Description
This Crockpot Cheese Tortellini and Sausage is a comforting and hearty slow-cooked meal featuring tender cheese tortellini, flavorful Italian sausage, and a rich marinara tomato sauce, all simmered to perfection in a crockpot for an easy, hands-off dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Sausage and Tortellini
- 1 pound Italian sausage (mild or spicy, sliced or crumbled)
- 20 oz refrigerated cheese tortellini
Sauce and Seasonings
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara or tomato pasta sauce
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes (undrained)
- 1/2 cup water or low-sodium broth
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Topping and Garnish
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- Fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Brown the sausage: In a skillet over medium heat, cook the Italian sausage until fully browned and cooked through. Drain any excess grease to avoid a greasy final dish.
- Prepare sauce base: In your crockpot, combine the marinara sauce, undrained diced tomatoes, water or low-sodium broth, and all the seasonings including Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Stir thoroughly to blend flavors.
- Add sausage and tortellini: Place the browned sausage and the uncooked cheese tortellini into the crockpot with the sauce mixture. Stir gently so the tortellini is well coated but not broken up.
- Cook the dish: Cover the crockpot with its lid and cook on the low setting for 3 to 4 hours, or until the tortellini is tender and the flavors meld beautifully.
- Add cheese topping: About 10 minutes before serving, sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top. Cover again to allow the cheese to melt and become gooey.
- Garnish and serve: Once the cheese is melted, garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired for a pop of color and freshness. Serve warm directly from the crockpot.
Notes
- Use mild or spicy sausage based on your heat preference.
- For a richer flavor, substitute water with low-sodium chicken broth.
- If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can reduce the liquid slightly or cook the crockpot uncovered for the last 30 minutes.
- To make this dish vegetarian, substitute sausage with plant-based sausage alternatives.
- Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheat easily in the microwave.
