One Pot Italian Sausage Tortellini Bake

When you love pasta night time, 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. All the things simmers collectively in a thick tomato sauce with the tortellini cooking straight 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 technique with pasta cooking straight in sauce.
• Loaded with tacky tortellini, savory sausage, and a tasty tomato sauce.
• Comes collectively quick for a simple 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 prime provides 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 will even work if that’s what you might have.
• Italian Sausage: Select between gentle or sizzling relying in your desire. Delicate provides a traditional Italian taste, whereas sizzling provides a little bit kick. You may as well swap in hen or turkey sausage for a lighter model.
• Garlic: Freshly minced garlic is finest for that wealthy, fragrant taste. When 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 carry heat and depth to the sauce. You may substitute 2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning in the event you favor.
• 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’ll prepare dinner completely within the sauce.
• Mozzarella Cheese: Shred it recent in the event you can; pre-shredded cheese doesn’t soften as easily.
• Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan provides one of the best salty, nutty taste. Be at liberty to sprinkle a little bit additional on prime earlier than serving.
• Recent Parsley: Provides a pop of coloration and a little bit of freshness on the finish. You may as well use recent basil in the event you favor.

Refrigerated vs Frozen vs Dried Tortellini

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

Refrigerated tortellini are the most typical 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 offer you 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 choose one that matches your style. Delicate Italian sausage provides you a traditional taste that pairs completely with the cheese and tomato sauce. When you like a little bit warmth, go for sizzling Italian sausage as a substitute. It provides a little bit kick that my household undoubtedly loves.

You may as well use candy Italian sausage in the event you like that contact of fennel and even hen or turkey sausage for a lighter model. Simply needless to say leaner sausages launch much less fats, so chances are you’ll need to add a small drizzle of olive oil whereas they prepare dinner.

Non-compulsory Add-Ins

This recipe is superb as-is, nevertheless it’s additionally a fantastic base to customise. If you wish to sneak in a couple 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 little bit additional 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 little bit sweetness that balances the acidity of the tomato sauce.

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

You may as well 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 amazing sauce doesn’t simply occur, but this one certain feels prefer it does! It’s constructed layer by layer. Browning the sausage first provides 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. When 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 additional 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. When you’re utilizing a 12-inch skillet, be certain 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 prime. 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. When 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 all the things 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 nicely.

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