Are you looking for the ultimate weeknight dinner solution? A meal that is unbelievably fast, incredibly easy, and so packed with cozy, comforting flavors it tastes like it’s been simmering for hours? This amazing, one-pot, 20-Minute Sausage and Kale Gnocchi Soup is your new go-to! We’re talking savory Italian sausage, tender potato gnocchi, and healthy kale, all swimming in a luscious, rich, and creamy broth.
This isn’t just another soup recipe; it’s a guide to your new weeknight hero. Forget complicated steps and a sink full of dishes. This is a complete, hearty, and satisfying meal made in a single pot, and it’s on the table in about 20 minutes from start to finish. It’s the perfect, soul-warming answer to the “what’s for dinner?” question on a busy night.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Recipe Overview: The Ultimate 20-Minute Dinner Solution
What makes this Sausage and Gnocchi Soup so spectacularly delicious is its incredible, rich flavor and its wonderfully simple one-pot preparation. This soup is a masterpiece of efficiency and comfort. The flavor foundation is built by browning rich, savory Italian sausage with sweet onions. The broth is a masterpiece of creamy simplicity, made with a rich combination of chicken broth and heavy cream. But the true star of this version is the addition of soft, tender, and pillowy potato gnocchi, which cook in just a few minutes and make the soup unbelievably hearty and satisfying. Finished with some wilted kale, this is a complete and luxurious meal in one pot.
| Metric | Time / Level |
| Total Time | 25 minutes |
| Active Prep Time | 10 minutes |
| Difficulty Level | Easy |
| Servings | 4-6 |
The Creamy Dream Team: The Essential Ingredients
This iconic dish uses a handful of smart shortcuts and high-quality ingredients to create its signature comforting and savory flavor.
- The Protein:
- Italian Sausage: For the most authentic and delicious flavor, it is highly recommended to use a 1-pound package of high-quality, bulk spicy or mild Italian sausage. The savory seasonings in the sausage are the key that infuses the entire broth with a deep, complex flavor with minimal effort.
- The “Dumplings” (Gnocchi!):
- Potato Gnocchi: This is the brilliant and easy shortcut that makes this soup so special! Using a 16-ounce package of your favorite brand of store-bought, shelf-stable potato gnocchi provides the perfect, tender, and pillowy bite that makes this soup incredibly hearty and satisfying. It cooks in just 3-4 minutes right in the soup!
- The Creamy Broth:
- Heavy Cream: For the most luxurious, decadent, and authentic result, it is essential to use full-fat heavy cream. It has a high fat content, which is the key that prevents the soup from curdling and gives it its signature, rich texture.
- The Greens: A generous amount of fresh chopped kale adds a beautiful, deep green color, a healthy dose of nutrients, and a wonderful, tender texture that holds up well in the creamy broth. Pre-chopped kale is a great time-saver!
Step-by-Step to the Best 20-Minute Gnocchi Soup
This delicious, one-pot soup is incredibly simple to prepare.
Step 1: Build the Flavor Base
In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook your 1 pound of Italian sausage over a medium heat until it is beautifully browned, using a wooden spoon to break the meat into crumbles as it cooks.
Add 1 diced onion to the pot with the sausage and continue to cook until the onion has softened and is fragrant.
Part 2: The One-Pot Simmer
Step 1: Pour in your 4 cups of chicken broth and bring the mixture to a simmer. Use your spoon to scrape up any delicious, flavorful browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
Step 2: Stir in your 2 cups of chopped kale and your 16-ounce package of gnocchi. Let the soup continue to simmer until the gnocchi are plump and have floated to the surface, which will take about 3 to 4 minutes.
Part 3: Make it Creamy and Serve
Step 1 (The Secret to a Creamy Soup!): Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the 1 cup of heavy cream. Pro Tip: It is crucial to add your dairy ingredients at the very end, over a low heat. Adding cream to a rapidly boiling liquid can cause it to “break” or curdle. Step 2: Let the soup continue to simmer gently on a low heat for about 5 more minutes, until it is hot all the way through.
Serve the hot, creamy soup immediately in warm bowls with some crusty bread for dipping.
What to Serve With Your Gnocchi Soup
This beautiful and rich soup is a fantastic, all-in-one meal that has your protein, your starch, and your vegetable all in one pot! If you’d like to round it out, here are a few simple suggestions:
- Crusty Bread: A side of warm, crusty garlic bread is an absolute must-have for sopping up every last drop of that incredible, creamy and savory broth.
- A Simple Green Salad: A crisp green salad, especially one with a bright and zesty Italian vinaigrette, is the perfect, fresh counterpoint to the rich, hearty soup.
