Description
This Sausage Pesto Tortellini Casserole is a comforting and flavorful baked pasta dish combining cheesy tortellini, savory sausage, fresh spinach, and grape tomatoes all topped with melted mozzarella. It’s perfect for a family dinner and comes together in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Tortellini and Sauce
- 1 package three cheese tortellini (1 lb)
- 7 oz pesto
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
For the Sausage and Vegetables
- 3 sweet chicken sausages (or pork sausages)
- 3 cups fresh spinach
- 1 cup grape tomatoes
For the Cheese Topping
- 20 oz shredded mozzarella cheese (divided)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for baking the casserole later.
- Cook the tortellini: Bring a large pot of water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the tortellini and cook according to package instructions, usually 5-7 minutes, but be sure to cook 1-2 minutes less than recommended for a firmer texture. Drain the tortellini and return it to the pot. Stir in the pesto gently until evenly coated.
- Preheat a skillet: While the tortellini cooks, heat a large skillet over medium heat and add 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
- Cook the sausages: Slice the sausages into bite-sized pieces and add them to the hot skillet. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring often, until the sausages are nicely browned. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Combine ingredients: Add the browned sausages, grape tomatoes, fresh spinach, and most of the shredded mozzarella (reserve about 1 cup for topping) to the pot with the tortellini. Stir gently to combine, being careful not to crush the tomatoes or tortellini.
- Prepare the casserole dish and bake: Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to a 9-inch casserole dish and spread it evenly. Transfer the tortellini mixture into the dish and top with the reserved mozzarella cheese. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes until the cheese on top is golden and lightly browned.
- Serve: Remove from oven and serve warm. Enjoy your flavorful sausage pesto tortellini casserole!
Notes
- Cooking tortellini slightly under al dente ensures it does not overcook during baking.
- You can substitute sweet chicken sausages with pork sausages or any preferred sausage variety.
- Reserve some mozzarella cheese to create a golden, melty topping.
- Use fresh spinach and grape tomatoes for vibrant color and freshness in the dish.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated in the oven or microwave.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Keywords: sausage pesto casserole, tortellini bake, easy baked pasta, cheesy tortellini, sausage pasta casserole
