This Spicy Sausage and Cauliflower Gnocchi Soup is perfect to enjoy on a chilly winter day. It has a mild kick, but can easily be made spicier with a few simple ingredients. Top with some crackers for a delicious crunch!
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a little freezer fun
Freezers accumulate a lot of food. At least, mine does! 😂 Sometimes I'm at a loss for ideas on how to combine what's in there. But I also don't want to eat the ingredients solo, either. I often have to put my thinking cap on to develop something super delicious. So, bibbidi-bobbidi-boo! That's how this Spicy Sausage and Cauliflower Gnocchi Soup came to be!
This soup really isn't THAT spicy, however. So good news for those of you who don't like spicy! But fear not—there are plenty of ways to kick up the spice factor if that's what you're after. Add hot sauce, chili flakes, extra jalapenos or also a spicier pepper of your choice. The sky is the limit!
I did use an immersion blender to make this soup nice and creamy. However, you don't have to. It will still taste great! Each bite will still be full of warm tomato broth, hearty sausage, gnocchi, and fresh veggies. It's the perfect soup to enjoy on a chilly winter day or prep for the week ahead.
Ingredients needed for this Spicy Sausage and Cauliflower Gnocchi Soup
Cooking Spray: To protect our ingredients and equipment from sticking and burning.
Onion: I suggest a white onion here.
Tomatoes: I used dry grape tomatoes.
Tarragon: We'll need about 4 stalks.
Salt and Pepper: To taste.
Oregano: A wonderful spice for flavoring soups!
Garlic Cubes: You can also used minced garlic.
Diced Tomatoes: Grab a 15.5oz can.
Chicken Sausages: I used some spicy ones from Trader Joe's, but you can use whatever you like or have on hand.
Chicken Broth: Using flavored broth packs this soup with so much taste.
Milk: I used almond milk. You can also use heavy cream if you'd like.
Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocchi: You can find this in the frozen section. Great low-carb option!
Red Pepper Flakes: I used a teaspoon. You can always add more or less.
Garnish: Try topping this soup with oyster crackers, shredded cheese, feta crumbles, balsamic vinegar, homemade croutons, red pepper flakes, or also jalapeno slices!
Pots, pans, and kitchen utensils needed
To make this Spicy Sausage and Cauliflower Gnocchi Soup, you'll need a 5-quart or larger Dutch oven or stock pot, 8x8 oven-safe dish, skillet, ladle, chef’s knife, cutting board, rubber spatula, and also measuring cups and spoons. You will also need an immersion blender, blender, or food processor.
How to make this Spicy Sausage and Cauliflower Gnocchi Soup
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Dice white onion and halve grape tomatoes. Then, spray with cooking spray and toss in a Pyrex dish.
- After that, season vegetables with salt, pepper, and tarragon. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until tomatoes are roasted and onions are golden.
- Heat a skillet to medium heat and spray with cooking spray. Then, slice chicken sausages and add to the skillet. Brown on each side and allow them to cook about 85%-100% before removing from heat.
- Once tomatoes & onions are done, pour them in a 5-quart pot and heat to medium heat. Then, add in frozen garlic and oregano seasoning. Stir.
- Pour half of the diced tomatoes into the pot and add about ¾ of chicken broth and almond milk.
- Using an immersion blender (or blender / food processor), blend the broth and vegetables until combined.
- After that, pour in the remaining diced tomatoes and cooked sausage slices. Then, stir.
- Add frozen cauliflower gnocchi to the soup and cover for 15-20 minutes. Then, stir in desired amount of red pepper flakes.
- Once the gnocchi is cooked, serve the soup hot with whatever toppings you’d like! ENJOY!
You can watch the Cauliflower Gnocchi and Sausage Soup Web Story here!
Spicy Sausage Soup Recipe Modifications
Want a gluten free or dairy free soup? You’re already there! Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocchi is already gluten free and also dairy free.
Vegetarian or vegan? Just swap out the sausage. If you’re shopping at Trader Joe’s, they have their own Italian Sausageless Sausage near the tofu that is mighty delicious. It does contain eggs, however, so not great for vegans.
For vegans, try their Tofurky brand, which is completely plant based. You can also find this brand or similar ones at other grocery stores.
Soup Questions Answered:
How do I store this soup?
Store in an airtight glass container in the refrigerator. Tomatoes will stain a plastic container.
Do you have any tips for success?
Cook the sausage first. It needs to be browned on all edges and also about 85% cooked before you add the broth.
Anything I should watch out for?
