Description
This delicious Tortellini and Sausage Bake combines savory Italian sausage, creamy ricotta, and tender tortellini in a rich marinara sauce, baked to perfection with a cheesy golden top. It’s an easy, hearty dish perfect for weeknight dinners or entertaining guests.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Ricotta Mixture
- 16 oz full-fat ricotta cheese
- 1 egg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
For the Main Dish
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil
- 3/4 lb Italian pork sausage (about 3-4 links)
- 1/2 onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
- 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
- 24 oz marinara sauce
- 1/2 cup water or broth
- 16-20 oz refrigerated tortellini (spinach or your choice)
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare Ricotta Mixture: In a bowl, whisk together ricotta cheese, egg, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper until smooth. Set aside.
- Cook Sausage and Vegetables: In a large oven-safe skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the sausage, crumbling it with a spatula, and cook until browned on all sides. When halfway cooked, add the chopped onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes until softened. Then, add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add Sauce and Simmer: Pour in the marinara sauce, scraping the bottom of the pan to loosen browned bits. Rinse the marinara jar with water or broth, shake well, and pour into the skillet. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat and cook for 5-10 minutes to develop flavors.
- Preheat Broiler: Turn on the broil function in your oven and set aside.
- Combine and Assemble: Turn off the stove heat. Adjust seasoning to taste, then add the cooked tortellini to the sauce and stir thoroughly. Spread the ricotta mixture evenly over the top, then sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese.
- Bake and Finish: Broil in the oven for 3-5 minutes until the top is golden brown. Watch carefully to prevent burning. Remove from oven and let sit for a couple of minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil if desired.
Notes
- Sausage: Use hot or sweet Italian sausage. If using sausage links, slit and remove casings for crumbling.
- Alternative cooking vessel: Use a casserole dish if your skillet isn’t oven-safe. Cook the sausage and sauce separately, combine with tortellini in the dish, then proceed with baking and broiling.
- Substitutions: Swap sausage with ground pork, beef, turkey, chicken, or crumbled tofu. Use frozen tortellini directly or shelf-stable tortellini with par-cooking. Adjust baking time to 15-20 minutes at 350°F for frozen pasta.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1 of 8 servings)
- Calories: 510 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 1093 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