Sausage and Kale Gnocchi Soup
A quick, creamy, and comforting one-pot soup featuring Italian sausage, kale, and potato gnocchi. This easy weeknight meal starts with browning Italian sausage and sautéing onions in a large pot. Chicken broth is added to form the soup base, and then the gnocchi and chopped kale are cooked directly in the simmering broth. The soup is finished with a stir of heavy cream for a rich, satisfying texture and is perfect served with crusty bread.
Ingredients
- 1 lb Italian sausage
- 1 onion, diced
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups kale, chopped
- 1 package (16 oz) gnocchi
- 1 cup heavy cream
- Crusty bread, for serving
Instructions
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, brown the sausage over medium heat, breaking it up into crumbles. Add the diced onion and sauté until it has softened. Drain off any excess fat.
- Pour in the chicken broth and bring the mixture to a simmer.
- Stir in the chopped kale and the gnocchi.
- Stir in the heavy cream and let the soup simmer for about 5 minutes, or until the gnocchi is tender and has floated to the surface, and the kale is wilted.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve hot with crusty bread for dipping.
Notes
- This is a very fast one-pot meal, perfect for a busy weeknight.
- Cooking the gnocchi and kale directly in the soup is a key time-saving step and allows them to absorb the flavors of the broth.
- The heavy cream is added at the end of cooking to create a rich, creamy finish without the risk of curdling.
Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
- Make-Ahead: For a super-fast and impressive weeknight meal, you can get a head start by browning your sausage and chopping your onion up to a day in advance.
- Storage: Store any leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The gnocchi may absorb more of the broth as it sits.
- Reheating: The best way to reheat a cream-based soup is to do so gently in a saucepan on the stovetop over a low heat. You may need to add a generous splash of broth or milk to loosen the soup and bring back its original, creamy consistency.
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Creative Recipe Variations
- Add a Cheesy Finish: For an even richer and more decadent soup, you can stir in about 1/2 cup of freshly grated Parmesan or Pecorino cheese at the very end of the cooking time, along with the heavy cream.
- Use a Different Green: If you’re not a fan of kale, this delicious and versatile soup is also absolutely fantastic with about 3 to 4 cups of fresh baby spinach that has been wilted in at the very end.
- Add Some Sun-Dried Tomatoes: For a delicious, tangy, and savory kick, you can stir in about 1/4 cup of chopped, oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes along with the onion.
Enjoy The Ultimate Creamy & Cozy Soup!
You’ve just created a truly special dish that is a perfect harmony of wholesome, classic ingredients and delicious, satisfying flavors. This classic Sausage and Kale Gnocchi Soup is a testament to the power of a simple, from-scratch-tasting meal to bring comfort and joy to your dinner table in minutes. It’s a rewarding and deeply satisfying recipe that is sure to become a new, much-requested family favorite for busy weeknights.
We hope you enjoy every last, warm, and delicious bite!
If you enjoyed making this recipe, please leave a comment below or share it with a friend who loves an easy and impressive meal!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is the absolute, number one secret to a creamy soup that doesn’t curdle or break?
The secret is to add your dairy ingredients at the very end, over a low heat. After your soup base has simmered, be sure to turn the heat on your stove down to the lowest setting before you stir in your heavy cream. Adding dairy to a rapidly boiling or an overly hot liquid is the number one cause of a sauce “breaking” or curdling.
Q1: What is the absolute, number one secret to a creamy soup that doesn’t curdle or break?
The secret is to add your dairy ingredients at the very end, over a low heat. After your soup base has simmered, be sure to turn the heat on your stove down to the lowest setting before you stir in your heavy cream. Adding dairy to a rapidly boiling or an overly hot liquid is the number one cause of a sauce “breaking” or curdling.
Q2: Can I use frozen gnocchi in this soup?
Yes, absolutely! There is no need to thaw frozen gnocchi before you use it. You can simply add the frozen gnocchi directly to the simmering broth. You may need to add just a minute or two to the cooking time.
Q3: How do I keep the kale from becoming bitter in the soup?
The rich, creamy broth is fantastic for balancing any potential bitterness from the kale. For an even more foolproof result, you can use Lacinato (or Tuscan) kale, which is known for being slightly sweeter and more tender than classic curly kale.
Q4: Can I make this soup dairy-free?
Yes! To make this recipe dairy-free, simply substitute the 1 cup of heavy cream with an equal amount of a high-quality, full-fat, canned coconut milk. Be sure to also use a brand of Italian sausage that does not contain any dairy.
Q5: Can I freeze this soup?
Because this soup contains both dairy (heavy cream) and gnocchi, it is not an ideal candidate for freezing. The texture of both the cream-based broth and the tender gnocchi can change significantly upon thawing and reheating.