This Instant Pot Sausage and Gnocchi Soup is delicious and creamy. It's made with Italian sausage as well as flavorful spices along with chopped spinach and made in the Instant Pot.
Flavorful Instant Pot Sausage and Gnocchi Soup
This Instant Pot recipe takes a short amount of time and makes a really flavorful dish. This recipe has fennel seeds which bring out the flavors in the sausage which is the star of this soup. The gnocchi and spinach are added at the end and are sauteed for about 5 minutes and come out perfect!
Related: Instant Pot Chicken and Gnocchi Soup) Olive Garden Copycat
Simple To Make
This Instant Pot Sausage and Gnocchi soup is made using the Saute feature and the pressure cook feature. After sauteing the sausage, veggies, and spices, the broth is added and is pressure cooked for 10 minutes. A natural release is performed afterward.
This step is really important because if a quick release is done, it will suck the moisture and the flavor out of the sausage! It will not come out flavorful and will not be as tender.
A natural release should always be done where meat is involved for this very reason. Once the natural release is done after the 10 minute wait time, the Instant Pot is turned back to Saute and the remaining ingredients are added and sauteed for 5 minutes.
The gnocchi is added at the end so that it does not overcook. The gnocchi will pop to the top of the soup while sauteeing and that is how you know it is done!
I always add the slurry (cornstarch and water) at about 3 minutes remaining because it gives the soup a chance to thicken up right before serving.
Ingredients in Sausage and Gnocchi Soup
- Mild Sauasge (or hot)
- Potato gnocchi
- Garlic cloves
- Fennel seeds - enhances the flavor of the sausage
- Salt
- Pepper
- Onion
- Chicken broth
- Heavy Cream
- Spinach
- Cornstarch
How to Make Instant Pot Sausage and Gnocchi Soup
Brown the sausage- Set the Instant Pot to saute and add the sausage.
Season the sausage - Add the fennel seeds, salt, pepper, diced onion, and minced garlic.
Drain the grease - Press cancel and drain the grease from the inner liner and return the mixture back to the pot.
Add the liquids - Pour the chicken broth into the pot.
Pressure cook the soup- Set the Instant Pot to MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK for 10 minutes.
Allow the pot to naturally release pressure - Allow the Instant Pot to naturally release pressure for 10 minutes before releasing any remaining pressure and removing the lid.
Return the pot to saute - Remove the lid and set the Instant Pot to saute. Add the chopped spinach, heavy cream, and gnocchi. Create a slurry by mixing together the cornstarch and water. Add to the pot and cook for about 3-5 minutes.
Press cancel, stir the soup, and serve with mozzarella cheese.
📖 Recipe
Instant Pot Sausage and Gnocchi Soup
Ingredients
- 1 lb mild sausage
- 1 package gnocchi
- 3 cloves garlic - minced
- ½ teaspoon fennel seeds
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 onion - small, diced
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream
- 3-4 cups spinach - chopped
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- ¼ cup water
Instructions
- Set Instant Pot to Saute and add sausage.
- Break up the sausage into bite-sized pieces.
- Add the fennel seeds, salt, pepper, diced onion, and minced garlic.
- Saute until the sausage is browned.
- Add in the 4 cups of broth and place the lid on the Instant Pot and close the vent.
- Cook on MANUAL (Pressure Cook) for 10 minutes.
- Allow a 10 minutes Natural Release before removing the lid.
- Turn the Instant Pot to SAUTE and add the chopped spinach, heavy cream, and gnocchi.
- Create a slurry by mixing together the cornstarch and water. Add to the pot and cook for about 3-5 minutes.
- Serve!
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate based on third-party calculations. Actual values may vary due to ingredients, measurements, and serving sizes.
© Mama Needs Cake
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:
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Dana is an experienced recipe creator who crafts easy and delicious recipes for all levels of home cooks.
Her recipes range from classic comfort foods to healthy and nutritious meals, and she is always on the lookout for new and exciting ways to bring flavor and variety to the table.
Tina says
Do you precook the gnocchi?
Dana says
The gnocchi is added at the end. Gnocchi cooks quickly so no need to precook.
Lee says
Made this with standard mild sausage and it was fantastic! Even my picky 6 year old drained his bowl! Will be a fall and winter staple when the mood for soup arises in our household!
Dana says
It makes me very happy to hear your that kiddo liked it so much! I have a very picky eater too (7 years old) and he loves it as well! 🙂
Bec says
If everything is sautéed first, what is pressure cooking for 10 minutes? Just the already cooked sausage in the broth? It looks like the gnocchi goes in after, right?
Dana says
Pressure-cooking helps develop the flavors of the sausage in the soup. And yes, the gnocchi goes in after because it cooks very fast.
Debbie says
So delicious! This is my second time making this recipe, and it's definitely a keeper. I added crushed red peppers, and it added a nice kick! Great soup on this chilly night in Virginia!
Britt Mcgill says
I don’t have an insta pot. Can I make this on the stove ? Is there anything you would change if done on the stove ?