Italian Sausage and Gnocchi Sheet Pan Dinner

Italian Sausage and Gnocchi Sheet Pan Dinner is a comforting blend of fall vegetables like butternut squash, Brussels sprouts, and potatoes, all roasted to perfection with Italian seasonings and parmesan cheese. Topped with dollops of hot Italian sausage and finished with parmesan gnocchi, this easy sheet pan meal is packed with hearty, savory flavors.

If you’re looking for a delicious, hearty meal with minimal prep, this Italian Sausage and Gnocchi Sheet Pan Dinner is for you! It’s the perfect one-pan meal, combining roasted vegetables, spicy Italian sausage, and tender gnocchi all baked together on a single sheet pan. The result is a flavor-packed dinner that’s easy to make, ideal for busy weeknights, and bursting with seasonal fall ingredients like butternut squash and Brussels sprouts. You’ll love how the crispy bits of sausage and golden gnocchi come together for a comforting meal that’s as satisfying as it is simple!

Why This Recipe Works

• One-pan convenience: Everything cooks on a single, large sheet pan, making cleanup a breeze (who doesn’t love easy dinners). 
• Flavor explosion: The combination of hot Italian sausage, roasted vegetables, and Parmesan-tossed gnocchi creates tons of flavor with minimal effort.
• Customizable ingredients: You can easily swap out the vegetables or sausage to suit your taste, making it a great option for using whatever you have on hand.

Supplies Needed

To make this easy sheet pan dinner, here’s what you’ll need:

• A large sheet pan (make sure it’s big enough to hold all the ingredients in a single layer for even cooking).
• A large bowl for tossing the vegetables and gnocchi in seasoning.
• A spatula to spread everything out on the sheet pan.
• Parchment paper or nonstick spray to prevent sticking.

Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need for this Italian Sausage and Gnocchi Sheet Pan Dinner:

Gnocchi Mixture:

• Gnocchi (store-bought or homemade) – I buy it fresh from Whole Foods but also love the varieties you can find frozen (or shelf-stable gnocchi) at Trader Joe’s. Use what you can find from your local grocery store. 
• Olive oil
• Parmesan cheese

Sheet Pan Ingredients:

• Hot Italian sausage (or swap for sweet Italian sausage or chicken sausage)
• Butternut squash
• Red potatoes
• Brussels sprouts
• Red onion (or use yellow onion or white onion for a milder flavor)
• Parmesan cheese
• Panko bread crumbs (for extra crunch)
• Italian seasoning
• Salt and black pepper
• Olive oil

Substitutions:

• Gnocchi: Use cauliflower gnocchi, sweet potato gnocchi, or even homemade gnocchi for a twist.
• Sausage: Swap hot Italian sausage for sweet Italian sausage, chicken sausage, or even a plant-based sausage for a vegetarian option.
• Vegetables: You can use other veggies like broccoli florets, green beans, grape tomatoes, or red bell peppers if that’s what you have on hand.

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven: Start by preheating your oven to 400°F. Place your large sheet pan into the oven to preheat, which helps the veggies get that perfect crispy edge.
2. Prep the vegetables: While the oven heats up, chop your butternut squash, red potatoes, Brussels sprouts, and red onion. Place them in a large bowl.
3. Season the veggies: Toss the vegetables with olive oil, Parmesan cheese, Panko bread crumbs, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Make sure everything is evenly coated so that the vegetables roast beautifully.
4. Assemble the sheet pan: Once the oven is hot, carefully take out the sheet pan and spread the seasoned vegetables across it in an even layer.
5. Add the sausage: If you’re using sausage links, remove the casing and dollop small pieces of sausage across the top of the vegetables.
6. Bake: Roast the sausage and veggies for 20 minutes. While that’s cooking, prepare your gnocchi by tossing it with olive oil and Parmesan cheese in a bowl.
7. Add the gnocchi: After the initial 20 minutes, sprinkle the gnocchi over the veggies and sausage. Return the pan to the oven and bake for another 20-25 minutes, or until the gnocchi is golden and the sausage is cooked through.
8. Serve: Garnish with extra Parmesan cheese or fresh chopped parsley, and enjoy this savory, comforting dinner straight from the oven!

Expert Cooking Tips

• Preheating the sheet pan: Preheating the sheet pan helps the vegetables roast evenly and creates those crispy, caramelized edges that add so much flavor to the dish.
• Parmesan gnocchi tip: Tossing the gnocchi in Parmesan before adding it to the pan ensures it gets a nice golden crust, which is one of the best parts of this meal.
• Don’t overcrowd the pan: If your sheet pan is too crowded, the vegetables and sausage will steam instead of roast, so make sure everything has enough space to brown properly. Use a very large pan if needed, or split the ingredients into two pans.

Storing, Reheating, and What to Pair With It

Storing: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for 3-4 days. This makes it a great option for meal prep or easy weeknight dinners later in the week.

Reheating: To reheat, simply place the leftovers on a sheet pan and warm them in a 375°F oven for 10-15 minutes, or until heated through. You can also use a microwave, but reheating in the oven will help the gnocchi and vegetables retain their crispness.

What to Pair With It: This sheet pan sausage and gnocchi recipe is hearty enough to stand alone, but if you’re looking to round out the meal, here are some ideas:

• Salads: A simple Caesar salad or a spinach salad with balsamic vinegar and cherry tomatoes would complement the rich flavors of the sausage and gnocchi.
• Bread: Serve with garlic bread or a warm, crusty baguette for mopping up any delicious juices.

More Recipes To Try

Easy Cauliflower Gnocchi Skillet Pizza

Chicken Gnocchi Soup

Cauliflower Gnocchi Nachos

Cauliflower Gnocchi Cheeseburger Skillet