30-Minute Tuscan Tortellini with Sausage and Spinach
- By Amy Dong
- Published Nov. 27, 2023
- Updated Nov. 28, 2023
This one-skillet Tuscan Tortellini Recipe is exactly what you’ve been looking for on those busy weeknights. Ready in less than 30 minutes, it’s not only quick and easy but also features a savory, flavorful, robust sauce for one of the best tortellini recipes!
In This Article
- Video: Watch Us Make This Recipe
- Why This Recipe Stands Out
- Key Recipe Ingredients
- Substitutions And Variations
- Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions
- How To Prep Ahead
- What To Serve With Tortellini
- Commonly Asked Questions
- Did you make this?
- 30-Minute Tortellini with Sausage and Spinach Recipe
- More to Cook and Eat
Video: Watch Us Make This Recipe
Why This Recipe Stands Out
If you’re a fan of easy tortellini recipes, you’re going to love this Tuscan tortellini recipe. It is packed with flavor, easy to make, and perfect for those nights when you want something hearty and satisfying but without a lot of fuss. Here’s why this recipe stands out:
Reasons why this is the best tortellini recipe:
- Quick: This recipe only takes less than thirty minutes to prepare, perfect for busy weeknights.
- Easy: With only one pan needed, this recipe is a breeze to make and even easier to clean up. It’s one of the best easy one-pan recipes.
- Flavorful: The combination of Italian sausage, garlic, onions, and tomatoes creates a robust and savory sauce that perfectly complements the cheesy tortellini.
- Satisfying: With hearty ingredients like sausage and tortellini, this dish is sure to fill you up and leave you satisfied like our Tuscan-style beef stew.
- Versatile: This recipe is flexible enough to accommodate your favorite ingredients. Want to add more veggies or switch up the protein? Go for it!
- Freezer-Friendly: The ingredients for this recipe, like ground sausage and frozen tortellini, can be stocked in your freezer for a quick and easy meal anytime.
Key Recipe Ingredients
- Italian Sausage – The bulk Italian sausage, without casings, adds a robust, meaty flavor to this tortellini recipe.
- Tomato-Based Pasta Sauce and Diced Tomatoes – These two ingredients combine to create a rich, tomatoey sauce that the tortellini is cooked in, soaking up all the flavors.
- Frozen Cheese Tortellini – These little bites of cheesy goodness are the star of the dish, and they cook right in the sauce to absorb all the flavors.
- Baby Spinach Leaves – Adding a pop of color and a boost of nutrition, the spinach leaves are torn to bite size and wilted into the sauce.
- Parmesan Cheese – Freshly shaved or shredded, Parmesan cheese adds a salty, nutty finish to the dish.
Substitutions And Variations
The best part about this recipe with tortellini is how versatile it is. You can easily tweak the ingredients to suit your taste or dietary needs. Here are some ideas for substitutions and variations that we think you will love:
- Sausage: If you’re not a fan of Italian sausage, feel free to substitute it with ground beef, chicken, or even turkey. Vegetarians could use a plant-based meat substitute or simply add more veggies for a hearty, meat-free option.
- Cream: If you want a lighter version of this dish, try swapping the half & half creamer or heavy cream with milk. You could also use a dairy-free alternative such as almond or coconut milk for a vegan version.
- Spinach: Not a fan of spinach? No problem. You can substitute it with other leafy greens like kale or Swiss chard. Even broccoli or zucchini would work well in this recipe.
- Cheese: Parmesan cheese adds a wonderful flavor to this dish, but feel free to experiment with other cheeses. Mozzarella, cheddar, or even a blend of Italian cheeses would be great alternatives.
- Herbs: While this recipe suggests using freshly chopped basil or parsley for garnish, you could also try oregano, thyme, or rosemary for a different flavor profile.
- Sauce: Fire-roasted tomatoes with juices are a great alternative to Italian diced tomatoes, and will add a smoky flavor to the sauce, like they do in our Lentil Soup and One-Pan Chicken Fajita Pasta.
Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat, then add onion and stir for about half a minute. Incorporate garlic into the skillet and stir for an additional two minutes until the mixture is aromatic and tender.
- Move the onion and garlic mixture to the edges of the skillet and add sausage in the center, breaking it up as it cooks. When half-cooked, combine it with the onion mixture and continue cooking until browned.
- To the skillet, add tomato sauce, diced tomatoes with their juices, broth, and half and half. Stir the mixture and bring it to a boil.
- Add frozen tortellini to the boiling mixture, making sure they are submerged in the sauce. Bring the mixture back to a boil, cover the skillet, and reduce the heat to let it simmer until the tortellini is tender, approximately eight minutes.
- After the tortellini is cooked, remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in spinach until it wilts and season the dish with freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Serve the dish immediately, garnishing with freshly shredded Parmesan cheese and freshly chopped herbs if desired.
How To Prep Ahead
This quick and easy tortellini recipe is the perfect meal for busy weeknights, but we have some additional tips to make it even more convenient. Take a look at our best prep-ahead tips for our favorite Italian recipe:
- Chop the Veggies: You can chop the onion and garlic ahead of time and store them in an airtight container in the fridge. This will save you some time when you’re ready to cook.
