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Pumpkin Gnocchi Bake

Pumpkin gnocchi bake with Italian sausage in a creamy pumpkin sage sauce, topped with a golden mozzarella crust. Bake until pillowy gnocchi are cooked through and the cheese turns golden and bubbling.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Italian-American
Calories: 640
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pumpkin sage sauce and toppings
  • 1.5 lb potato gnocchi Uncooked.
  • 1 lb Italian sausage, crumbled
  • 1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 0.5 cup chicken broth
  • 4 garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp fresh sage, chopped
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 0.25 tsp nutmeg
  • 0.25 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 2 cup shredded mozzarella
  • 0.5 cup parmesan, grated
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan
  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Prep and preheat
  1. Preheat the oven to 400F and grease a 9x13 baking dish.
Brown sausage
  1. Brown the Italian sausage in a large skillet, then drain the fat and set the sausage aside.
Make the sauce
  1. Melt the butter and sauté the garlic and sage for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
  2. Add the pumpkin puree, heavy cream, chicken broth, nutmeg, and red pepper flakes, and stir until combined.
  3. Simmer the sauce for 3-4 minutes, then season with salt and pepper.
Assemble and bake
  1. Toss the uncooked gnocchi in the sauce directly in the greased baking dish, then add the sausage and mix.
  2. Scatter the mozzarella and parmesan over the top of the casserole.
  3. Bake for 30-35 minutes at 400F until the gnocchi are cooked through, the sauce is bubbling, and the cheese is golden.

Notes

For the creamiest bake, make sure the sauce is hot before tossing the gnocchi so it cooks evenly in the oven. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container up to 3 days; reheat in the oven at 350F until warmed through. Freezing is not recommended because gnocchi can turn soft after thawing. If you want a lighter version, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream (the sauce will be slightly less rich).