One Pot Italian Sausage Tortellini Bake

Should you love pasta evening, this One Pot Italian Sausage Tortellini Bake goes to be a brand new favourite. The sausage browns proper within the pan, constructing layers of wealthy, savory taste that mingle with garlic, onion, and herbs. Every part simmers collectively in a thick tomato sauce with the tortellini cooking immediately within the sauce. Then it’s topped with mozzarella and Parmesan, baked till the cheese melts right into a bubbly golden blanket of goodness.

For soup season, strive my tomato tortellini soup for a steamy bowl of consolation meals.

Why My Recipe

• One-pan, no-boil baked methodology with pasta cooking immediately in sauce.
• Loaded with tacky tortellini, savory sausage, and a tasty tomato sauce.
• Comes collectively quick for a straightforward weeknight dinner the entire household will love.

Most recipes for tortellini bake have you ever boil the pasta first or combine in a heavy cream sauce that may drown out the flavour. Not this one. The tortellini cooks proper within the sauce so it soaks up each little bit of taste, and the feel stays excellent (not mushy). The tomato base retains it savory and flavorful, whereas the cheese on high offers you that oven-baked end. It’s the best, most flavorful model on the market, and all of it occurs in a single pot from begin to end.

Ingredient Notes

• Olive Oil: Use common olive oil for sautéing the onion and sausage. Additional virgin works too, however save the flamboyant stuff for drizzling.
• Yellow Onion: A small yellow onion provides a pleasant sweetness that balances the tomato sauce. White onion will even work if that’s what you’ve got.
• Italian Sausage: Select between gentle or sizzling relying in your choice. Gentle offers a traditional Italian taste, whereas sizzling provides a bit kick. It’s also possible to swap in rooster or turkey sausage for a lighter model.
• Garlic: Freshly minced garlic is greatest for that wealthy, fragrant taste. Should you solely have garlic powder, use 1 teaspoon rather than the recent garlic.
• Crushed Tomatoes: Search for good-quality canned crushed tomatoes for one of the best taste. San Marzano-style tomatoes give a barely sweeter, richer sauce.
• Tomato Sauce: A can of plain tomato sauce helps make the dish saucier and smooths out the feel of the crushed tomatoes.
• Granulated Sugar: Only a contact balances the acidity of the tomatoes. Don’t skip it—it actually rounds out the sauce.
• Dried Oregano and Basil: These two traditional Italian herbs convey heat and depth to the sauce. You may substitute 2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning in case you choose.
• Salt and Black Pepper: Modify to style, particularly in case your sausage is already seasoned.
• Cheese Tortellini: Use refrigerated or frozen cheese tortellini. If utilizing frozen, there’s no have to thaw—it should prepare dinner completely within the sauce.
• Mozzarella Cheese: Shred it recent in case you can; pre-shredded cheese doesn’t soften as easily.
• Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan offers one of the best salty, nutty taste. Be at liberty to sprinkle a bit further on high earlier than serving.
• Recent Parsley: Provides a pop of coloration and a little bit of freshness on the finish. It’s also possible to use recent basil in case you choose.

Refrigerated vs Frozen vs Dried Tortellini

I’ve examined this recipe each which approach, and right here’s what you want to know. Refrigerated and frozen tortellini each work nice. They bake up tender and plump with simply the fitting chunk, they usually soak in all that scrumptious sauce as they prepare dinner.

Refrigerated tortellini are the commonest and normally prepare dinner barely sooner. Simply toss them proper into the sauce and bake as directed.

Frozen tortellini are rather less costly and simply as tasty. You don’t even have to thaw them first.

Dried tortellini can work, however they don’t provide you with that very same gentle, tacky texture that makes this dish particular. They want extra liquid and an extended bake time, and even then, the outcomes aren’t fairly the identical. Stick to refrigerated or frozen for one of the best texture and taste.

Selecting Your Sausage

Sausage is the spine of the flavour right here, so decide one that matches your style. Gentle Italian sausage offers you a traditional taste that pairs completely with the cheese and tomato sauce. Should you like a bit warmth, go for sizzling Italian sausage as a substitute. It provides a bit kick that my household positively loves.

It’s also possible to use candy Italian sausage in case you like that contact of fennel and even rooster or turkey sausage for a lighter model. Simply remember the fact that leaner sausages launch much less fats, so you might need to add a small drizzle of olive oil whereas they prepare dinner.

Non-obligatory Add-Ins

This recipe is superb as-is, nevertheless it’s additionally an awesome base to customise. If you wish to sneak in a number of veggies, strive including about two cups of child spinach proper earlier than topping with cheese.. It wilts proper into the sauce and provides a pop of coloration.

For a bit further taste, sauté one diced bell pepper or eight ounces of sliced mushrooms with the onion. The mushrooms convey out the savory notes within the sausage, whereas the peppers add a bit sweetness that balances the acidity of the tomato sauce.

Should you love issues further tacky, combine half a cup of ricotta or cream cheese into the sauce earlier than including the tortellini. It offers the sauce a barely creamy, wealthy texture with out turning it right into a heavy cream-based dish.

It’s also possible to swap the mozzarella for provolone for extra stretch or add a sprinkle of pecorino romano for a saltier chunk.

What Makes this Sauce Pop

An awesome sauce doesn’t simply occur, but this one positive feels prefer it does! It’s constructed layer by layer. Browning the sausage first offers you these little caramelized bits on the underside of the pan. Don’t rush this step. That’s the place the magic begins.

As soon as the sausage is browned, the onion and garlic go in. The warmth softens the onion and takes away that sharp chunk, and the garlic turns aromatic and buttery. Should you actually need to deepen the flavour, stir in a tablespoon of tomato paste proper earlier than including the crushed tomatoes. Let it prepare dinner for a couple of minute so it caramelizes a bit. That further minute makes the sauce style prefer it’s been simmering for hours.

The crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce mix collectively right into a wealthy, thick base. A small pinch of sugar balances the acidity and retains the sauce easy.

Pan Measurement Issues

For this recipe, the fitting pan makes all of the distinction. Should you’re utilizing a 12-inch skillet, be certain it’s a deep one, like a braiser pan. You’ll want sufficient room for the sauce, tortellini, and all that wonderful cheese on high. A 4 to 6-quart pot is a secure wager.

Enameled forged iron is my favourite as a result of it holds warmth evenly and goes straight from the range to the oven with out lacking a beat. Should you don’t have one, don’t fear, any oven-safe pot will do the job.

In case your skillet or pot isn’t oven secure, you possibly can switch all the pieces to a 9×13 baking dish as soon as the tortellini are coated in sauce and topped with cheese. It’s an additional step, nevertheless it works simply as effectively.

Troubleshooting and FAQ