Marry Me Tortellini
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 319kcal
Marry Me Tortellini transforms the rich and satisfying goodness of the Italian chicken dinner into an ultra comforting bowl of cheesy pasta. This one-pan wonder comes together in just 30 minutes - perfect for a quick and easy family meal or when you want to impress dinner guests!
Print Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound Italian sausage sweet or hot, casings removed
- 1 shallot minced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, drained and chopped
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Pinch red pepper flakes optional
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese grated
- 1 20-ounce package cheese tortellini fresh or dried
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice plus 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 2 cups baby spinach
- Fresh basil leaves for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook 1/2 pound Italian sausage breaking up with a spoon.
- Add 1 shallot and 3 cloves garlic. Sauté for 1-2 minutes, until fragrant.
- Stir in the 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes, 2 cups chicken broth, 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon paprika, Pinch red pepper flakes, and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
- Reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Add the 1 20-ounce package cheese tortellini and simmer for 5–10 minutes until the tortellini is tender.
- Turn the heat off and add in the 1/2 cup heavy cream, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, 1 Tablespoon lemon juice, 2 cups baby spinach. Stir to combine and wilt the spinach.
- Garnish with fresh basil and enjoy!
Notes
Storing
- Store leftover Marry Me tortellini in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- While possible, freezing is not recommended for this dish as the pasta may become mushy upon thawing. If freezing, store in portioned containers for up to 1 month, but expect a slight change to the texture, especially due to the heavy cream in the sauce.
- Gently reheat leftovers on the stovetop with a splash of broth or cream to restore its texture, stirring frequently over medium-low heat until warmed through.
- Cook the tortellini directly in the sauce to let it absorb the rich flavors while simplifying cleanup and adding convenience without having to cook the pasta separately.
- Add the tortellini towards the second half of cooking to ensure it stays al dente, as overcooking it in the simmering broth can turn it mushy.
- Stir the tortellini occasionally as it simmers to prevent sticking and ensure even absorption of the broth.
- Taste and adjust seasoning just before serving.
- Let the dish rest for a few minutes after completion to allow the sauce to thicken and cling to the tortellini.
- Use a large enough skillet or Dutch oven to comfortably hold all of the ingredients.
- Fresh tortellini cooks faster than dried. Make sure to check the package cooking instructions to prevent overcooking and adjust the time accordingly.
- Add 1 tablespoon of sun-dried tomato oil for a boost of flavor. I recommend only doing this towards the end of the cooking time to better assess whether it’s needed/desired.
- Scraping up the browned bits (fond) is crucial because it dissolves those flavorful, caramelized bits from the sausage into the sauce, creating a richer, deeper, and more complex flavor base.
- Gluten-Free - Use gluten-free tortellini.
- Vegetarian Marry Me Tortellini- Swap the sausage for vegetables (mushrooms, broccoli, carrots, celery, bell peppers, additional spinach). Just remember to drain any excess moisture from the vegetables before adding them.
- Extra creamy sauce - Add softened cream cheese or more heavy cream for a thicker and creamier sauce. Adjust the other liquids to achieve the desired consistency.
- Spicy Marry Me Tortellini - If you want to turn up the heat, use hot Italian sausage and increase the red pepper flakes.
- Low-carb Marry Me Tortellini - Swap the tortellini for zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash.
- Dairy-free Marry Me Tortellini - Use dairy-free parmesan or nutritional yeast instead of real parmesan, replace the heavy cream with coconut cream or coconut milk, and make sure the cheese tortellini are dairy-free or use mushroom or spinach tortellini instead.
- Meaty twists - Use browned ground beef, bacon, chicken, or shrimp.
Nutrition
Calories: 319kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 726mg | Potassium: 541mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1547IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 152mg | Iron: 2mg