CREAMY SAUSAGE CAULIFLOWER GNOCCHI😍

Comfort food was basically made for stormy, rainy nights like tonight, and what better way to cuddle up on your couch than with a big ole bowl of crispy cauliflower gnocchi with creamy sausage sauce. Using Italian sausage adds major flavor in a quick way to your sauce, meaning you can have this dinner on your table in less than 10 minutes. Even bigger win! Grab the recipe below, plus my favorite tips and tricks for perfect cauliflower gnocchi in your air fryer (or skillet) below!

Notes before you begin:

• For the Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocchi: do NOT follow the instructions on the bag! They will taste like mush. The trick to gnocchi is you want to get it crisp on the outside, yet tender and pillowy in the middle. I find this is best achieved in the air fryer, or in a nonstick skillet if you don’t have an air fryer. I included instructions for both below.

• The sauce is completely Whole30, but the cauliflower gnocchi is not (it’s considered SWYPO). So if you are on Whole30 currently, sub the gnocchi for spaghetti squash!

Serves 4.

Ingredients:

For the Creamy Sausage Cauliflower Gnocchi:

• 1lb sugar-free Italian sausage* 

•  2 tbsps tomato paste

• 4 garlic cloves, minced

• 1 25oz jar of marinara (look for sugar-free brands like Raos or Thrive Market)

• ½ tsp paprika

• ¼ tsp red pepper flakes

• ½ tsp Italian seasoning

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• ½ cup unsweetened dairy free creamer (I like NutPods)

• 2 12oz bags frozen cauliflower gnocchi

• Olive or avocado oil spray

• Salt and pepper to taste

*Note: If you can’t find sugar-free Italian Sausage, you can mix ground pork with 2 tsps dried parsley, 1 tsp Italian seasoning, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp paprika, and 1 tsp fennel seeds)

Directions:

For the Creamy Sausage Tomato Sauce:

• Heat up a large skillet on medium high heat and drizzle in the olive oil.

• Add in your sausage and crumble with a wooden spoon. Season with salt, pepper, paprika, red pepper flakes, and Italian seasoning.

• Once browned, add in the tomato paste and garlic and cook out for 30-60 seconds.

• Pour in your jar of marinara, bring to a boil, then reduce and simmer uncovered for 15-20 minutes. 

• Stir in the creamer, taste and adjust seasonings. Serve on top of the gnocchi and enjoy!

For the Air Fryer Cauliflower Gnocchi:

• Preheat your air fryer at 400 for 5 minutes.

• Spray the basket of your air fryer with avocado oil spray and add in a bag of your frozen gnocchi. If you are only serving for 1-2, only make one bag as it doesn’t reheat the best. If you are serving 4, you may need to do this in batches to ensure each individual gnocchi gets crisp.

• Spray the gnocchi with the oil spray and cook at 400 degrees for 12 minutes. Remove and shake, then return to cook at 400 degrees for 2-3 more minutes or until crisp on the outside, yet soft in the middle.

• Serve with the sauce over and enjoy!

For Pan Fried Cauliflower Gnocchi:

• Heat a nonstick skillet on medium high heat and drizzle in 1 tbsp of olive oil.

• Add the frozen gnocchi to the skillet in a single layer and cook on medium to medium-high heat for 5 minutes. Do not flip or move them until the bottom is golden brown. If the gnocchi is sticking to the skillet, it’s likely not ready to flip.

• Flip and cook for 5 minutes to get the other side browned. Flip and continue cooking for another 4-5 minutes until golden brown on the outside, yet tender in the middle.

• Serve with the sauce and enjoy!