Creamy Italian Sausage and Gnocchi Soup Recipe

You’ll love this hearty one-pot Sausage Gnocchi Soup. It comes together on the stovetop in about 40 minutes and makes a flavorful, family-friendly weeknight meal or batch to meal-prep for the week.

Your New Favorite Soup

This Sausage Gnocchi Soup is savory, satisfying and loaded with flavor. It’s a simple recipe that yields a comforting bowlful of tender potato gnocchi, seasoned Italian sausage, vegetables and beans in a rich broth. Because it’s cooked all in one pot, cleanup is easy and dinner is on the table fast.

Ingredients – What You Need

This recipe uses straightforward, accessible ingredients that combine into a flavorful soup. Quantities below serve about 8 people.

• 1 lb. ground Italian sausage — choose mild or spicy based on preference.
• 1 medium yellow onion, minced.
• 8 oz. sliced baby Bella mushrooms (white mushrooms work too).
• 4 cloves garlic, minced.
• 2 large carrots, sliced into half-moons.
• 1 tsp dried minced garlic.
• 1 tsp dried minced onion.
• 1 tsp dried basil.
• 1 tsp dried rosemary.
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes.
• 1/2 tsp salt, or more to taste.
• 1 – 15 oz. can diced tomatoes.
• 8 cups broth — any kind works; beef broth adds extra depth.
• 1 – 15 oz. can white northern beans, rinsed and drained.
• 5 oz. fresh spinach.
• 1 lb. potato gnocchi.
• 1.5 tbsp vinegar-based hot sauce (such as a cayenne-vinegar sauce) — or substitute 1.5 tbsp apple cider or white vinegar if you prefer no heat.

Why Hot Sauce?

A vinegar-based hot sauce brightens and balances the soup by cutting through the richness of the sausage and broth. If you prefer no spice, an equal amount of apple cider vinegar or white vinegar will add the same bright acidity without heat.

Kitchen Tools You Need

A Dutch oven is ideal for one-pot soups because it distributes heat evenly, but a large stockpot will work perfectly as well.

How to Make Sausage Gnocchi Soup

This soup cooks in five straightforward steps and finishes in about 40 minutes total.

1. Brown the sausage and onion

Heat a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium-high. Add the ground Italian sausage and cook for 2–3 minutes until it begins to brown. Add the minced onion and sauté until the onion is translucent, another 2–3 minutes.

2. Add mushrooms, garlic, carrots and spices

Add the sliced mushrooms and minced garlic and sauté until the mushrooms release their moisture and begin to soften, about 4–5 minutes. Stir in the sliced carrots, dried minced garlic and onion, basil, rosemary, red pepper flakes and salt. Cook 2–3 more minutes to bloom the spices.

3. Add tomatoes, broth, beans, spinach and gnocchi

Pour in the diced tomatoes and the broth, then bring the pot to a boil. Once boiling, add the rinsed white beans, fresh spinach and the potato gnocchi. Continue boiling gently until the gnocchi float to the surface — that’s how you know they’re cooked, usually about 2–3 minutes.

4. Simmer to meld flavors

Lower the heat and let the soup simmer on low for 5–10 minutes so the flavors meld. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Stir in the vinegar-based hot sauce or vinegar to finish, tasting as you go to reach the right balance of brightness and heat.

5. Serve and enjoy

Ladle into bowls and finish with freshly cracked black pepper. This soup pairs well with crusty bread or a simple green salad for a complete meal.

Storage

Allow the soup to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for 3–5 days. If you have room, keeping it in the Dutch oven with a lid saves an extra dish.

How to Freeze Sausage Gnocchi Soup

This soup freezes well because it has no dairy that would separate. Cool completely, then transfer to freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. Remove as much air as possible and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating on the stove.

Tips & Notes

• The amount of salt needed can vary depending on the broth you use. Taste before adding extra.
• Substitute kale for spinach if you prefer a heartier green; add it a little earlier to ensure it softens.
• Any canned beans can work if you don’t have white northern beans on hand.
• If you like more heat, increase the red pepper flakes or the hot sauce to taste.

Nutrition

Estimated per serving: Calories 395 kcal, Carbohydrates 38 g, Protein 22 g, Fat 15 g, Fiber 4 g, Sugar 5 g. Nutrition estimates are approximate and depend on exact ingredients used.