Creamy Tortellini bursting with cheesy tortellini, Italian sausage, sweet potatoes, spinach and bacon smothered in a luscious Parmesan cream sauce all made in one skillet in under 30 minutes!
This Creamy Tortellini recipe is about to become a new favorite dinner that’s quick, easy and insanely delicious. Winning! It is an ode to my Zuppa Toscana Soup that’s wonderfully creamy, comforting and hearty but in skillet form! This Creamy Tortellini recipe is loaded with flavor and texture and virtually a meal-in-one. You can customize the protein and veggies because this skillet is all about those tender, pillowy tortellini and lusciously creamy Parmesan sauce.
I can’t believe the advent of spring is officially next week! But before we say hello to everything salad, pasta salad and grilling, you have to make my new Lemon Garlic Shrimp Fettuccine, Swedish Meatballs and this Creamy Tortellini Toscana! I guarantee your family is going to looooove this skillet tortellini and you will love how easy it is with a start to finish time of less than 30 minutes!
Like I previously mentioned, this Creamy Tortellini Toscana idea came from my Zuppa Toscana recipe. If you haven’t tried that soup yet it is amazing along with my other Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup. I wanted to create a dish with a similar flavor profile to my Zuppa Toscana but with pasta – and of course my favorite pasta is tortellini! From my Tortellini Chicken Soup to my Caesar Chicken Tortellini, to my Cheesy Bolognese Tortellini Al Forno, to my Creamy White Bean and Ham Tortellini Soup, tortellini just makes everything better! Because if there is one way to make pasta even more delicious – stuff it with cheeeese!
This Creamy Tortellini is crazy delicious because not only is it bursting with Italian sausage, sweet potatoes, spinach and bacon, the tortellini cooks right in the sauce so all the glorious flavors simmer together and infuse the tortellini and veggies with even more flavor to create a skillet of unbelievable goodness that’s both fresh and comforting at the same time.
HOW TO CUSTOMIZE CREAMY TORTELLINI SKILLET
I’ve kept the bacon as a garnish so that it’s crispy salty goodness doesn’t get lost in the pasta and so you can customize just how decadent you want this Creamy Tortellini Toscana. Here are a few more ways to customize this tortellini recipe:
- Use ground turkey instead of sausage (be prepared to add some more seasonings if you do this)
- Substitute Italian sausage with lean ground beef with a pinch of red pepper flakes
- Add fire roasted diced tomatoes or sun-dried tomatoes
- Substitute kale for Spinach
- Garnish with fresh basil
- Add/substitute sweet potatoes with your favorite veggies such as zucchini or carrots, etc.
This Creamy Tortellini Toscana is super easy for a weeknight meal but tastes like it’s from a gourmet Italian restaurant. Doesn’t get better or tastier than that!
LOOKING FOR MORE ITALIAN PASTA RECIPES?
- Spaghetti Bolognese
- Chicken Parmesan
- Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta
- Baked Italian Meatballs (and Spaghetti)
- One Skillet Cheesy Meaty Penne
- Skinny Fettuccine Alfredo
- Million Dollar Mac and Cheese
- One Pot White Chicken Lasagna Soup
- Parmesan Meatballs and Orzo
- Lemon Garlic Shrimp Fettuccine
WANT TO TRY THIS CREAMY TORTELLINI RECIPE?
Pin it to your PASTA, DINNER, ONE POT, 30 MINUTE MEALS Board to SAVE for later!
Find me on Pinterest for more great recipes! I am always pinning :)!
©Carlsbad Cravings by CarlsbadCravings.com
Creamy Tortellini with Sausage, Sweet Potatoes, Spinach and Bacon!
Save This Recipe To Your Recipe Box
You can now create an account on our site and save your favorite recipes all in one place!
Ingredients
- 16 oz. hot Italian bulk sausage
- 1/2 large onion chopped
- 1 large sweet potato (about ¾ – 1 pound) peeled and cut into 1/2-1-inch cubes
- 3-4 garlic cloves minced
- 1/2 tsp EACH EACH dried parsley, dried rosemary, salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 2 1/2 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup half and half
- 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 20 oz. bag quality refrigerated cheese tortellini
- 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 heaping cups baby spinach torn into pieces
Garnish
- 4-6 bacon strip cooked and crumbled
- chopped parsley
- freshly grated Parmesan
Instructions
- Heat a Dutch oven or large skillet with tall sides, to medium high heat. Add sausage, onions, and sweet potatoes and cook until sausage is cooked through. Drain grease.
- Add garlic, parsley, rosemary, salt and pepper and sauté for 30 seconds. Stir in 1 cup chicken broth and cover. Let cook 2-3 minutes or until potatoes are almost cooked through.
- Remove lid and add tortellini and remaining chicken broth. Whisk half and half with cornstarch and stir into skillet. Simmer until tortellini is cooked, approximately 6-8 minutes, stirring often so it cooks evenly.
- Stir in Parmesan until melted. Stir in spinach a handful at a time until it wilts, then stir in more. Stir in milk or half a little at time if needed to reach desired consistency.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with bacon, fresh parsley and additional Parmesan if desired.
Want To Make This Recipe?
Did You Make This Recipe?
Tag @CarlsbadCravings and Use #CarlsbadCravngs
Leave a Review, I Always Love Hearing From You!
©Carlsbad Cravings Original
Aimee says
Be still my heart! Spring can hold off a bit so I can enjoy more dishes like this one.
