Step 1: Brown the sausage
Heat a large skillet over high heat. Add the ground sausage and break it apart as it cooks until nicely browned and fully cooked. Remove from the pan. You can drain excess grease if you prefer, or keep it for extra flavor.

Step 2: Simmer the sauce
Lower the heat to medium-low to avoid burning the garlic. Add olive oil, minced onion, and garlic to the pan. Sauté until fragrant, about 2–3 minutes. Stir in crushed tomatoes and oregano. Return the sausage to the pan and let the sauce simmer gently for 30–45 minutes. Season with salt and red pepper flakes to taste.

Step 3: Prepare the herbed ricotta
While the sauce simmers, combine ricotta, grated garlic, lemon zest and juice, salt, and fresh herbs in a small bowl. Adjust seasoning as needed.

Step 4: Cook the gnocchi
Prepare the gnocchi according to package instructions (usually a quick boil). Drain and add the gnocchi to the sauce. Simmer gently to let the gnocchi soak up the flavors and become well coated.

Step 5: Serve
Plate the gnocchi with sauce, topping each serving with a generous dollop of herbed ricotta and a sprinkling of golden crispies. Enjoy every bite!