Regular Premium Pork Sausage

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Baked Gnocchi: Sausage, Kale, and Pesto Recipe

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Feeding a husband and two hungry boys can be tricky. But Maria’s Baked Gnocchi with Sausage, Kale and Pesto is always a home run!

  • 20M

  • 30M

  • 11

Ingredients

  • 1 package Regular Premium Pork Sausage

  • 1 pound gnocchi

  • 4 cups chopped kale, packed

  • 2 tablespoons butter

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

  • 1 cup milk

  • 1/4 cup pesto

  • 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided

  • Salt and black pepper

  • 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Cook gnocchi in large saucepan according to package instructions; drain and set aside.

  2. Cook sausage in the same large saucepan over medium-high heat 8 to 10 minutes or until thoroughly cooked, stirring frequently; drain. Return sausage to pan. Add kale. Cook and stir for 5 minutes or until kale is tender. Remove sausage mixture from saucepan and keep warm.

  3. Melt butter in same saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour and garlic. Cook and stir 1 minute. Add milk; mix well. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, until thickened and bubbly. Gradually add 1 cup of mozzarella cheese, stirring until cheese is melted. Stir in pesto. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

  4. Place the cooked gnocchi in the bottom of a lightly greased, 13x9-inch baking dish. Sprinkle with sausage and kale mixture and top evenly with sauce. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.

  5. Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes; remove foil and bake an additional 5 minutes or until mixture is thoroughly heated and cheese is melted and lightly browned. Let stand for 5 minutes.

  6. This recipe was created in partnership with Jimmy Dean brand for the Family Table program.