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. The whole lot simmers collectively in a thick tomato sauce with the tortellini cooking instantly 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, attempt my tomato tortellini soup for a steamy bowl of consolation meals.

Why My Recipe

• One-pan, no-boil baked methodology with pasta cooking instantly 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 simplest, 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. Further 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 can even work if that’s what you’ve.
• Italian Sausage: Select between gentle or sizzling relying in your desire. Gentle offers a basic Italian taste, whereas sizzling provides a bit kick. You too can swap in hen or turkey sausage for a lighter model.
• Garlic: Freshly minced garlic is finest for that wealthy, fragrant taste. Should you solely have garlic powder, use 1 teaspoon instead of the recent garlic.
• Crushed Tomatoes: Search for good-quality canned crushed tomatoes for the very 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 basic Italian herbs carry heat and depth to the sauce. You possibly can substitute 2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning if you happen to choose.
• Salt and Black Pepper: Regulate to style, particularly in case your sausage is already seasoned.
• Cheese Tortellini: Use refrigerated or frozen cheese tortellini. If utilizing frozen, there’s no must thaw—it can prepare dinner completely within the sauce.
• Mozzarella Cheese: Shred it recent if you happen to can; pre-shredded cheese doesn’t soften as easily.
• Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan offers the very best salty, nutty taste. Be happy to sprinkle a bit further on high earlier than serving.
• Recent Parsley: Provides a pop of colour and a little bit of freshness on the finish. You too can use recent basil if you happen to choose.

Refrigerated vs Frozen vs Dried Tortellini

I’ve examined this recipe each which manner, and right here’s what it is advisable to know. Refrigerated and frozen tortellini each work nice. They bake up tender and plump with simply the proper chew, they usually soak in all that scrumptious sauce as they prepare dinner.

Refrigerated tortellini are the most typical and normally prepare dinner barely quicker. 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 must thaw them first.

Dried tortellini can work, however they don’t provide you with that very same smooth, 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. Persist with refrigerated or frozen for the very best texture and taste.

Choosing Your Sausage

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

You too can use candy Italian sausage if you happen to like that contact of fennel and even hen or turkey sausage for a lighter model. Simply remember that leaner sausages launch much less fats, so it’s possible you’ll need to add a small drizzle of olive oil whereas they prepare dinner.

Optionally available Add-Ins

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

For a bit further taste, sauté one diced bell pepper or eight ounces of sliced mushrooms with the onion. The mushrooms carry 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.

You too can swap the mozzarella for provolone for extra stretch or add a sprinkle of pecorino romano for a saltier chew.

What Makes this Sauce Pop

An incredible sauce doesn’t simply occur, but this one certain 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 chew, 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 Dimension Issues

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

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 protected, you possibly can switch every part to a 9×13 baking dish as soon as the tortellini are coated in sauce and topped with cheese. It’s an additional step, but it surely works simply as nicely.

Troubleshooting and FAQ