Description
A delicious one-pan meal featuring Italian sausage, creamy tomato sauce, and cheese tortellini, all cooked together for a quick and comforting dinner. Fresh baby spinach adds a healthy touch, while optional parmesan cheese enhances the flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Sausage
- 11 ounces Italian sausages
Sauce and Pasta
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
- 1 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes with juices
- 1/2 cup heavy/whipping cream
- 1 (9 ounce) package refrigerated cheese tortellini
Greens and Seasoning
- 2 cups loosely packed fresh baby spinach
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Freshly grated parmesan cheese optional, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the sausage: Remove the sausage meat from the casings and crumble it into a skillet. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until browned. Drain most of the excess fat, leaving the sausage in the pan.
- Add sauce ingredients and tortellini: Stir in minced garlic, chicken broth, diced tomatoes with juices, heavy cream, and refrigerated cheese tortellini. Cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 7 minutes until the tortellini is cooked through and the sauce has thickened by reducing. The starch from the tortellini helps thicken the sauce.
- Add spinach and season: Stir in fresh baby spinach and cook just until wilted. Season the dish with salt and pepper to your taste.
- Serve: Spoon portions onto plates and sprinkle with freshly grated parmesan cheese if desired. Serve immediately for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- You can use approximately 11 ounces of Italian sausage; mild or hot varieties are fine based on preference.
- Using heavy cream is recommended to avoid curdling due to the acidity of the tomato; avoid substituting with milk or half-and-half.
- Drain excess fat from sausage to control richness and prevent greasy sauce.
- Fresh baby spinach can be substituted with other leafy greens like kale or arugula if preferred.
- If refrigerated tortellini is unavailable, frozen tortellini can be used, but cooking time may vary.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 750 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
