Italian Sausage Tortellini Casserole Recipe
This Italian Sausage Tortellini Casserole is a comforting and hearty dish featuring tender cheese tortellini combined with flavorful ground Italian sausage, seasoned with classic Italian herbs and spices, and baked with gooey mozzarella and parmesan cheeses. Perfect for a family dinner, this easy-to-make casserole blends savory sausage and rich pasta sauce for a satisfying meal in just 45 minutes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 19 oz package frozen cheese tortellini
- 1 lb ground Italian sausage
- 24 oz jar pasta sauce
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp ground oregano
- 1 tsp ground basil
- 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- Parsley to garnish
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to get it ready for baking the casserole later.
- Cook Tortellini: Boil the frozen cheese tortellini according to the package instructions for about 3 minutes until tender. Drain well and transfer the cooked tortellini into a large mixing bowl.
- Cook Sausage: In a medium skillet over medium heat, cook the ground Italian sausage, breaking it apart with a spoon, until it is fully cooked and no longer pink. Drain excess grease and add the cooked sausage to the bowl with the tortellini.
- Add Seasonings and Sauce: Sprinkle in garlic powder, ground oregano, and ground basil, then add the parmesan cheese and the jar of pasta sauce. Toss everything together gently to ensure the tortellini and sausage are evenly coated with the sauce and seasonings.
- Assemble Casserole: Grease an 8x8 inch casserole dish and pour in the tortellini mixture. Spread everything out in an even layer for uniform cooking.
- Bake and Broil: Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the casserole. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. After baking, remove the foil and switch your oven to broil. Broil the casserole for a few minutes until the cheese is bubbly and perfectly melted with a golden top.
- Garnish and Serve: Finely chop some fresh parsley and sprinkle it over the casserole for a fresh, colorful garnish before serving.
Notes
- Use mild or spicy Italian sausage depending on your preference for heat.
- For a lighter version, use ground turkey sausage and low-fat cheeses.
- You can add vegetables like spinach or bell peppers for extra nutrition and flavor.
- If you don’t have a broiler, bake the casserole uncovered for an additional 5–7 minutes to melt the cheese thoroughly.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
