Tender potato gnocchi, savory Italian sausage, sweet bell peppers, and thickly-sliced onions are brought together to create a harmonious blend of textures and flavors. This Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Sausage and Peppers is going to be your new go-to meal on nights when you want an awesome homemade meal with minimal fuss.
Using only one pan and easy prep, this delicious meal is ready in about 40 minutes. Whether you are a novice or an expert cook, this dish will practically transport you to your favorite Italian restaurant.
What is gnocchi?
Gnocchi is a type of Italian pasta made of potatoes, egg, and flour. You may also see them referred to as potato dumplings. They are soft and slightly chewy in texture. Like regular pasta, they have a neutral flavor which makes them the perfect canvas to drench in delicious seasonings and sauces!
Depending on where you shop, you may find gnocchi in the pasta aisle or in the refrigerated section of the grocery store. Both refrigerated and shelf-stable gnocchi will work in this recipe.
Ingredients and Equipment
The main ingredients are gnocchi, Italian sausage, bell peppers, and onions.
For the sausage, make sure that you buy the pre-cooked type. Raw sausage will crumble when you try to slice it. Chicken and pork sausage both work well.
I use a yellow onion in this recipe, but a red onion will work just as well. I recommend using red bell peppers since they add a delightful touch of sweetness. Orange and yellow bell peppers are slightly less sweet, but work great too and add more beautiful color to the dish.
The rest of the ingredients are staples you probably already have in your pantry: Italian seasoning, garlic powder, olive oil, salt, and pepper. If you don’t have Italian seasoning, dried basil will work in a pinch!
The main reason why I love sheet-pan recipes is because they use minimal equipment, which means minimal clean-up! All you need is a good sharp knife, a mixing bowl, and a sheet pan. I like to line the sheet pan with parchment paper to make clean-up even quicker.
Why Sheet Pan Gnocchi Works
It may sound counter-intuitive to make pasta in the oven, but it works! Unlike other types of pasta, gnocchi is not completely dried out when you buy it. This means that you don’t have to boil it to add hydration, it can be baked or pan-fried! Baked gnocchi comes out tender and chewy with a crispy exterior.
Preparation
If you’re a beginner in the kitchen, don’t be intimidated! This sheet pan gnocchi dish tastes like restaurant-quality, but it comes together super easily.
Start by preheating your oven to 400°F and lining a sheet pan with parchment paper or foil (to help make cleanup easier). Then slice your sausage, peppers, and onion. Make sure you cut the onion in thick slices, since thin slices can overcook easily in the oven.
Now throw all of the ingredients you just chopped into a bowl and add the gnocchi, oil, and spices. Toss everything around for a minute or two so that all of the ingredients are equally distributed and coated in spices.
Spread all of the contents of the bowl out on your sheet pan and you’re done before you know it!
Cooking
Pop the sheet pan in the oven and bake for 20 minutes. At the 10-minute mark, you can take the sheet pan out of the oven, toss the ingredients around, and place it back in. This is optional, but it will help ensure everything cooks evenly.
When the baking time is complete, the gnocchi and sausage will have a golden-brown hue and the onion will be translucent. If you see any burnt bits of onion (this may happen if the slices are on the thin side), feel free to pick them off and discard them.
Serving
Use a spatula to transfer the gnocchi from the sheet pan into serving bowls. Drizzle a little bit of extra olive oil (1-2 teaspoons) on top of each bowl. If you have a high-quality bottle of olive oil (a.k.a. finishing oil) in your pantry, this would be a great time to use it! But any extra virgin olive oil will work just fine.
Finally, top your bowls off with some grated parmesan and chopped parsley, and you’re ready to dig in!
Storage and Reheating
Store leftover gnocchi in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. When you are ready to eat it, transfer it to a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30-second increments until it is heated through to your liking.
PrintRecipe
Best Damn Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Sausage and Peppers
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
Description
Pillowy soft gnocchi with fresh bell peppers, onions, and Italian sausage, seasoned to perfection and baked together on one sheet pan. The perfect easy dinner recipe.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. pre-cooked Italian sausage, sliced (chicken and pork both work well!)
- 2 red bell peppers, sliced
- 1 yellow onion, sliced
- 16 oz. (1 package) gnocchi
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus some for drizzling
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- For serving (optional): grated parmesan, parsley
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400℉ and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Add the sausage, peppers, onion, and gnocchi to a large mixing bowl. Drizzle on the olive oil, then sprinkle on the Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt. and pepper. Use a large spoon or spatula to toss the ingredients around so that everything is coated with oil and spices.
- Transfer the mixture to your prepared baking sheet and spread in an even layer. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the gnocchi and sausage are golden brown.
- Spoon the gnocchi into serving bowls. Top with an extra drizzle of olive oil (about 1 teaspoon per serving), grated parmesan, and chopped parsley.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 20 min
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sheet Pan
- Cuisine: Italian
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