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This Creamy One-Pot Tortellini with Sausage combines cheese tortellini, browned smoked sausage, broccoli, and a creamy tomato sauce in one skillet. It is ready in about 30 minutes, and the frozen tortellini cooks right in the sauce. No separate pot of boiling water needed.
An Easy Weeknight Dinner
This is one of my favorite dinners for nights when I need to get something on the table quickly. I especially rely on meals like this when the kids are back in school and our evenings suddenly feel a lot busier. Everything cooks in one skillet, it takes less than 30 minutes, and there is hardly any cleanup afterward.
If you love simple one-pot dinners, try my Teriyaki Chicken Bowls, too.
I also love how easy it is to make this recipe your own. You can add different vegetables, sprinkle mozzarella over the top, or give it a little Cajun flavor. I have also made it with fat-free cream cheese, and there is enough flavor from the sausage, tomatoes, garlic, and herbs that I can hardly tell the difference.
❤️ Erica
Tortellini with Sausage Ingredients
This skillet is made with simple ingredients that cook together to create a creamy tomato sauce. Here are a few details that will help you choose the right ingredients:
- Oil: Use olive, canola, or vegetable oil to brown the sausage.
- Smoked sausage: Use fully cooked smoked sausage or kielbasa and slice it into even pieces. I like using smoked chicken sausage from Costco, but another fully cooked smoked sausage will also work.
- Garlic: Fresh minced garlic adds lots of flavor to the tomato sauce. Cook it only until fragrant so it does not burn.
- Broccoli florets: Fresh or frozen broccoli works well. You can also use a garden vegetable mix with broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots.
- Frozen cheese tortellini: Add the tortellini directly from the freezer. It cooks in the sauce, so you do not need to boil or thaw it first.
- Petite diced tomatoes: Add the tomatoes and their juices. Petite diced tomatoes blend easily into the sauce, but crushed tomatoes are a good option if you do not want tomato pieces.
- Tomato sauce and chicken broth: These give the tortellini enough liquid to cook while forming the base of the sauce.
- Dried basil and oregano: The amounts in the recipe are for dried herbs. You can also stir in fresh basil near the end of cooking.
- Parmesan cheese: Freshly grated tastes the best, but grated Parmesan also works.
- Cream cheese: Cream cheese melts into the tomatoes and broth to make the sauce creamy. Cut it into smaller pieces so it melts faster. Fat-free cream cheese can also be used.
How to Make Creamy Tortellini with Sausage
- Brown the sausage. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sliced sausage and cook until it is browned and lightly crisp around the edges.
- Add tortellini and sauce ingredients: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, just until you can smell it. Add the broccoli, frozen tortellini, undrained diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, chicken broth, basil, and oregano.
- Cover and simmer. Bring the liquid to a gentle simmer, cover the skillet, and cook for 7 to 8 minutes. Stir once halfway through so the tortellini cooks evenly and does not stick to the bottom.
- Make it creamy. Check that the tortellini is tender but not falling apart, and the broccoli is cooked through. Reduce the heat to low. Add the Parmesan, cream cheese, salt, and pepper. Stir until the cheeses have melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Let the sauce thicken: Cook over low heat for another 3 to 5 minutes. The sauce will continue to thicken slightly after you remove the skillet from the heat.
Recipe Tips
- Prep ahead. If you want to get a head start on dinner, slice the sausage, cut the broccoli, and measure the seasonings ahead of time.
- Do not boil frozen tortellini first. It cooks directly in the tomatoes and broth, which helps make this a true one-pot meal.
- Watch the tortellini closely. Tortellini cooks quickly and can become too soft if it simmers for too long.
- Adjust the liquid as needed. Skillets and stove temperatures vary. Add small amounts of chicken broth at a time if the sauce gets too thick before the pasta is tender.
- Keep the heat low when adding the cheese. Low heat helps the cream cheese and Parmesan melt smoothly into the tomato sauce.
- Let it stand for a minute before serving. The sauce may look a little watery while it is hot, but it thickens as it sits.
“Just made this tonight for my family and it was a hit! I served it with Cheddar biscuits, it was the perfect compliment. Thanks for the recipe!”
-Brittany
Easy Ways to Change It Up
- Add more vegetables. Try cauliflower, carrots, mushrooms, squash, zucchini, onions, or bell peppers. Sauté onions, peppers, or mushrooms with the sausage before adding the sauce ingredients.
- Make it cheesier. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella over the skillet just before serving and cover it briefly so the cheese melts.
- Add Cajun flavor. Add Cajun seasoning along with the dried basil and oregano. Start with a small amount because the smoked sausage may already be salty.
- Use crushed tomatoes. Replace the petite diced tomatoes with a similar-size can of crushed tomatoes if you (or your kids) don’t like chunks of tomatoes.
- Use refrigerated tortellini. Refrigerated tortellini cooks faster than frozen. Add it later and follow the cooking time on the package so it doesn’t get mushy.
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
Store leftover sausage tortellini in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three or four days. The tortellini will continue soaking up some of the sauce as it sits, so the leftovers may be thicker than the freshly cooked dish. I don’t recommend freezing.
