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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.

a bowl of italian sausage tortellini

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
ingredients for tortellini with italian sausage in measuring cups and prep bowls

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.

cooking italian sausage in a skillet and adding broth, tortellini, and seasonings

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.

adding spinach to a skillet of sausage tortellini and cooking it through

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!

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.
a skillet with cheese tortellini and italian sausage and a serving spoon

What to serve with Italian sausage tortellini

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.
close-up of tortellini with spinach and sausage

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.

a bowl of italian sausage tortellini
4.91 from 122 votes

One Pan Tortellini with Sausage

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.
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 25 minutes
Servings: 4

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

Calories: 594kcal, Carbohydrates: 34g, Protein: 23g, Fat: 41g, Saturated Fat: 17g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 14g, Cholesterol: 117mg, Sodium: 1063mg, Potassium: 507mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 1960IU, Vitamin C: 16mg, Calcium: 174mg, Iron: 4mg

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.

Leave a star rating and comment below!

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!


Hi! I’m Natasha.

Salt & Lavender is a recipe blog with a focus on delicious comfort food using everyday ingredients. Beat the weekday grind with hundreds of easy-to-follow and hassle-free recipes!

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302 Comments

  1. I loved it!!! I did add some yellow squash and orange peppers. I used a little more heavy cream and it turned out fantastic!!! I did have to cook the tortellini a little longer. Total 45 minutes 😊

    1. Hi! I suppose you could try, but it may not have enough liquid so you may need to add a bit more. Also the sauce will be more watery. Let me know how it goes if you try!

  2. 5 stars
    ‘ I’ve made this recipe several times now. I usually use ground chicken with feta and spinach sausage and it’s a big hit. This time I substituted ground beef (I didn’t want sausage). I also didn’t have cream or half and half so I used half a jar of garlic parmesan alfredo sauce and a jar of Rao’s mushroom and bell pepper sauce. I didn’t have spinach so I left it out since my son-in-law doesn’t like spinach. My grand kids ate it like they were starving. I’ll find out tomorrow how my son-in-law and daughter liked it.