Jen says
Ah, thanks so much Aimee! I am excited for you to try it, its sooo good!
Wendy says
While I have never had Olive Gardens soup I could eat that soup every day for weeks!! It was delicious and this recipe looks no less amazing. Yes, grilling season can wait ( can’t believe I just said that??). Thank you for this recipe Jen☺
Jen says
You are so welcome Wendy! I’m so happy you loved my Zuppa Toscana and I hope you love this Tortellini just as much!
Amy says
Do you have a specific brand of tortellini that you like? Love ALL your recipes! Can’t wait to try this one!
Jen says
I really like Trader Joes tortellini as well as Rana and even Buitoni – you usually can’t go wrong as long as it’s fresh/refrigerated!
Paddy says
Hey Jen
You nailed it again, if you got my last e-mail while I was cookin I now apologize, I just freaked out, but some how I added I think the right amount of corn starch, YOU STILL ROCK!!! My wife Sandy and I both Loved this dinner !!!! You are truly amazing, how does your husband stay so thin? I have also had my fare share of health problems so I can’t do evrything I was once able and proud to do, so I turned to finding super joy in cookin, like you I am IN LOVE WITH OUR LORD, and now I have found a real lot of inspiration from your life and story and your recipies are THE BOMB! I thank you for sharing , uda best
Jen says
Hi Paddy, I’m sorry about the cornstarch but thanks for bringing that to my attention so I could update the recipe! But phew, I’m so glad you guessed the right amount and that you both loved it so much – yay! Thank you especially for your super kind words! I am humbled you are inspired by my story. It sounds like you have been through a lot and I have no doubt I would be inspired by your story as well. We are definitely kindred spirits in our love of cooking and the Lord! uda best too 🙂 xoxo
Jessica Ford says
This was AMAZING! So many flavors, but they blend together well. I can’t wait to try it again, maybe with shredded chicken. So yummy!
Jen says
I am so happy you made it already and loved it! And yes, it definitely would be delicious with shredded chicken! Thanks Jessica!
Susan says
Made this last night. My husband took one bite and said “this is awesome” about a hundred times. Thanks again for another winner! 🙂 I did substitute carrots for sweet potato because even though a sweet potato was on my grocery list, only carrots made it into the cart! Anyhow I did cook them about 10 minutes longer before adding the tortellini.
Jen says
Love that winning response! And great call on subbing the carrots and cooking them a little longer – I’m sure that was fabulous as well! I’m so happy you loved it, thanks Susan!
Laura says
The whole family loved this dish. It was so easy to prepare and really did take about 30 minutes. Jen, your recipes are so full of flavor and the instructions and tips you offer make my cooking come out looking just like your beautiful pictures!
Jen says
Awesome Laura, I’m am thrilled it was a hit with the whole family! Thank you especially for your kind words. It means so much to me that you are enjoying my recipes and finding the tips helpful!
Chrissi says
My whole family, kids and all LOVED this! I chose to customize per your suggestion of using chicken. I used a rotisserie chicken instead of sausage, a whole bag of spinach with stems removed, bacon bits, and fresh grated parmesan cheese. I added a little more chicken broth but Everything else the same. It was amazing! My very picky 10 year old says its now his 3rd favorite meal. Thank you for a very yummy recipe!!
Jen says
Thanks so much for your comment Chrissi, I’m thrilled this was a huge hit and you were able to make those easy substitutions! I’m honored this is your picky 10 year olds “3rd favorite meal” :)!
Renee Davey says
I found this on Pinterest and it is absolutely fabulous! All the flavors are wonderful! Thank you!!!
Jen says
Welcome to my site! I am thrilled you loved this Creamy Tortellini! I hope you have fun exploring!
Megan says
THIS IS THE BEST!! I swear this is my favorite website EVERY SINGLE recipe I recreate is amazing! You’re the best!
Jen says
Thank you for making my day Megan! I’m honored and so happy you are loving my site and recipes! Thanks for making them!
Janie Bechdolt says
I made this for supper tonight and it was a huge hit with the whole family! I followed the recipe exactly with perfect results. It’s a keeper!
Jen says
YAY! I love hearing this tortellini is a winner and a keeper! Thanks Janie!
jean nordly says
ok, I tried this recipe–it is outstanding. very tasty, the sausage has a bit of kick to it, wasn’t sure about sweet potatoes and spinach, but it was really good. on my “make again” list. only problem –it makes a lot. OH, well, I really like leftovers.
Jen says
Awesome Jena, I’m so pleased it will be on repeat!
yonnie palmer says
Always a great recipe. I have made it 4 or 5 times. It’s good with the fire-roasted tomatoes, too. I usually follow the recipe as is. Making the bacon early and preparing the first two steps is possible. Clean up and then later make it right before company comes.
Jen says
I’m so glad this is a repeat recipe! Thank you so much, Yonnie!
Brenda says
Another yummy recipe! I did swap out the sweet potato for carrots but other than that made as written. Definitely a keeper.
Jen says
I’m so happy to hear this will be a repeat!
Joan O'Brien says
I made this tonight but didn’t notice bulk in the sausage description and put whole sausages in the pan. I did break them up though. This is a delicious recipe!
Jen says
I’m so glad you loved this Joan! It sounds like you used link sausages, which work too and still give you delicious flavor! Links just take a little more effort to break apart while cooking.