Easy Baked Gnocchi with Italian Sausage

This post is sponsored by the Ohio Pork Council. All opinions are my own.

Sometimes even the easiest of weeknight meals can pose a challenge. But with a little help from some prepared gnocchi, Italian sausage, pasta sauce, and a whole lot of cheese you can have a comforting meal in under 30 minutes.

I’m in desperate need of someone to meal plan for me. Whenever I think I will have time to do so it somehow vanishes and I am presented with yet another day of having no idea what we will be eating for any meal of the day. We’ve resorted to cereal, buying lunch more often of packing random remnants of leftovers and frozen food, and eating out a lot more – none of which is good for the wallet or the waist. When we are not going about our normal daily lives and activities, most of our free time is spent slowly unpacking and situating things in the new house. What I would do for a week off right about now…

We have managed to squeeze in a few homemade meals here and there, and the recipe I am sharing today is one of them. I was dreaming about the slow cooker bolognese that I made and then proceeded to create a baked penne dish with it when I decided to create a cheat version with Italian sausage and I swapped the penne for gnocchi because why not? And while we are winging it, I threw in some ricotta as well because we happened to have some in the fridge. It’s like skillet lasagna but with gnocchi and in a baking dish. All sorts of hand waving going on – which makes it super Italian, right!?

Authentic or not, this easy to prepare dish can be on your table in under 30 minutes which is almost more time than I have to spare these days. But those tender little gnocchi dumplings paired with the sweet and spicy Italian sausage smothered in sauce and cheese was exactly what I needed. And that salad on the side? Yes hat’s a bagged mix I picked up from the store on my way home from work right before I went home and cooked this meal. But not before I nearly drove to where we use to live first. One of these days I will be in my right mind!

One year ago: Mini Hot Cocoa Oreo Cheesecakes

Five years ago: Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Boats

Six years ago: Cake Batter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Seven years ago: Gluten-Free Bananas Foster Muffins

Eight years ago: Cashew Chicken

EASY BAKED GNOCCHI WITH ITALIAN SAUSAGE

Serves 6

Ingredients:

1 lb. gnocchi

1 lb. Italian sausage

2 cups of your favorite pasta sauce

3/4 cup ricotta

8 oz. shredded mozzarella, divided

1/4 cup shredded Parmesan

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Lightly coat a 7×9-inch baking pan with nonstick spray and set side.
2. In a large pot of boiling water, cook the gnocchi until al dente. Turn off heat, drain, and set side.
3. In a large skillet, crumble the sausage and cook until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Add the pasta sauce and gnocchi, stirring to coat.
4. In the prepared baking dish, spread half of the pasta mixture followed by all of the ricotta and half of the mozzarella. Top with remaining pasta mixture, mozzarella, and Parmesan. Bake uncovered for 15 minutes, or until browned and bubbly.

Source: Adapted from my Baked Penne with Slow Cooker Bolognese.