One Pot Creamy Italian Sausage & Spinach Tortellini: Quick & Easy Weeknight Dinner Recipe
Prepare for your new favorite weeknight hero! This One Pot Tortellini with Italian Sausage and Spinach dish isn’t just a meal; it’s a culinary triumph that checks all the boxes. It’s incredibly quick to prepare, bursting with rich, comforting flavors, and the best part? You only need to dirty a single pot. Forget the endless cleanup after a delicious meal – this recipe makes it possible to enjoy gourmet taste with minimal fuss. Perfect for busy evenings, family dinners, or whenever you crave a hearty, satisfying pasta dish without the kitchen chaos.
Why You Will Love This One Pot Tortellini Recipe
Have you ever had those days where your cravings for something truly delicious hit hard, but the thought of a sink full of dishes afterward just stops you in your tracks? We’ve all been there, and that’s precisely why this One Pot Tortellini with Italian Sausage and Spinach is about to become your culinary lifesaver.
This dish is more than just food; it’s like a warm, comforting hug for your soul and a joyful dance for your taste buds. Imagine forkfuls of perfectly cooked, cheesy tortellini, each little pocket mingling with the savory, hearty goodness of Italian sausage, all enveloped in a rich, creamy tomato sauce. It’s a flavor combination that’s both classic and utterly irresistible, guaranteed to bring smiles to the dinner table.
And the absolute best part? It’s all crafted in a single pot! Yes, you read that correctly. Say goodbye to the juggling act of multiple pans, the constant stirring, and the dreaded post-dinner scrubbing marathon. This recipe streamlines the entire cooking process, leaving you with just one pot to wash. It’s the kitchen equivalent of discovering a forgotten twenty-dollar bill in your old jeans – a delightful surprise that simplifies your life.
Not only is it easy on the cleanup, but this flavorful meal is also on your table in under 30 minutes. That’s right, a truly delicious and satisfying dinner doesn’t have to consume your entire evening. This makes it an ideal choice for busy weeknights when time is of the essence but flavor is non-negotiable.
So, the next time you’re searching for a meal that’s overflowing with deliciousness, offers incredible convenience, and spares you from the usual kitchen chaos, give this one-pot wonder a try. Your taste buds, your schedule, and your sanity will undoubtedly thank you! Pair it with some crusty bread to soak up all that incredible sauce. We highly recommend our fabulous Sourdough Bread Recipe or our Easy No Knead Overnight Focaccia Bread for the perfect accompaniment.
Essential Ingredients for Your One Pot Tortellini
Crafting this incredible one-pot meal requires a handful of simple, readily available ingredients. Nothing exotic here – just everyday staples that come together to create something truly spectacular. You can easily find everything you need at your local grocery store, turning ordinary ingredients into an extraordinarily delicious dinner!
- Cheese Tortellini: The star of our pasta show! These plump, tender pillows of pasta are generously filled with a rich and creamy cheese blend, providing a delightful texture and a foundational flavor that complements the savory elements of the dish. You can use fresh, refrigerated, or even frozen tortellini – just check the package for cooking times.
- Italian Sausage: The backbone of this hearty dish, offering a savory, often slightly spicy, and deeply aromatic flavor. It adds significant depth and a satisfying texture that contrasts beautifully with the soft tortellini. Choose hot Italian sausage for an extra fiery kick, or opt for mild Italian sausage for a more subtle and mellow experience. For a lighter alternative, turkey or chicken Italian sausage also works wonderfully.
- Olive Oil: Essential for sautéing our aromatics and browning the sausage. It adds a delicate fruity note while ensuring ingredients cook evenly and prevent sticking to the pan, laying the groundwork for a rich sauce.
- Onion and Garlic: The classic aromatic duo that forms the fragrant foundation of almost any great Italian-inspired dish. Diced onion provides a sweet, savory base as it caramelizes, while minced garlic infuses the entire meal with its unmistakable pungent and delicious aroma, enhancing every other flavor.
- White Wine: Used to deglaze the pan, it lifts all those flavorful browned bits from the bottom, incorporating them back into the sauce for maximum taste. The wine also introduces a crucial touch of acidity, which beautifully balances the richness of the sausage and cream. If you prefer not to use wine, chicken stock, vegetable broth, or even a splash of chicken broth works as an excellent substitute.
