Description
A hearty and creamy tortellini and sausage bake that combines savory Italian sausage with rich ricotta cheese and marinara sauce, then broiled to perfection with a golden cheese topping. Perfect for a comfort-food dinner that is easy to prepare and full of flavor.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Ricotta Mixture
- 16 oz full-fat ricotta cheese
- 1 egg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black 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, salt, and pepper until smooth. Set aside.
- Cook Sausage and Vegetables: Heat oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage, crumble, and cook until browned. When halfway cooked, add chopped onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Make Sauce: Pour marinara sauce into the skillet, scraping up browned bits from the bottom. Shake water or broth into the marinara jar, swirl to get all sauce, and pour into the skillet. Season with salt and pepper, then simmer for 5-10 minutes.
- Preheat Broiler: Turn on the oven’s broil setting to prepare for finishing.
- Combine and Top: Turn off heat, check seasoning, then stir in cooked tortellini. Spread ricotta mixture evenly over the top and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
- Broil: Place the skillet under the broiler for 3-5 minutes, watching carefully until the top is golden brown.
- Serve: Remove from oven, let cool for a couple of minutes, then serve. Garnish with fresh basil if desired.
Notes
- Sausage options include hot or sweet pork sausage. Remove casings if links are used.
- If using a casserole dish instead of a skillet, assemble ingredients and bake at 350°F for 15-20 minutes, then broil for 3-5 minutes.
- Substitute sausage with ground pork, beef, turkey, or chicken. For a vegetarian option, Crumbled tofu works well.
- Frozen tortellini can be used; bake covered at 350°F for 15-20 minutes before broiling.
- For shelf-stable tortellini, par-cook in boiling water for about 2-3 minutes less than package instructions.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- 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