Reheat individual portions in the microwave or warm the tortellini in a covered skillet over low heat. Add a little chicken broth as needed to thin the sauce.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Add frozen tortellini directly to the skillet with the tomatoes, tomato sauce, broth, broccoli, and seasonings. It cooks as it simmers in the sauce.
Yes. Refrigerated tortellini cooks more quickly than frozen tortellini. Add it later in the cooking process and use the package directions as your guide so it does not overcook.
Yes. Use a similar-size can of crushed tomatoes if you prefer a smoother sauce without chunks. Add the tomatoes and their juices to the skillet.
Cauliflower, carrots, mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, zucchini, and yellow squash are all good options. Sauté firm vegetables with the sausage and add quick-cooking vegetables later so they do not become too soft.
Use fully cooked smoked sausage, kielbasa, or smoked chicken sausage. Slice it into evenly sized pieces so the sausage browns at the same rate.
What to Serve with Sausage Tortellini
This creamy tortellini is filling enough to serve on its own, but a fresh salad balances the rich sauce nicely. Garlic bread, dinner rolls, or Cheddar biscuits are also perfect for scooping up the extra sauce.
⭐️ If you make this creamy one-pot tortellini with sausage, please leave a star rating and comment below. We love hearing how the recipe turns out and what vegetables or sausage you use for your family.
Creamy One-Pot Tortellini
Video
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 pound smoked sausage, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cup broccoli florets, frozen broccoli works great
- 10 ounces frozen tortellini
- 1 (14-ounce can) petite diced tomatoes
- 1 (8-ounce can) tomato sauce, 8 ounces
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 tablespoon dried basil leaves
- 1 teaspoon oregano leaves
- 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- salt & pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage and saute until brown and slightly crispy on each side. Add garlic and saute another minute.
- Add broccoli, tortellini, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, chicken broth, basil and oregano.
- Bring to a simmer, cover, and simmer for 7-8 minutes or until broccoli is cooked through.
- Add Parmesan cheese, cream cheese, and salt and pepper to taste, stir until well combined.
- When cream cheese has melted in, heat on LOW for another 3-5 minutes and let stand for about a minute for the sauce to thicken. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Do not boil frozen tortellini first. It cooks directly in the tomatoes and broth, which helps make this a true one-pot meal.
- Watch the tortellini closely. Tortellini cooks quickly and can become too soft if it simmers for too long.
- Adjust the liquid as needed. Skillets and stove temperatures vary. Add a chicken broth if the sauce gets too thick before the pasta is tender.
- Keep the heat low when adding the cheese. Low heat helps the cream cheese and Parmesan melt smoothly into the tomato sauce.
- Let it stand for a minute before serving. The sauce may look a little loose while it is hot, but it thickens as it sits.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Excellent! Very good tips about not overlooking! The 2nd time I made it, I added leftover yellow peppers and sliced mushrooms to the vegetable mix. Easy, quick all-in-one meal!
Yum! I love the idea of yellow peppers and mushrooms. Delicious additions! Thanks for sharing!
I made this recipe with a couple improvisions. I increased the broth by 8 ounces and skipped the tomato sauce. I used diced and onion canned tomatoes I used jalapeño chicken sausage and doubled the broccoli. My husband LOVED this. I will make it often and made changes based on what I have on hand. The sausage will dictate the end result. I love a quick, one pan dish that hubby loves. I will make this again.
Made this tonight, had to use chive and onion cream cheese, used a can of tomato soup instead of sauce cuz that’s what I had, was absolutely delicious!
Will be making again, & again!
Thanks!
Can I use herb & garlic cream cheese?
I haven’t tried it that way but it sounds yummy!
I just made this tonight and that was the only cream cheese I had, it turned out fabulous!!!!
Go for it!
So good and easy! It was a great way to use up left over vegetables!
Super easy and flavorful. This recipe is a keeper!
This is my go to for an easy yummy dinner, I like using fresh basil instead of the dried. 🙂
Thanks, I love the fresh basil idea! I’m going to try that next time! Yum!
I’m using buitoni tortellini that I just bought that is in the fridge, I didn’t freeze it. Do I need to boil it first or can I just throw it in towards the end so it heats up?
You just throw it in at the end so it heats through. You don’t want to overcook it. Thanks for asking!
Just made this tonight for my family and it was a hit! I served it with Cheddar biscuits, it was the perfect compliment. Thanks for the recipe!
You are welcome, I’m so glad you liked it!
So if you use frozen tortellini add it when adding broc or boil it then add…Just wanting to verify
You just add it in– you don’t need to boil it first. 🙂 Hope this helps!
I can’t afford using all that cream cheese – too expensive. Have you used any other alternatives? e.g., some cream of celery/broccoli soup? Or even just broth?
I haven’t tried it with any substitutions like that– it would probably be ok with just diced tomatoes. It wouldn’t be creamy but it would probably still taste good!
My husband does not like cream cheese so I used 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream and increased the chicken broth to one cup instead. It was delicious but more like a soup than creamy.
Can I use crushed tomatoes, I really don’t eat tomatoes, but use the crushed ones instead. Would this ruin the recipe? Other than that, the recipe sounds wonderful.
Crushed tomatoes would be fine. 🙂 It am sure it will still turn out pretty much the same– you just won’t have chunks of tomatoes
Are the herbs fresh or dried?
They are dried– you can use fresh but use at least double the amount 🙂