enjoy its creamy, savory goodness.
🍽️ Servings & Timing
- Servings: 6
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
🧊 Storage & Reheating
Refrigerator
- Store 3–4 days
- Gnocchi will continue to soften, so add broth when reheating
Freezer
- Freeze before adding gnocchi and cream
- Add fresh when reheating for best texture
Reheating
- Warm over low heat
- Add broth to thin if needed
🥄 Variations
1. Extra creamy version
Add ½ cup cream cheese.
2. Spicy version
Use spicy beef Italian sausage and extra red pepper flakes.
3. Veggie-Packed
Add mushrooms, zucchini, kale, or bell peppers.
4. Tomato-Rich
Add tomato paste or extra diced tomatoes.
5. Lightened-Up
Use milk instead of heavy cream.
6. Gluten-Free
Use gluten-free gnocchi.
7. Dairy-Free
Use coconut milk instead of cream.
8. High-Protein Version
Add white beans or chickpeas.
9. Slow Cooker Version
Cook sausage first, then combine everything except cream and gnocchi for 4 hours on LOW.
Add gnocchi and cream at the end.
10. Elegant Italian Version
Finish with fresh basil and shaved Parmesan.
❓ 10 FAQs
1. Can I use chicken instead of sausage?
Yes—shredded chicken works beautifully.
2. Do I need to pre-cook gnocchi?
No—they cook directly in the soup.
3. Can I use frozen spinach?
Yes—add ½ cup frozen spinach.
4. Can I skip the tomatoes?
Yes—the soup will be creamy white.
5. Can it be made dairy-free?
Yes—use coconut milk.
6. Is gnocchi pasta or potato?
It’s a potato dumpling—soft and delicious.
7. Can I make it ahead?
Yes—add the gnocchi right before serving.
8. How do I make it thicker?
Mash some gnocchi or add cream cheese.
9. Can I use beef broth instead of chicken broth?
Yes—flavor will be deeper.
10. What toppings work well?
Parmesan, basil, red pepper flakes, or garlic croutons.
🏁 Conclusion
This Creamy Italian Sausage Gnocchi Soup brings together classic Italian comfort and simple, hearty ingredients to create a bowl of pure joy. With tender gnocchi, savory beef sausage, rich broth, and velvety cream, every spoonful delivers warmth and satisfaction. It’s easy to prepare, customizable, and perfect for any cozy night in.
Whether you’re feeding your family or craving a nourishing meal after a long day, this soup will quickly become one of your most loved recipes. Simple, creamy, warming, and irresistibly delicious—this is the kind of comfort food you’ll want all year long.
Creamy Italian Sausage Gnocchi Soup – Rich, Cozy & Packed With Flavor
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Heat a large soup pot over medium heat.
- Add beef Italian sausage and cook until browned, breaking it into small pieces.
- Remove excess fat if needed.
- Add onion, carrots, and celery to the sausage.
- Cook 6–8 minutes until vegetables soften.
- Stir in minced garlic and cook 1 minute more.
- Add diced tomatoes, chicken broth, basil, oregano, paprika, pepper, and salt.
- Stir well and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Add the potato gnocchi to the pot.
- Cook 3–4 minutes until they float and become tender.
- Lower the heat and stir in the heavy cream and butter.
- Let everything warm together without boiling.
- Stir in fresh spinach and cook 1–2 minutes until wilted.
- Adjust seasoning with more salt, pepper, or red pepper flakes.
- Ladle soup into bowls and enjoy its creamy, savory goodness.
Notes
Refrigerator Store 3–4 days Gnocchi will continue to soften, so add broth when reheating Freezer Freeze before adding gnocchi and cream Add fresh when reheating for best texture Reheating Warm over low heat Add broth to thin if needed 🥄 Variations
1. Extra creamy version Add ½ cup cream cheese. 2. Spicy version Use spicy beef Italian sausage and extra red pepper flakes. 3. Veggie-Packed Add mushrooms, zucchini, kale, or bell peppers. 4. Tomato-Rich Add tomato paste or extra diced tomatoes. 5. Lightened-Up Use milk instead of heavy cream. 6. Gluten-Free Use gluten-free gnocchi. 7. Dairy-Free Use coconut milk instead of cream. 8. High-Protein Version Add white beans or chickpeas. 9. Slow Cooker Version Cook sausage first, then combine everything except cream and gnocchi for 4 hours on LOW.
Add gnocchi and cream at the end. 10. Elegant Italian Version Finish with fresh basil and shaved Parmesan. ❓ 10 FAQs
1. Can I use chicken instead of sausage? Yes—shredded chicken works beautifully. 2. Do I need to pre-cook gnocchi? No—they cook directly in the soup. 3. Can I use frozen spinach? Yes—add ½ cup frozen spinach. 4. Can I skip the tomatoes? Yes—the soup will be creamy white. 5. Can it be made dairy-free? Yes—use coconut milk. 6. Is gnocchi pasta or potato? It’s a potato dumpling—soft and delicious. 7. Can I make it ahead? Yes—add the gnocchi right before serving. 8. How do I make it thicker? Mash some gnocchi or add cream cheese. 9. Can I use beef broth instead of chicken broth? Yes—flavor will be deeper. 10. What toppings work well? Parmesan, basil, red pepper flakes, or garlic croutons. 🏁 Conclusion This Creamy Italian Sausage Gnocchi Soup brings together classic Italian comfort and simple, hearty ingredients to create a bowl of pure joy. With tender gnocchi, savory beef sausage, rich broth, and velvety cream, every spoonful delivers warmth and satisfaction. It’s easy to prepare, customizable, and perfect for any cozy night in. Whether you’re feeding your family or craving a nourishing meal after a long day, this soup will quickly become one of your most loved recipes. Simple, creamy, warming, and irresistibly delicious—this is the kind of comfort food you’ll want all year long.
