30-Minute Tortellini with Sausage and Spinach
Just 30 minutes and one skillet is all you'll need to get this delicious Tortellini Recipe on the table. Everything, including the tortellini, gets cooked up in one big pan. Busy weeknights, here we come.
Servings: 6
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.
- 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.
- When adding the tortellini, make sure it's 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.
- 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)
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 553kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 99mg | Sodium: 806mg | Potassium: 701mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 1910IU | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 217mg | Iron: 5mg