Description
This Hearty Sausage and Tortellini Bake is the ultimate comfort meal — cheesy, saucy, and full of flavor. It combines juicy Italian sausage, pillowy cheese tortellini, and a rich tomato cream sauce, all baked under a golden layer of mozzarella.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb Italian sausage (mild or spicy)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 24 oz marinara sauce
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 20 oz refrigerated cheese tortellini
- 1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh basil or parsley
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cook the tortellini according to the package directions, but undercook it by 1 minute. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, cook sausage over medium heat until browned, breaking it into crumbles. Drain excess fat.
- Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in marinara, cream, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Simmer for 3–4 minutes.
- Combine the sauce with the tortellini and half the mozzarella. Toss until evenly coated.
- Transfer the mixture to the baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan.
- Bake for 20–25 minutes, until bubbly and golden on top.
- Garnish with basil or parsley and serve warm.
Notes
Add veggies like spinach or mushrooms, or use chicken sausage for a lighter twist. Great for make-ahead dinners and leftovers taste even better!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 980mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: tortellini, sausage, baked pasta, comfort food, creamy pasta, Italian recipe