- Crushed Tomatoes: These form the robust, slightly sweet, and tangy base of our creamy tomato sauce. Fire-roasted crushed tomatoes add an extra layer of smoky depth, but any good quality crushed tomatoes will create a rich, comforting sauce.
- Heavy Cream: This is where the magic happens, transforming our tomato base into a luxuriously creamy and indulgent sauce. It perfectly balances the acidity of the tomatoes and adds an irresistible richness that makes the dish truly comforting. For a slightly lighter option, half-and-half can be used, though it will result in a less thick and rich sauce.
- Fresh Spinach: A vibrant addition that brings a mild, earthy flavor, a beautiful pop of color, and a boost of nutritional value to the dish. It wilts quickly into the warm sauce, adding freshness without overpowering the other ingredients.
- Romano Cheese: A hard, salty, and sharp Italian cheese that provides a final flourish of savory, umami flavor. It melts into the sauce, contributing to its creaminess and offering a more pungent taste than Parmesan, though Parmesan cheese is an excellent alternative if preferred.
- Kosher Salt and Black Pepper: These fundamental seasonings are crucial for enhancing and uplifting all the flavors in the dish. Remember to taste as you go, adjusting quantities to achieve your perfect balance.
Gathering these ingredients is straightforward – they’re everyday items that come together to transform simple cooking into a seriously delicious and satisfying meal!
How To Make One Pot Tortellini With Italian Sausage And Spinach
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Begin by adding the olive oil to a large skillet or Dutch oven and heating it over medium-high heat. Once shimmering, add the ground Italian sausage. Brown the sausage, breaking it up with a spoon to your preferred size. When the sausage is about halfway cooked through, add the diced onions. Continue cooking until the sausage is fully browned and the onions have softened and become translucent. If there’s an excessive amount of rendered fat, carefully drain it off.
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Once the sausage is fully cooked and the onions are translucent (this usually takes about 5-7 minutes after adding the onions), stir in the minced garlic. Continue to cook for just about 1 minute, or until the garlic becomes wonderfully fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic, as it can turn bitter quickly.
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Pour the white wine into the pan, using it to deglaze. Scrape up any browned bits stuck to the bottom of the skillet – these are packed with flavor! Allow the wine to simmer for a minute or two, letting the alcohol cook off and the rich aromas fill your kitchen. -
Next, add the crushed tomatoes, kosher salt, and black pepper to the pan. Stir everything together thoroughly to ensure it’s well combined. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and let it cook for about 10 minutes. This simmering time allows the flavors to meld beautifully and the sauce to reduce slightly, creating a richer consistency.
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Carefully add the tortellini to the simmering sauce and stir gently to combine, ensuring all the pasta is coated. Continue to simmer until the tortellini are heated through and tender, following the cooking instructions on your specific tortellini package. Once cooked, pour in the heavy cream and stir well to fully incorporate it into the sauce, creating that luscious, creamy texture we crave.
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Add the fresh spinach to the pot. Stir it into the hot sauce and continue to simmer just until the spinach has completely wilted down – this happens quite quickly. Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the Romano cheese until it’s fully melted and combined, creating an even more luxurious, cheesy sauce.
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Optionally, taste the dish and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed. Serve this magnificent one-pot meal immediately, perhaps garnished with a sprinkle of fresh parsley or extra grated cheese.
Truly, this One Pot Tortellini with Italian Sausage and Spinach isn’t just good – it’s absolutely exceptional! It’s the kind of flavorful, easy-to-make dish that will quickly earn its place in your regular meal rotation, winning over even the pickiest eaters in the family.
Whether you’re looking to create an impressive yet effortless meal for date night, need a quick and comforting fix for a chaotic weekday, or simply craving the ultimate comfort food experience, this dish has got you covered. Its rich flavors and minimal cleanup mean it’s always the right time to enjoy something this delicious!
If you decide to give our One Pot Tortellini a try, we’d absolutely love to hear from you! Let us know how it turned out and share your delicious moments with #dontsweattherecipe on Instagram. Your feedback and culinary adventures inspire us!
