Buzz
Photo by Fred HardyOne secret to quick and easy weeknight meals: always have store-bought tortellini in your fridge or freezer. It's a lifesaver on evenings when you need to cook but don't feel like it. Plus, it gets dinner ready in under 30 minutes.
For this tortellini dish, hot Italian sausage is browned, then garlic and rosemary enhance the flavor. A bit of cream and Parmesan make the cheesy sauce, blending with the savory sausage for richness. When adding greens to the sauce, choose your preferred level of bitterness or what you have on hand. Spinach, kale, and escarole are great options.
There are countless tasty tortellini variations to try. Get creative with different fillings beyond cheese, and feel free to experiment with ravioli. Tortellini stuffed with spinach, mushrooms, or sausage will offer even more flavor options.
Ingredients List
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1 20-oz. pkg. refrigerated cheese-filled tortellini
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1 Tbsp olive oil
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8 oz mild or hot Italian pork sausage, casings removed if needed
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1 Tbsp finely chopped garlic (from 3 cloves)
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2 tsp finely chopped fresh rosemary, plus more for garnish
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1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper, plus extra for garnish
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1/2 cup heavy cream
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1 cup grated Parmesan cheese (about 1 1/2 oz.), plus extra for garnish
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8 cups packed spinach leaves, chopped escarole, or chopped kale
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1/4 tsp kosher salt
Cooking Instructions
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Prepare tortellini according to package instructions. Drain.
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In the meantime, heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Crumble sausage into small pieces and add to the pot. Cook, stirring halfway through, until browned in spots, about 4 to 6 minutes.
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Add garlic, rosemary, and pepper to the pot. Cook while stirring occasionally and breaking up the sausage with a spoon until fully cooked, about 2 minutes. Stir in cream and Parmesan cheese. Continue stirring and scrape up the brown bits from the pot’s bottom until the mixture reduces slightly, about 1 minute.
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Stir in spinach and cook, stirring frequently, until the leaves begin to wilt, about 1 minute. Remove from heat. Add salt and cooked tortellini, stirring until the tortellini is fully coated with the sauce, about 30 seconds. Serve with additional cheese, rosemary, and pepper on top.
