Tortellini and Sausage Bake

5 from 9 votes

This cheesy Tortellini and Sausage bake is comfort food at its best! Delicious tortellini pasta, crumbled Italian sausage, and marinara sauce is topped with a layer of creamy ricotta. It's a 30-minute crowd pleaser that's also perfect for a busy weeknight

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 20

Total Time 30

Servings servings

Calories 510

Author Jessica Kwon

Ingredients

16 oz full-fat ricotta cheese
1 egg
1 tablespoon cooking oil
¾ lb Italian pork sausage about 3-4 links (see notes)
½ onion chopped; about 1 cup
3-4 cloves garlic minced
24 oz marinara sauce
½ cup water or broth
16-20 oz refrigerated tortellini I used spinach tortellini
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

In a bowl, whisk ricotta, egg, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Set aside.
In a large oven-safe skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. When hot, add sausage and crumble. When halfway cooked, add onion to soften for 3-4 minutes. Then stir in garlic for 30 seconds.
Pour in marinara sauce and use your wooden spoon to scrape any browned bits on the bottom. Then add the water or broth into the empty marinara jar and shake well to get every drop of marinara sauce. Pour into pan. Season with salt and pepper and simmer for 5-10 minutes. Meanwhile, turn the Broil function on your oven.
Turn off the heat. Season the sauce to taste, then add the tortellini and stir well. Spread an even layer of the ricotta mixture on top and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
Broil in oven for 3-5 minutes or until top is golden brown. Keep an eye on it! Then let cool for a couple minutes before serving. Option to top with fresh basil.

Notes

Sausage: You can use either hot or sweet pork sausage. If using sausage links, make sure to cut a slit through the center and remove the casings first.
In a casserole dish: If you don't have a large pan that can be used on the stove and in the oven, use a baking dish instead. In a skillet, cook the sausage, vegetables, and sauce. While it's simmering, grease the casserole dish and add the tortellini. Pour the sauce on top, mix to combine, and then top with the cheeses. Broil as directed.
Substitutions:
- Substitute the Italian sausage with ground pork, beef, turkey, chicken, or crumbled tofu. You can even use shredded rotisserie chicken. Make sure to add some dried herbs and spices for more flavor.
- Instead of refrigerated tortellini, you can use frozen tortellini. Bake at 350°F for 15-20 minutes, covered. Then broil for 3-5 minutes until golden brown on top.
- If you want to make this with shelf-stable tortellini or ravioli, par-cook it in boiling water first. It should be very al dente, about 3 minutes less than written.
- You don't have to use a 24 oz jar of red sauce, but take into the account the amount of liquid you're adding. You want a total of 28 oz (3½ cups) liquid. So use a 28 oz jar of marinara or a smaller jar plus water. Reminder: 4 oz = ½ cup.

Nutrition