Taste the soup to make sure you like the level of spice. As a result of all the veggies, the spicy chicken sausage does get diluted a bit. If you’re looking for some kick, add jalapenos into the vegetables prior to roasting. You can also stir some red pepper flakes in.
Is this soup good for meal prep?
Soup is wonderful for meal prep. Like really, I didn’t realize how great it is. Make it and then toss it in the fridge until you’re ready to eat. NOTE: If you are making this for meal prep AND are a texture person, I would recommend keeping the gnocchi separately. It will get a wee bit soggy while stored in soup.
Why do we blend part of the soup?
It’s the best way to combine the vegetables and broth together to make an extremely flavorful soup. However, it's totally optional. So, if you prefer to have a thinner broth, you can skip this step.
Ingredient specific FAQs:
I don't have a Trader Joe's nearby. What can I substitute for the cauliflower gnocchi?
Regular gnocchi will also work, or even tortellini. You can find refrigerated packages of gnocchi near the cheese, shelf stable versions in the pasta aisle, and also a frozen package near the pre-made dinners in the freezer aisle.
Where do I find frozen garlic cubes?
Trader Joe’s! Find it near the frozen veggies. However, I realize not everyone has Trader Joe’s. Most grocery stores also carry frozen garlic cubes, but a few cloves of fresh garlic, pressed, will work.
What should I top my soup with?
I like a little crunch, so try oyster crackers, croutons, or also Trader Joe’s Cornbread Crisps. Some cheese also never hurts; try a shaved parmesan, feta crumbles, or sprinkle some nutritional yeast on top. A drizzle of balsamic and red pepper flakes is also delicious. Add some jalapeno for a little heat.
More soup recipes you might like:
Vegetarian Stuffed Pepper Soup
Healthy Chicken Tortellini Soup
Roasted Vegetable and Sausage Kabobs
Spicy Sausage and Cauliflower Gnocchi Soup Recipe
Equipment
- 5-quart or larger Dutch oven or stock pot
- 8x8 oven-safe dish, skillet
- Ladle
- Chef's Knife
- Cutting Board
- Rubber Spatula
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Immersion blender (or blender or food processor)
Ingredients
- cooking spray
- 1 medium white onion
- 1 pint grape tomatoes, dry
- 4 stalks tarragon
- salt
- pepper
- ½ tsp oregano
- 2 garlic cubes, frozen
- 15.5 oz can diced tomatoes
- 5 spicy chicken sausages, Trader Joe's
- 32 oz chicken broth
- ¼ cup almond milk, you can use heavy cream if you want
- 1 pack frozen Trader Joe’s cauliflower gnocchi
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes, you can always add more or less
Optional for garnish
- oyster cracker
- shredded cheese
- feta crumbles
- balsamic
- homemade croutons
- red pepper flakes
- jalapeno slices
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Dice white onion and halve grape tomatoes. Then, spray with cooking spray and toss in a Pyrex dish.
- After that, season vegetables with salt, pepper, and tarragon. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until tomatoes are roasted and onions are golden.
- Heat a skillet to medium heat and spray with cooking spray. Then, slice chicken sausages and add to the skillet. Brown on each side and allow them to cook about 85%-100% before removing from heat.
- Once tomatoes & onions are done, pour them in a 5-quart pot and heat to medium heat. Then, add in frozen garlic and oregano seasoning. Stir.
- Pour half of the diced tomatoes into the pot and add about ¾ of chicken broth and almond milk.
- Using an immersion blender (or blender / food processor), blend the broth and vegetables until combined.
- After that, pour in the remaining diced tomatoes and cooked sausage slices. Then, stir.
- Add frozen cauliflower gnocchi to the soup and cover for 15-20 minutes. Then, stir in desired amount of red pepper flakes.
- Once the gnocchi is cooked, serve the soup hot with whatever toppings you’d like! ENJOY!
Notes
I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. It’s my passion to create dishes that can be shared with others. Tell me something you loved, something that you think it might need, or just say hi!
Looking for this in MyFitnessPal?
If you're using MyFitnessPal, search 'A Paige Of Positivity' and find Spicy Sausage and Cauliflower Gnocchi Soup
1 serving (without optional garnishes): 20 grams carbs | 15 grams protein | 8 grams fat
**Disclaimer: for most accurate macronutrients and caloric breakdown, it is recommended that you input each ingredient into your MyFitnessPal food diary.
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Delicious! The tarragon is a great touch, and I love the spice from the red pepper. Even my picky boyfriend approved. Perfect for a chilly winter day!
So good! If you love Italian this is a must. I didn’t have spicy sausage so I threw in a jalapeño which worked out well. Texture is great.
I love to hear this!! So lovely!!