Expert Tips for the Perfect One Pot Tortellini
While this recipe is incredibly straightforward, a few expert tips can elevate your One Pot Tortellini from great to truly unforgettable. These insights will help you achieve the best flavor and texture every time.
- Taste as You Go: This is perhaps the most underrated cooking habit and a game-changer for any dish. Instead of rigidly adhering to exact measurements for seasonings like salt and pepper, make it a point to taste your sauce at various stages. Start with the recommended amount, then taste and adjust. By doing this, you ensure the dish is seasoned perfectly to your personal liking and avoid the common pitfall of over-salting or under-seasoning. Remember, you can always add more, but you can’t easily take it away!
- Choosing the Right Tortellini: While any tortellini will technically work, opting for fresh or refrigerated tortellini will generally yield the best results. They tend to have a softer, more delicate texture and cook much faster than their dried counterparts. If you’re feeling adventurous, explore variations like spinach and ricotta tortellini, mushroom tortellini, or even three-cheese blends to add an extra layer of flavor and complexity to your dish. Each type will impart a slightly different nuance!
- Sausage Selection Matters: The type of Italian sausage you choose profoundly influences the dish’s overall flavor profile. For those who love a bit of heat, spicy Italian sausage will add a delightful kick. If you prefer a more subtle, sweet, and savory profile, sweet Italian sausage is your ideal choice. Looking to make the meal a bit lighter? Turkey or chicken Italian sausage are fantastic lean alternatives that still pack plenty of flavor. Just be mindful that leaner sausages may render less fat, so you might need a tiny bit more olive oil.
- Don’t Overcrowd the Pan: When browning the sausage, ensure you’re using a large enough skillet or Dutch oven so the sausage can spread out in a single layer. Overcrowding can steam the sausage instead of browning it, preventing those delicious caramelized bits that add so much flavor. If necessary, brown the sausage in two batches.
- Adjust Sauce Consistency: The amount of liquid absorbed by tortellini can vary. If your sauce appears too thick, feel free to add a splash of chicken broth, vegetable broth, or even water until it reaches your desired consistency. If it’s too thin, let it simmer uncovered for a few extra minutes to reduce, or stir in a tablespoon of grated Parmesan or Romano cheese to help thicken it slightly.
Delicious Variations to Customize Your Meal
This One Pot Tortellini recipe is incredibly versatile, making it easy to adapt to different tastes or ingredients you have on hand. Here are some fantastic variations to inspire your culinary creativity:
- Seafood Delight: For a lighter, Mediterranean-inspired twist, swap out the Italian sausage for some succulent shrimp or scallops. Since seafood cooks very quickly, add it in the final 5 minutes of cooking, just before the tortellini are fully tender. You can also incorporate a pinch of red pepper flakes for a subtle heat and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice or a sprinkle of lemon zest at the end for a bright, zesty pop of flavor. Clams or mussels also make excellent additions!
- Veggie Boost Extravaganza: If you’re looking to pack even more vegetables into your meal, this recipe is perfect for it. Consider adding colorful bell peppers (any color works beautifully), tender zucchini, or earthy mushrooms. These can be sautéed along with the onions and garlic, allowing them to soften and release their flavors. For a delightful autumnal touch, stir in roasted butternut squash cubes or even some finely chopped carrots and celery for a classic soffritto base.
- Ultimate Cheese Lover’s Dream: For those who believe there’s no such thing as too much cheese, take this dish to the next level. In the final stages, just before stirring in the Romano, incorporate a generous mix of fresh mozzarella (shredded or small cubes) and creamy ricotta cheese. The mozzarella will melt into gooey strings, while the ricotta will add an incredible richness and an extra layer of creamy texture. A sprinkle of fresh basil leaves on top provides a beautiful aromatic contrast to the rich cheese.
- Spicy Kick Addition: If you truly love heat, go beyond just using hot Italian sausage. Add a generous pinch (or more!) of red pepper flakes along with the garlic for an extra fiery punch. You can also incorporate a small amount of diced jalapeño or a dash of hot sauce into the simmering tomato sauce.
