Creamy Gnocchi Skillet with Chicken Sausage

4 from 1 vote
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This Gnocchi Skillet is one of those fall comfort meals that will warm you up from the inside out! The gnocchi is paired with juicy chicken sausage and then cooked in a sauce made of blended cottage cheese and savory spices, creating a creamy, flavorful, and protein-packed dish.

Cooked all in one skillet, it’s the perfect lazy day meal that still feels a little fancy!

A skillet containing creamy gnocchi with sausage, spinach, and shaved cheese, with a wooden spoon and additional ingredients like spinach and cheese flakes in bowls nearby.
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If you’ve been around this website a time or two, you know how much we love a good one-pan meal! And this gnocchi skillet is exactly that — it’s made completely in one skillet with a creamy homemade sauce using blended cottage cheese (protein rich!). If you’re looking for an easy fall meal filled with cozy flavors, this is it.

To make it, you’ll cook the veggies and sausage, then cook the gnocchi in the delicious sauce. Add the spinach and cottage cheese at the end to create a creamy and flavorful sauce that coats every bite of gnocchi!

Fall Gnocchi Skillet – Key Ingredients

  • Chicken sausage: I like to use chicken sausage for this recipe, but you can use any type of sausage you prefer. It adds a great flavor and protein boost to the dish.
  • Italian seasoning: The combination of oregano, basil, and other herbs in Italian seasoning adds a delicious flavor to this dish.
  • Gnocchi: The star of this skillet, gnocchi is a potato-based pasta that adds a hearty and comforting element to the dish.
  • Chicken broth: This is the base for the sauce and adds a savory flavor to the dish.
  • Fresh spinach: Adding fresh spinach at the end adds some greens to the dish and balances out the creamy sauce.
  • Blended cottage cheese: This is the secret ingredient in this dish! Blending cottage cheese with the pumpkin purée creates a creamy and protein-packed sauce that is full of flavor.

Pro tip: amp up the Fall flavors

Want to make this dish even more perfect for fall? Add pumpkin purée to the sauce! It adds a creamy and slightly sweet element to the sauce. We’ve tested this recipe with pumpkin puree in the Fit Foodie kitchen and it’s SO, SO good. All you need is 1 cup of canned pumpkin puree.

A skillet containing cooked gnocchi and sliced sausages mixed with a sauce, with a wooden spoon resting inside.

How do you blend cottage cheese?

To blend cottage cheese, simply add it to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. This creates a creamy texture that is perfect for sauces or dips!

No, but we used fully-cooked chicken sausage links to shorten the cooking time. If you are using raw sausage, make sure to cook it fully before adding in the other ingredients.

A black pot with a lid on a white background.

Our Fav

Deep Skillet

Use this skillet for your favorite one pot meals or other stove top recipes.

A skillet filled with gnocchi, spinach, sliced sausage, and a dollop of ricotta cheese, with a wooden spoon rested on the edge.

#1 tip for your gnocchi skillet

During step 3, if the gnocchi starts to stick together or to the pan, add another tablespoon of olive oil. Do NOT skip this step! The gnocchi will become gummy, and the sauce will thicken too much if you do.

A skillet filled with creamy sauce, sliced sausage, gnocchi, spinach, and shaved cheese, with a wooden spoon resting inside. Some ingredients and a striped cloth are nearby.

Storage

This dish can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

To reheat, simply heat a skillet over medium heat, add the desired amount of leftovers, and cook until heated through. Add a splash of chicken broth if the sauce has thickened too much.

A skillet filled with creamy gnocchi, sausage slices, spinach, and topped with shaved parmesan cheese. A wooden spoon rests in the skillet, with additional ingredients visible in small bowls nearby.
The one pot series logo.
4 from 1 vote

Creamy Gnocchi Skillet Recipe

Warm up with this one-pot gnocchi skillet! Sliced chicken sausage, gnocchi, blended cottage cheese and fall spices come together to create this creamy, protein-packed dish.
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Total: 45 minutes
Servings: 6
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Ingredients 

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 12 oz. sliced chicken sausage
  • ½ medium yellow onion, minced
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 16 oz. gnocchi
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 2 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped
  • ¾ cup blended cottage cheese

Instructions 

  • Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage and onions to the pan. Season with salt and cook for 5 minutes. The onions should be soft and translucent.
    A black skillet containing sliced sausages and diced onions being stirred with a wooden spoon.
  • Add the garlic and Italian seasoning and cook for another minute. Remove the sausage and onions from the pan and set aside.
  • Place the pan back on the stove over medium heat. Add the remaining olive oil and the gnocchi. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring often. The gnocchi should become crispy on the outside.
    A cast iron skillet filled with cooked gnocchi, stirred with a wooden spoon, on a light gray textured surface.
  • Next, add the sausage and onions to the gnocchi and add the broth and pumpkin. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Cook for 10 minutes.
    A skillet containing cooked gnocchi and sliced sausages mixed with a sauce, with a wooden spoon resting inside.
  • Fold the spinach into the pan. Once it has wilted, stir in the blended cottage cheese.
    A skillet containing gnocchi, sliced sausages, and fresh spinach, with a wooden spoon resting inside.
  • Garnish with grated parmesan cheese and crushed red pepper flakes.
    A skillet containing creamy gnocchi with sausage, spinach, and shaved cheese, with a wooden spoon and additional ingredients like spinach and cheese flakes in bowls nearby.

Tips & Notes

  • Add 1 cup of pumpkin puree to the sauce in step 5 for a burst of fall flavor. 
  • During step 3 if the gnocchi starts to stick together or to the pan add another tablespoon of olive oil. Do not skip this step. The gnocchi will become gummy, and the sauce will thicken too much if you do.
  • We used fully-cooked chicken sausage links for this recipe.

Watch It

Nutrition

Calories: 352 kcal, Carbohydrates: 36 g, Protein: 16 g, Fat: 17 g, Fiber: 4 g, Sugar: 4 g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Photography: photos taken in this post are by Erin from The Wooden Skillet.

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About Emily Richter

Emily is Fit Foodie Finds' editor-in-chief. She has a master's degree in strategic communication and a passion for food. She is an incredible at-home cook, making her writing an important part of the content creation process.

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Carly
Carly
November 2, 2024 10:59 am

Pumpkin seems to be missing from the ingredient list.

Kelly
Kelly
November 2, 2024 9:35 am

4 stars
Hello, I do not see pumpkin in the list of ingredients but it’s in the instructions. I was planning on making this tomorrow but don’t want to miss something or add that’s not in the recipe. Thanks

Denise
Denise
October 27, 2024 11:29 am

Is this the same recipe as the Fall Gnocchi from the post? I donโ€™t see pumpkin as an ingredient ???