Cheesy Baked Gnocchi with Italian Sausage & Peppers

Written by Phantom Staff

Bubbly, cheesy, and made to go wherever dinner takes you.

Turn a few comforting ingredients into an easy oven-baked dinner with pillowy gnocchi, savory Italian sausage, colorful bell peppers, and plenty of melted cheese. Everything comes together in a rich tomato sauce before being baked until hot, bubbly, and golden on top.

Perfect for family dinners, potlucks, game day, or sharing with friends, this is exactly the kind of crowd-pleasing meal you'll want to bake, cover, and take with you.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Serves: 6

Ingredients

For the Gnocchi Bake

• 1 pound shelf-stable potato gnocchi.
• 1 pound mild or hot Italian sausage, casings removed.
• 1 tablespoon olive oil.
• 1 red bell pepper, diced.
• 1 yellow bell pepper, diced.
• 1 small yellow onion, diced.
• 3 cloves garlic, minced.
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning.
• ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional.
• 1 24-ounce jar marinara sauce.
• ½ cup water.
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt.
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper.

For the Cheesy Topping

• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese.
• ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

For Serving

• Fresh basil leaves, torn or chopped.
• Additional grated Parmesan, optional.
• Crushed red pepper flakes, optional.

Directions

1. Prepare the Bakeware

Preheat the oven to 400°F.

Lightly grease a large rectangular baking pan with olive oil or nonstick cooking spray.

2. Brown the Sausage

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Add the Italian sausage and cook for approximately 5 to 7 minutes, breaking it into bite-size pieces with a wooden spoon as it browns.

Once cooked through, transfer the sausage to a plate and set aside.

3. Sauté the Vegetables

Add the red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, and onion to the same skillet.

Cook for approximately 4 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften.

Add the garlic, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper flakes, if using. Cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.

4. Assemble the Gnocchi Bake

Add the uncooked gnocchi directly to the prepared baking pan.

Add the cooked sausage and sautéed vegetables.

Pour the marinara sauce and ½ cup water over everything and season with salt and black pepper.

Gently stir until the gnocchi, sausage, and vegetables are evenly coated in the sauce.

5. Add the Cheese

Sprinkle the mozzarella evenly over the entire dish, followed by the grated Parmesan.

Make sure some of the mozzarella reaches all the way to the edges for those irresistible browned and bubbly cheesy corners.

6. Bake

Cover loosely with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.

Carefully remove the foil and continue baking uncovered for approximately 10 to 15 minutes, until the sauce is bubbling, the gnocchi are tender, and the cheese is melted and golden brown.

For additional browning, broil for 1 to 2 minutes at the end, watching carefully.

Allow the gnocchi bake to rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving or preparing it for transport.

7. Finish & Serve

Finish with fresh basil and additional Parmesan.

Serve warm directly from the baking pan with a simple green salad or garlic bread.

Make It Your Own

Swap the Italian sausage for ground beef or turkey, or leave out the meat and add mushrooms, zucchini, or spinach for a vegetarian version.

For an extra-creamy sauce, stir ½ cup ricotta into the marinara before baking. You can also use spicy Italian sausage and additional crushed red pepper flakes if you like a little more heat.

If you're bringing the dish to a party, potluck, or family gathering, allow the pan to cool as appropriate for your Bake & Go product before securing the cover for transport.

Bake & Go With Phantom

Bake it. Cover it. Take it. Serve it.

Made for recipes worth sharing, the Phantom Bake & Go Pan takes this Cheesy Baked Gnocchi with Italian Sausage & Peppers from oven to table and beyond.

Bake everything together until hot and bubbly, secure the cover when the pan is ready for transport according to the product instructions, and take your homemade dinner along for the ride.

Perfect for potlucks, parties, family gatherings, and meals made to share.

SHOP PHANTOM BAKE & GO