- Pre-cook the Sausage: The bulk Italian sausage can be cooked in advance. Once it’s browned, let it cool, then store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. When you’re ready to cook, just add it to the skillet with the onion and garlic.
- Stock Up: Keep your pantry stocked with broth, diced tomatoes, and tomato-based pasta sauce. These ingredients are not only useful for this tortellini recipe, but also for other dishes. Simultaneously, have frozen tortellini and sausage stored in the freezer for when you need it.
- Be Ready: This recipe comes together in less than thirty minutes. To make things go smoothly, we recommend having all ingredients measured and ready to go before you start the process.
What To Serve With Tortellini
Vegetables
- This tortellini recipe pairs wonderfully with a variety of vegetables. We recommend trying it with this delightful Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash recipe or this colorful Easy Roasted Vegetables dish.
- For a lighter option, you might enjoy this Kale Brussel Sprouts Salad or this easy chopped Greek Salad alongside your tortellini.
Bread
- Bread is a classic side for pasta dishes like tortellini. Try serving it with this homemade Easy Cheesy Garlic Bread or this crusty Artisan Bread.
- If you’re craving a restaurant-style meal, pair it with these Olive Garden breadsticks.
Soups
- Soup and tortellini make a comforting meal. We love this Roasted Tomato Basil Soup or this hearty Minestrone Soup with pasta.
- You might also enjoy this Butternut Squash Soup or this classic Zuppa Toscana that goes particularly well with this dish.
Commonly Asked Questions
For this Tuscan Tortellini recipe, we recommend using frozen cheese tortellini. However, if you prefer, you can use fresh cheese tortellini, but remember to lessen the cook time to prevent overcooking.
Absolutely! While we use bulk Italian sausage in this recipe, you can substitute it with your favorite cooked sausage links, diced or sliced. The choice is yours!
If you can’t find half & half creamer, you can make your own by mixing equal parts of milk and heavy cream. This will give you a similar consistency and flavor.
Yes, you can. While we use chicken broth in this recipe, you can also use beef or vegetable broth. Whichever you choose, just make sure that it is full strength to maintain the robust flavors of the dish.
If you prefer a creamier sauce, you can add a bit more cream to the recipe. If the leftover sauce becomes too thick, add a bit more broth to loosen it up.
This recipe creates extra sauce to guarantee that the tortellini cooks through. You can serve the extra sauce with crusty bread to soak up all that delicious flavor!
If you’d prefer less liquid, you can use just 1 cup of pasta sauce, but be sure the tortellini has enough liquid to fully submerge/cook in.
Cooked tortellini can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days. To reheat, simply microwave or warm on the stove, adding a bit of broth if needed to loosen the sauce.
Did you make this?
Please give us a rating and comment below. We love hearing from you!
30-Minute Tortellini with Sausage and Spinach
Ingredients
- 2 TB olive oil
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 lb Italian sausage, bulk, no casings
- 2 cups pasta sauce, tomato based
- 14 oz diced tomatoes, Italian seasoned, with juices
- 1 cup chicken broth
- ½ cup half and half creamer, or heavy cream
- 19 oz cheese tortellini, frozen, do not thaw
- 3 cups baby spinach leaves, excess moisture removed, torn to bite size
- freshly ground black pepper
- freshly shaved/shredded Parmesan cheese
- Optional: freshly chopped herbs, such as basil or parsley, for garnish.
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 boil. Add frozen tortellini, stirring to submerge tortellini in the sauce. Bring back to a boil, cover, and reduce to simmer until tender, about 8 minutes.
- Remove from heat. Gently stir in spinach just until wilted. Add 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper or to taste. Serve immediately with freshly shredded Parmesan cheese and freshly chopped herbs, if desired.
Notes
- Always heat the olive oil over medium heat before adding the onions. This ensures that the onions are cooked evenly and release their full flavor.
- When adding the garlic, make sure to stir it constantly for about 2 minutes. This will help to release its aroma and prevent it from burning, which can give your dish a bitter taste.
- Don’t forget to break up the sausage as it cooks. This will ensure that it cooks evenly and mixes well with the other ingredients.
- When adding the tortellini, make sure they are fully submerged in the sauce. This will ensure they cook evenly and absorb all the delicious flavors.
- Always add the spinach last and stir it gently until it wilts. This will keep it fresh and vibrant, adding a nice color contrast to your dish.
- Don’t skimp on the freshly ground black pepper and freshly shredded Parmesan cheese. These ingredients add a burst of flavor that really elevates the dish.
- If you’re using fresh tortellini, reduce the cooking time to prevent overcooking. Overcooked tortellini can become mushy and lose their shape.
- This recipe creates extra sauce to ensure the tortellini cooks through; serve with crusty bread to soak up that delicious sauce! We also love having it with some Easy Cheesy Garlic Bread or Olive Garden breadsticks.
- If you’d prefer less liquid, you can use just 1 cup of pasta sauce, but be sure the tortellini has enough liquid to fully submerge/cook in.
- If you prefer the sauce to be more creamy, add a bit more cream. If the leftover sauce becomes too thick, add a bit more broth to loosen it.
- If you tried this recipe and loved it, please come back and give it a rating. We ❤️ hearing from you!
Nutrition (per serving)
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