One skillet and less than 30 minutes will get this delicious Tuscan Tortellini on the table. Everything, including the tortellini, gets cooked up in one big pan. Busy weeknights, we’ve got you covered..

Delicious Tortellini Recipe in One Pan
The other day I was driving along and it started to rain. The Littles and I noticed runners, bikers, and walkers who simply kept on keeping on. No umbrellas or raincoats.
As a runner, I’ve been caught in everything from showers to downpours and never by choice. Most of the time, I opt to book it as fast as I can. There exists no better workout than trying to beat a storm.
Back in California, at the slightest sign of a sprinkle, most of us drew out our umbrellas, ready to do battle. When we moved to the Midwest, I suddenly felt like the only person who keeps an umbrella. Since then, I’ve learned to let myself get rained on sometimes. You know, when in Rome…
Speaking of which, some things are simply meant to be drenched. By things, I mean food. Specifically, tortellini loves a good sauce. Little bites of chewy, cheesy, tender tortellini simply live to be drenched.
This Tuscan Tortellini recipe is cooked in a savory, flavorful, robust sauce. Bonus: this family favorite dish takes only 30 minutes or less and one pan.

Simple Pantry Ingredients
This Tuscan Tortellini takes everyday ingredients and melds it together into something special. In every bite, you’ll get tender, cheesy tortellini simmered in a savory sauce peppered with incredible flavors. Robust Italian flavors shine through with tomatoes, garlic, onions, garlic, sausage, spinach, and Parmesan cheese.
Routinely stock your pantry with broth – chicken, beef, vegetable are all great to have on hand. We use broth all the time for recipes like Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings and One-Pot Stuffed Pepper Soup.
A few cans of diced tomatoes and a jar or two of your favorite tomato based pasta sauce always come in handy, not just for this tortellini dish, but also for dishes like Perfect Pasta Primavera.
You’ll find that keeping your freezer stocked with some ground sausage is super convenient, and an airtight roll of ground sausage can last a long time in the freezer. We love having a bag of frozen cheese tortellini, as well as frozen cheese ravioli on hand in our freezer; they’re great for quick and easy family meals.
Don’t forget that freshly shredded parmesan cheese also freezes superbly, giving you ready access to it anytime you need it, including Homemade Spaghetti nights.
All your favorite Italian flavors are tossed into one big pan. It’s comfort food with big, bold flavors – a dinner that’s destined for regular rotation.
Ingredient Options and Substitutions
Feel free to play around with fun alternatives for your tortellini dinner:
- Try chopped kale leaves instead of spinach
- Beef broth or vegetable broth can be used instead of chicken broth; whichever you choose, go with a full strength broth.
- Fire-roasted tomatoes with juices are a great alternative to Italian diced tomatoes
- Try your favorite cooked sausage links, diced or sliced, in lieu of the ground sausage
- Go meatless and add more vegetables if you’d like – ideas include sweet bell peppers, thinly sliced carrots, and zucchini.
- If you live in an area where half & half liquid cream isn’t readily available, you can use a mixture of milk and heavy cream instead.

Want to Watch us make this Tuscan Tortellini?
30-Minute Skillet Tuscan Tortellini
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 8 mins
- Total Time: 18 mins
- Yield: 6 1x
Description
Just 30 minutes and one skillet is all you’ll need to get this delish Tuscan Tortellini on the table. Everything, including the tortellini, gets cooked up in one big pan. Busy weeknights, here we come.
Ingredients
- 2 TB olive oil
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 LB bulk Italian sausage (no casings)
- 2 cups tomato-based pasta sauce
- 1 (14oz) can Italian diced tomatoes, with juices
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 cup half and half
- 19 oz frozen cheese tortellini
- 3 cups baby spinach, torn to bite size
- freshly ground black pepper
- freshly shaved/shredded Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- In a very large skillet, heat oil over medium heat until hot. Add onion, stir constantly 30 seconds. Add garlic and stir another 2 minutes or until aromatic and tender.
- Push onion mixture to the edges of pan and add sausage into the center of pan. Cook and break up sausage; once it’s half-cooked, stir together with the onion mixture and continue cooking until browned.
- Add tomato sauce, diced tomatoes with juices, broth, and half/half. Stir and bring to a simmer. Add frozen tortellini, stirring to submerge tortellini in the sauce. Cover and simmer until tender, about 7-8 minutes.
- Remove from heat. Gently stir in spinach and just until wilted. Add 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper or to taste. Serve immediately with freshly shredded Parmesan cheese.
Notes
See original article for ingredient substitutions and variations.
If you’d like to use fresh cheese tortellini, lessen cook time so tortellini does not overcook.
If you prefer sauce more creamy, add a bit more half & half. Add more broth if sauce becomes too thick (may be the case with leftovers or if dish has been sitting around too long.)
If you enjoyed this recipe, please come back and give it a rating ♡
- Category: main dish, dinner
- Method: stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: easy tortellini recipe, cheese tortellini
Here are a few other 30-minutes or less meals your family will love:
- 30-Minute Lemon Basil Chicken Linguine. Nothing yummier than lemon, basil, and chicken…all in one pan, under 30 minutes.

2. 30-Minute Spaghetti Carbonara. Cooks Illustrated did a winner on this one, and we show you how right here.

3. 30-Minute Healthy Taco Casserole. Yeah, Tex-Mex can be healthish. And fast and deeeelish!

4. 20-Minute One Pan Gnocchi with Sausage and Spinach. Creamy meal in one. The family adores this dish!



Chew out load, as in with your mouth open?
What a vulgar mental image.
Sorry, John 🙂 It’s more a play on words, referring to talking/chatting about food. 🙂
Did this for dinner. Absolutely delicious!
★★★★★
So happy you you guys liked this! 🙂
Don’t we all need quick dinners midweek! Looking forward to trying this recipe.
★★★★★
Thanks, Marcellina!
This is a go-to recipe for my family! We have passed it along to others and everyone always RAVES about it!
★★★★★
Yay, makes me so happy, Erica!
Absolutely LOVED this. I did a mixture of hot and mild sausage – perfect combo. Super easy to make and the leftovers got all gobbled up as well!
★★★★★
Thank you, Doni!
Turned out great, now going in weeknight rotation! Used our homemade tortellini (spent summer 2019 in Bologna, Italy) and used baby bok choy in lieu of spinach. Also had a sausage sauce we had made a few nights ago and in freezer. It came together very quickly since I defrosted in fridge all day. Note: we are not big Kale/spinach fans and use baby bok choy all the time in our cooking when greens are called for. Thanks for the recipe and we will try others in the future. BTW we are now living in Mexico and our produce is the best that we buy direct from the local farmers at markets.
★★★★★
Love the bok choy idea, Ron! I believe it about the produce, such great warm climate!
My family loves this meal!
Such an easy recipe! Threw it together last minute and everyone LOVED it!
★★★★★
Amaazing, Jojo!
Love, Love this recipe. I have made it several times!
★★★★★
Yay, Judy! Thanks for letting us know!
Was looking for a weeknight meal that is fast but delicious and this definitely fits the bill! My family loves it (as do I), and I love that I can do it after work/daycare pickups without the weeknight “recipe regret” I sometimes get when I get started too late or the recipe takes too long . Made as written and we love it-very filling, flavorful, and easy. Thank you!
★★★★★
You’re so welcome, Trish!