Description
This One Pot Spicy Sausage Tortellini is a comforting and flavorful Italian-inspired dish featuring savory sausage meat, rich tomato cream sauce, and tender cheese tortellini, all cooked together in one pot for easy preparation and minimal cleanup. Perfect for a cozy weeknight dinner, this recipe balances a subtle kick of chili with creamy textures and fresh spinach, finished with Parmesan and parsley for extra depth of flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Aromatics
- Drizzle of Olive Oil
- 2 Shallots, finely diced
- 4 cloves Garlic, finely diced
- 400g / 14oz Sausage Meat (pork sausages squeezed or ground sausage meat, neutral or Italian flavored)
Sauce and Seasonings
- 2 tbsp Tomato Puree (Tomato Paste)
- 1 tsp Dried Chilli Flakes
- 1 x 400g / 14oz can Chopped Tomatoes
- 240ml / 1 cup Chicken Stock
- 240ml / 1 cup Double/Heavy Cream, at room temperature
- Salt & Pepper, to taste
Pasta and Greens
- 500g / 1lb uncooked fresh Cheese Tortellini (e.g., Cheese or Spinach and Ricotta)
- 100g / 3.5oz Baby Spinach Leaves, large stalks removed if desired
- 2 heaped tbsp finely diced Fresh Parsley, plus more for serving
- 20g / 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan, plus more for serving
Instructions
- Prepare base flavors: Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the finely diced shallots and fry gently for about 2 minutes until softened but not browned. Add the garlic and fry for an additional 30 seconds, taking care not to color them to avoid bitterness.
- Cook sausage: Add the sausage meat to the pot, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Cook until the sausage is golden and cooked through. You may raise the heat slightly to caramelize the sausage, but watch closely to ensure the shallots and garlic do not burn.
- Add spices and tomato base: Stir in the dried chili flakes and tomato puree, frying for about 1 minute to release flavors. Then add the canned chopped tomatoes, chicken stock, and room temperature cream. Stir to combine.
- Simmer tortellini: Add the uncooked cheese tortellini to the pot. Simmer gently for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and the tortellini is nearly cooked al dente.
- Finish the sauce and greens: Stir in the fresh parsley and grated Parmesan until well blended into the sauce. Add the baby spinach leaves and stir until they start to wilt, signaling the tortellini is perfectly cooked and the sauce is creamy but not watery.
- Adjust consistency and seasoning: If needed, add a splash of hot stock or water to thin the sauce or help cook the tortellini further. Season the dish generously with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve and enjoy: Spoon the spicy sausage tortellini into bowls. Garnish with extra parsley and Parmesan if desired. Serve immediately for a comforting, hearty meal.
Notes
- Sausage Options: You can use pork sausages with casings removed or ready ground sausage meat. Neutral or Italian-herb flavored sausages work best.
- Spice Level: One teaspoon chili flakes adds a noticeable but balanced heat. Adjust to your preference by reducing or adding more after cooking.
- Tortellini Variations: Cheese tortellini is recommended, but spinach and ricotta tortellini is a delicious alternative.
- Calories: The nutritional estimates are based on dividing the entire recipe into 4 servings without additional Parmesan toppings.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 recipe
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
