Description
A comforting and hearty Crockpot Cheese Tortellini and Sausage recipe that combines flavorful Italian sausage, rich tomato sauce, tender cheese tortellini, and melted mozzarella cheese into an easy, slow-cooked meal perfect for busy days.
Ingredients
Scale
Sausage and Vegetables
- 1 pound Italian sausage (sweet or spicy, casings removed)
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Tomato Base
- 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
Pasta and Cheese
- 1 (9-ounce) package cheese tortellini (fresh or frozen)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Garnish and Seasonings
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Brown the Sausage: In a skillet over medium heat, brown the Italian sausage until fully cooked, breaking it apart with a spatula. Drain excess fat and set aside.
- Prepare the Crockpot: In the crockpot, combine the browned sausage, diced onion, minced garlic, crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes if using, and broth. Stir to combine all ingredients thoroughly.
- Cook: Cover the crockpot and cook on low for 4–6 hours or on high for 2–3 hours to allow flavors to meld and the vegetables to soften.
- Add Tortellini: About 15–20 minutes before serving, stir in the cheese tortellini. Cover and cook until the tortellini is tender—fresh tortellini will take about 10 minutes, frozen tortellini may need a bit longer.
- Finish and Serve: Once the tortellini is cooked through, stir in the shredded mozzarella cheese until melted and well combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley if desired. Serve hot.
Notes
- Use either sweet or spicy Italian sausage based on your preference.
- Fresh tortellini cooks faster than frozen; adjust cooking time accordingly.
- Red pepper flakes are optional and can be adjusted to control heat level.
- If you prefer, substitute vegetable broth for chicken broth to make it vegetarian-friendly by using vegetarian sausage.
- Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and can be reheated gently on the stovetop or microwave.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours (on high) to 6 hours (on low)
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: Crockpot meal, slow cooker, cheese tortellini, Italian sausage, comfort food, easy dinner, sausage pasta, one-pot meal