- Creamy Pesto Perfection: Stir in a tablespoon or two of your favorite store-bought or homemade pesto along with the heavy cream. The basil and pine nut flavors of the pesto will add a fresh, herbaceous dimension that complements the tomato and sausage beautifully.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Absolutely! Dried tortellini will work perfectly well in this recipe, but keep in mind they typically require a longer cooking time compared to fresh or refrigerated varieties. Always follow the package instructions for the specific dried tortellini you are using. You might also need to adjust the liquid level in the sauce, as dried tortellini can absorb more liquid as they cook.
No problem at all! The spinach is quite versatile and can be easily swapped. You can use other leafy greens such as kale (remove tough stems and chop finely), Swiss chard, or even peppery arugula for a slightly different flavor profile. Just be aware that tougher greens like kale or chard might need a few extra minutes to wilt and become tender in the sauce.
Definitely! To make this dish vegetarian, simply omit the Italian sausage entirely or replace it with a plant-based sausage alternative. For added flavor and texture, you can also include more vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini, mushrooms, or even eggplant, sautéing them with the onions and garlic. If you’re looking for a protein boost in a vegetarian version, consider adding canned cannellini beans or chickpeas, rinsed and drained, along with the crushed tomatoes.
While you can freeze this dish, the texture of the tortellini might become a little softer or mushier after thawing and reheating. The sauce generally freezes well. To freeze, let the dish cool completely, then transfer it to an airtight freezer-safe container. It can be stored for up to 2-3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding a splash of broth or water if the sauce is too thick.
This hearty dish is quite fulfilling on its own, but it pairs wonderfully with a simple side salad with a light vinaigrette to cut through the richness. Crusty bread or garlic bread is also an excellent choice for soaking up every last bit of that delicious creamy sauce. You could also serve it with some roasted asparagus or steamed green beans for an extra veggie boost.
Other Delicious Pasta Recipes You’ll Love
Foolproof Baked Ziti With Italian Sausage
Pasta alla Norcina
Absolute Best Ever Lasagna Recipe
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One Pot Tortellini With Italian Sausage And Spinach Recipe
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Ingredients
- 18 oz Tortellini Frozen or refrigerated
- 1 lb Italian sausage ground
- 1 tbsp Olive oil
- 1/2 cup Onion diced
- 2 cloves Garlic minced
- 1/4 cup White wine
- 2 cans Crushed tomatoes 14.5 oz cans, fire roasted
- 1/2 cup Heavy cream
- 2 cup Spinach
- 1/4 cup Romano cheese
- 1/2 tsp Kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp Black pepper
Instructions
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Add olive oil to heated large skillet.1 tbsp Olive oil
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Add the Italian sausage and brown. Add the onions when the sausage is about half way done. Drain any fat, if needed.1 lb Italian sausage, 1/2 cup Onion
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Continue to cook the sausage until the onions are translucent, about 5-7 minutes.
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When the sausage is done, add the garlic and continue to cook until the garlic becomes fragrant, about 1 minute.2 cloves Garlic
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Add the white wine to the pan, deglazing. Allow to cook for a minute or two to cook off the alcohol.1/4 cup White wine
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Add the crushed tomatoes, kosher salt and black pepper. Stir to combine well. Simmer for about 10 minutes, allowing to reduce.2 cans Crushed tomatoes, 1/2 tsp Kosher salt, 1/2 tsp Black pepper
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Add the tortellini and stir it in. Continue to simmer until they’re heated through (follow the instructions provided on the product you have selected).18 oz Tortellini
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Add the heavy cream. Stir well to incorporate. Then add the spinach. Simmer until the spinach has wilted.1/2 cup Heavy cream, 2 cup Spinach
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Remove from the heat and add the romano cheese. Stir to combine.1/4 cup Romano cheese
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Season with additional salt and pepper (optionally). Serve immediately.
Notes
Storing: Transfer any leftover tortellini dish into an airtight container. It’s best to separate the dish into serving-sized portions, making it easier to reheat later. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Reheating:
Microwave: Transfer a portion to a microwave-safe dish, covering loosely with a lid or microwave-safe plastic wrap. Heat on medium power for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through, until heated through.
Stovetop: Pour leftovers into a skillet or pot and warm over medium heat. You might want to add a splash of water or broth to help rehydrate the sauce if it’s thickened too much in the fridge. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and heat until warmed through.
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