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italian sausageeasy

Costco Italian Sausage and Gnocchi Skillet

A one-pan dinner of Costco Italian sausage, pillowy gnocchi, and spinach in a creamy tomato sauce — 30 minutes, one skillet, and enough flavor to make it a permanent weeknight rotation.

Prep Time
5 min
Cook Time
25 min
Servings
4
Cost / Serving
$7.25

Quick Answer

Brown Kirkland Italian sausage, deglaze with Rao's marinara, add cream and shelf-stable gnocchi, and simmer 4–5 minutes until the gnocchi are tender. Wilt in spinach off the heat. One pan, 30 minutes, four servings.

This one-pan sausage and gnocchi skillet is the kind of recipe that becomes a weeknight staple the first time you make it. The Costco Italian sausage is rich and deeply seasoned, the gnocchi soaks up the creamy tomato sauce as it cooks, and the whole thing comes together in 30 minutes with almost no cleanup. It's a complete dinner from a single pan.

Instructions

  1. 1

    Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add crumbled sausage and cook, breaking it apart, for 6–8 minutes until browned and cooked through. Remove sausage with a slotted spoon, leaving the fat in the pan.

  2. 2

    Reduce to medium heat. Add onion to the pan and cook 3 minutes until softened. Add garlic and red pepper flakes, stir 1 minute.

  3. 3

    Pour in marinara and heavy cream. Stir to combine. Add gnocchi directly into the sauce (no pre-boiling needed).

  4. 4

    Cover and cook on medium heat for 5–6 minutes, stirring once halfway, until gnocchi is cooked through and the sauce has thickened.

  5. 5

    Return sausage to the pan. Add spinach and stir until wilted, about 2 minutes.

  6. 6

    Top with Parmesan and fresh basil. Serve directly from the skillet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to boil the gnocchi first for this recipe?+
No — that's the beauty of this dish. The gnocchi cooks directly in the sauce, absorbing the creamy tomato flavor as it softens. This method saves a pot, time, and cleanup.
Can I use sweet or hot Italian sausage?+
Either works. Sweet sausage lets the cream and tomato sauce shine. Hot sausage adds a spicy kick that complements the richness of the cream. You can also use half and half from the Costco pack.
Can I substitute the heavy cream?+
Half-and-half works for a lighter version. For dairy-free, full-fat coconut cream gives a similar richness, though with a slight coconut note that actually works surprisingly well with the tomato sauce.

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