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Dairy-Free Sausage Pumpkin Gnocchi Dinner

A cozy fall dinner featuring turkey sausage, roasted vegetables, and gnocchi, all served with a creamy, savory pumpkin sauce. This easy pumpkin dinner is perfect for busy weeknights and yields delicious leftovers. Ingredients

Ingredients

  • 1 medium zucchini diced
  • 1 medium yellow squash diced
  • 8 ounces cherry tomatoes quartered
  • 1/2 yellow onion diced
  • 1 yellow or orange bell pepper diced
  • 1 pound turkey breakfast sausage
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • Olive oil for sautéing and roasting
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 15 oz. can pumpkin puree
  • 1 15 oz. can coconut milk
  • 2 teaspoons black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon seasoning salt
  • 1 teaspoon thyme leaves
  • 1 teaspoon oregano or Italian seasoning
  • Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
  • 16 ounces Trader Joes pumpkin gnocci or your favorite pasta

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  • Cook the turkey breakfast sausage in a large skillet over medium heat until browned and fully cooked.
  • While the sausage cooks, dice the zucchini and yellow squash and spread them on one end of a sheet pan. Quarter the cherry tomatoes and add them to the other end. Lightly drizzle with olive oil.
  • Roast the vegetables at 400°F for 20 minutes, or until tender.
  • Once the sausage is cooked, transfer it to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
  • Dice the onion and bell pepper. Add them to the skillet with a little olive oil or the remaining sausage drippings. Sauté until softened and the edges begin to brown.
  • Push the vegetables to the sides of the skillet and add the minced garlic. Cook briefly until fragrant.
  • Return the cooked sausage to the skillet.
  • Pour in the chicken broth and stir, scraping the browned bits from the bottom of the skillet for extra flavor.
  • Add the pumpkin puree, black pepper, seasoning salt, thyme, oregano, and crushed red pepper flakes. Stir until combined.
  • Shake the can of coconut milk before opening, then pour it into the pumpkin sauce. Stir everything together and simmer over low heat until the sauce begins to bubble gently.
  • Meanwhile, cook the gnocchi or pasta according to the package directions.
  • When the roasted vegetables are finished, add them to the pumpkin sauce and stir everything together.
  • Serve the creamy sausage pumpkin sauce over warm gnocchi or pasta.

Notes

Recipe Notes:
  • Make it your own: English peas would be another great addition to this dish. My family doesn't love them, so I left them out.
  • Gnocchi or pasta? Either works! I love the soft, pillowy texture of gnocchi with this creamy pumpkin sauce, but you can use whatever pasta you have on hand.
  • Storing leftovers: Store the gnocchi or pasta separately from the pumpkin sauce in airtight containers in the refrigerator. This prevents the pasta from soaking up all the sauce while it sits. Reheat the sauce gently, adding a splash of chicken broth if needed.
  • What to serve with pumpkin gnocchi: Don't forget the bread! Crescent rolls, garlic toast, or warm breadsticks are perfect for scooping up the extra pumpkin sauce.