Baked Gnocci with Green Beans, Sausage, and Ricotta

/ Recipe
Elegant plate of gnocchi pasta topped with kale and walnuts, perfect for a gourmet meal.

Pasta can be done a hundred and one different ways – but have you tried a baked sheetpan pasta? This recipe sounds like it has a lot going on, but the beautiful thing is that it is ONE PAN – definitely easy enough to throw together on a week night. 

Highlights

⏱ Prep Time: 15 minutes

🍳 Cook Time: 10 minutes

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Serves: 4

🧊 Make Ahead? – No

❄ Freezer Friendly? – No

🌱 Substitutions? – If you don’t want sausage you can easily remove it entirely or swap in ground turkey if you prefer. i tend to stick with green beans but asparagus can work well too.

Ingredients List

  • 1 17.5-oz pkg. shelf-stable potato gnocci

  • 2.5 tablespoons olive oil

  • 8 oz ground italian sausage
  • 2 cups green beans, trimmed
  • 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or more to taste)
  • 3 handfuls diced baby kale (about 5 oz)
  • 1/2 cup ricotta
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest or 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup chopped and lightly toasted walnuts
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Parmesan cheese to taste
This recipe contributes 5 items to your weekly list plus 5 pantry staples.

Recipe: Baked Gnocci with Green Beans, Sausage, and Ricotta

  1. Heat oven to 425 °. Lightly toast the walnuts if not already toasted.
  2. On a large rimmed baking sheet, lightly toss the gnocci with 2 tablespoons olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Arrange in a flat, even layer.
  3. Break up sausage by hand or with a spoon and scatter across pan and gnocci. Bake for 10 minutes.
  4. While pan is baking, toss the green beans with 2 tablespoons olive oil, red pepper flakes, and garlic.
  5. Remove sheet from oven, toss, and scatter green bean mixture over the top. Roast for an additional 8-10 minutes.
  6. Remove sheet from oven, and scatter kale over the mixture. Roast for 3 more minutes until kale is slightly crisp and wilty.
  7. Remove and spoon ricotta and lemon juice over the mixture. Toss until coasted (add more ricotta and parmesan cheese if desired).
  8. Top with walnuts and serve!

Family Tips

  • You can always omit the kale or change green beans for a different vegetable if preferred.
  • If you like things spicy go ahead and double up on the red pepper flakes!
  • If you prefer, you can always make the gnocci via traditional boiling water and keep the sheet pan mix for the sausage and veggies!