This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
This 25-minute tortellini with sausage recipe is a quick, easy, flavorful, and comforting dinner that’s made all in one pan! Fewer dishes means more time to relax.
You may also enjoy this Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup, this Creamy Sausage and Peppers Pasta, or my Easy Zuppa Toscana.
Why you’ll love it
I really love the simplicity of this sausage tortellini recipe. Cheese tortellini is so versatile, and you can dress it up in so many ways. The spinach-sausage-tomato cream sauce combo is just so tasty. Italian sausage is one of my all-time favorite ingredients to cook with.
Despite being simple to make with minimal ingredients, one lovely reader said that this Italian sausage pasta recipe is “nothing short of divine.” There’s also quite a bit of spinach in here, so it’s a great way to sneak those greens into dinner! That’s a win for families on busy weeknights.
What you’ll need
- Italian sausage – grab a package of mild Italian sausages, or use bulk sausage meat
- Garlic – to infuse lots of savory goodness
- Chicken broth – for the base of the sauce
- Tomatoes – we’re using a can of diced tomatoes for convenience
- Heavy cream – I went fairly light on the cream in this recipe, so it’s definitely not too rich at all! It adds a touch of luxuriousness.
- Tortellini – use cheese tortellini from the refrigerated section of the grocery store
- Spinach – for a pop of freshness
Helpful Tip
If you find the liquid is getting too low before the tortellini is cooked, simply add another splash of chicken broth or cream. Since stoves and cookware vary, adjust as needed for one-pan recipes using your best judgment!
How to make Italian sausage tortellini
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
Crumble the sausage into a skillet. Cook until browned, and then drain any excess fat. Add the garlic, broth, tomatoes, cream, and tortellini. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is cooked.
Once the sauce has reduced to your liking, add in the spinach. Cook until it wilts. Give it a taste, season with salt & pepper as needed, and top with freshly grated parmesan if using.
Tools for this recipe
Check out Natasha’s favorite kitchen essentials, gadgets, and cookware!
- To easily mince garlic, use a garlic press. No peeling necessary.
- This cooking spoon is my favorite for many recipes.
- I like using angled measuring cups to make measuring out ingredients easy.
Substitutions and variations
- You can definitely use hot Italian sausage if you want a little heat!
- I don’t recommend substituting the heavy cream for anything with a lower fat content like half-and-half. It’s liable to curdle due to the tomatoes.
- A handful of fresh basil stirred in at the same time as the spinach would be delicious here.
What to serve with Italian sausage tortellini
- Pair this pasta with a fresh salad. Try my Super Simple Parmesan Arugula Salad, or try mixed greens with my Creamy Balsamic Dressing. A Caesar salad with my Best Caesar Dressing is also a fantastic idea.
- A slice of fresh crusty bread, a dinner roll, or Cheesy Garlic Bread are also great options.
Leftovers and storage
- Store for 3-4 days in the fridge in an airtight container, but keep in mind that the tortellini will puff up/soak up the sauce the longer you leave it.
- Reheat in a saucepan over a low heat, stirring occasionally, until warmed through.
- I don’t recommend freezing since I’m not a fan of the texture of thawed cooked pasta, but you could always experiment with leftovers if you wish.
If you made this tortellini with spinach and sausage recipe, please leave a star rating and review below! Talk to me if you have questions. You can also find me on Instagram.
One Pan Tortellini with Sausage
Ingredients
- 11 ounces Italian sausages crumbled, see note
- 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
- 2 cups loosely packed fresh baby spinach
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Freshly grated parmesan cheese optional, to taste
Instructions
- Take the sausage meat out of the casings and crumble it into a skillet. Cook it over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until it's browned. If there's a lot of excess fat, drain most of it. Leave the sausage in the pan.
- Add the garlic, chicken broth, diced tomatoes, cream, and tortellini. Cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 5-7 minutes or until the tortellini is cooked and the sauce has reduced to your liking. Cooking the tortellini in the sauce helps thicken it (it releases starch).
- Stir in the spinach and let it wilt. Season with salt & pepper as needed and serve with fresh parmesan sprinkled over top if using.
Notes
- I used 3 sausages from a 5-pack of Johnsonville mild Italian sausages. Anything around 11 oz will work, or you can even use more sausage meat if you wish. Try hot Italian sausages if you want some heat!
- I do not recommend substituting the heavy cream because the acidity in the tomatoes will likely curdle milk or half-and-half.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
© Salt & Lavender Inc. Content and photographs are copyrighted. Sharing this blog post is much appreciated, but copying and pasting full recipes without authorization to social media is strictly prohibited.
This recipe was originally published on September 27, 2019. It’s been updated with new photos and better instructions but is the same great recipe!
This was delicious, we did the 2x serving and it was plenty for 6 adults with leftovers. We didn’t have heavy cream, but we did have a round of Boursin cheese and used that instead and it was fantastic! Nice and creamy and added to the rotation for sure. Thank you
Love that!! You’re very welcome!
Hi! Quick question, could I swap the sausage for something like ground chicken? Thanks!
Hi! Yes, that should work but be sure to salt it properly, and you may need to add some extra Italian seasoning too as Italian sausages have much more flavor than plain chicken. Let me know how it goes! 🙂
This was so easy and delicious. I doubled the recipe and used one can of diced tomatoes and one Rotel with chili’s. It was so good. I think next time I’m gonna add mushrooms. Thanks for sharing.
You are very welcome!!
Incredibly simple and incredibly yummy! Even with goofing on the amount of tortellini (wayyyy too much), I was able to save it! Also, added some crushed red pepper for a nice kick! SO. DANG. GOOD. Thank you for sharing this yumminess with our families!
So glad you liked it, Tiffany!!
I used frozen tortellini as it’s what i had and it cooked too quickly actually. I loved it despite but will follow the recipe exactly next time as the dried (starch-releasing) tortellini would improve it.
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
So easy! Thank you thank you! Came together so fast and tastes great! We’re a family that likes a little less garlic so I sautéed the garlic with the sausage for the last few minutes of browning and it worked perfectly to take the garlic bite out
It’s our pleasure! Happy your family enjoyed it, Hank!
Perfect amount of sauce for this pasta dish! A one pot wonder.
Thank you, Gillian! Glad you liked it!
This was INCREDIBLE! My picker eater fiancé was so impressed, and loved it too! So delicious!!!
That’s awesome!! 😀 Thank you for letting me know!
Delicious
Thank you!
This was so easy and delicious!! My son said “That looks good like it’s from a restaurant.” I also added some mushrooms and it was divine! Thanks for sharing this recipe!
I love that!! 😀
Any way to use frozen tortellini for this?
Frozen tortellini thaws fast, so I think that would work just fine. I’d just cook it for a little longer at a lower heat, and that should work ok.
This was delicious! I did add basil with the spinach and at the end I threw a cup of shredded Parmesan in. My whole family loved it! Thank you!
You’re very welcome!