Tortellini baked in the oven with sausage

Introduction

Among the greatest dishes that combine the excellent sense of convenience, flavor, and coziness is surely baked tortellini with sausage. This filling pasta dish, covered in a rich sauce with unbelievably melted cheese, brings together the best flavors of Italian sausage with the beautiful texture of tortellini. Perfect for busy weeknights, family gatherings, or any other special occasion where you need to impress without spending the whole day in the kitchen.

This recipe is beautiful in its simplicity. Available ready-to-cook tortellini may be bought; thus, this dish is easily prepared by anyone – even an inexperienced cook – in a short period of time. Prepackaged varieties can be found in the frozen food section of a supermarket. Italian sausage adds depth and a savory bite to push the meal into overdrive. This makes the tortellini into a heavily flavoured creamy delight that may rival the sausage’s taste if it is combined with your favorite marinara or Alfredo sauce.

Baked Tortellini with Sausage is great because it’s very flexible-one of the best features. Easily adapted to suit your dietary needs or tastes. Want to lighten it a bit? Then use turkey sausage or add more veggies, such as mushrooms, spinach, or bell peppers. All the more indulgent feeling? Add a mixture of cheeses or some crispy breadcrumb topping.

This is a marvelous dinner prep for several reasons: it’s just scrumptious, but also makes excellent leftovers. And with its hearty and delectable baked tortellini and sausage, it makes an awesome supper the whole family will enjoy whether you are serving a small number of people or a big gathering. We’ll cover what all the ingredients are, how to get them ready, and how to adapt them as we go along in the process.

Ingredients

Baked Tortellini:

• 1 tablespoon avocado or olive oil
• 1 lb. ground Italian sausage (I use a mild one for my kids, but spicy would be delicious)
• 2–3 carrots, chopped
• 2–3 stalks of celery, chopped
• 1 yellow onion, minced
• 3 large cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon fennel seeds, crushed
• 1 25-ish ounce jar of tomato sauce OR a can of San Marzano tomatoes
• 10–15 ounces of refrigerated cheese tortellini
• 1 1/2 – 2 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups baby spinach, torn

To Go On Top: 

• 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
• finely chopped parsley

For Serving: 

• this garlic bread

Instructions

1. Brown the sausage: Increase the heat to medium-high in a large oven-safe skillet. Add the oil and sausage, breaking it up with a wooden spoon as it browns to a good color. You’ll need to drain excess oil into a bowl; keep one tablespoon in the pan and reserve about one tablespoon.
2. Stir-fry the vegetables: It’s nice if the bottom of the pan darkens into some caramelization. With the vegetables, you should get some of that fantastic brown flavor. You could add chopped fennel seeds. Stir-fry until the vegetables just tenderize and are fragrant, although you can add a little oil or salt if you feel adventurous. Now reintroduce the sausage.
3. Pour in 1 cup of broth, your tortellini, and your tomato sauce. It will overflow the pan. Cook the tortellini by letting it simmer for about five minutes. You could add some or all of the rest of your broth to help cook your tortellini. Sometimes I will just cover it up with a lid and let it cook on low for a while.
4. Try the spinach and cheese, seasoning with salt as needed won’t likely be needed if using canned tomatoes rather than a jar of sauce, by the way. Stir in the spinach when added to the dish- till wilted. Top with mozzarella cheese and then place in a preheated oven at 375 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes, or until fully melted.
5. Top it with grated Parmesan and chopped parsley, then dip that bad boy into chunks of garlic bread. SUPERB.

Notes

The amount of tortellini you add here will depend upon the size of your pan, so if you really want to do this one right, I can never fit a full 20 ounces into it, but sometimes I feel like I can stuff a little over 10 in. Tortellini comes in package sizes from 10 to 20 ounces. It is, essentially, flexible. Grab a packet of tortellini and stuff as much as you can fit inside.

I photographed the above images in a 3-quart All Clad sauté pan. For your convenience, simply scale up into a Dutch oven or similar if you are not sure if your pan will be large enough. That way you won’t run out of space!

READ MORE:- How to Make a Perfect Maltesers Marble Cake: Step-by-Step Guide

Conclusion

What sets Baked Tortellini with Sausage apart is that it is a truly great dish, one that succinctly balances great taste and the simplicity of preparation. It’s one of those crowd-pleasers that will even make the most mundane supper into a special occasion because of its creamy cheesy richness and the powerful taste of Italian sausage. Guests will love this spaghetti bake, no matter whether you serve it to friends for a potluck, or serve it to loved ones on family dinner nights, or even for a romantic date night.

Well, actually, that’s what makes the dish exceptional – its flexibility. It can easily change to match any taste and fulfill some requirements of diets with minimal adaptation. Simply add seasonal veggies and that pop of color and nutrition does the trick, or swap old-fashioned marinara sauce for homemade basil pesto to give it a completely novel twist. You can even experiment with kinds of cheese, like provolone, ricotta, and mozzarella, to bring out a flavor profile that piques your interest.

To crown it, baking tortellini with sausage is easy to make. This is a perfect option for busy evenings when you want something tasty minus all the fuss. It only takes a few minutes in assemblage and requires very minimal cooking time. What you need is to prepare the sausage. Mix that with tortellini and sauce. Put everything into a baking dish, layer with cheese, and bake.

In addition to an awesome dinner, making this recipe creates family bonding over a wonderful supper. Cooking can foster togetherness, and a shared prepared meal gets people around the supper table. Family members will want to sit down and share stories over a hearty supper once they catch a whiff of the cozy aroma of cooked spaghetti wafting through your house.

As much better when served as leftovers. This Baked Tortellini with Sausage is a beautiful make-ahead meal. It reheats beautifully and stays wonderful for days in the fridge. You can have it for dinner or lunch any night of the week, so you’ll always have a great dinner ready and waiting.

Really, Baked Tortellini with Sausage is a community event rather than just a meal.

This favorite recipe is a favorite for many homes because of its soothing texture and depth of flavors, besides being quick to prepare. Use all the equipment you have ready, put on your culinary gloves, and get yourself on a gourmet journey that will leave everyone asking for seconds. Enjoy cooking pleasure, savor the flavors, and make memories at the dinner table while having this scrumptious pasta bake.

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