Welcome to the first Meals Made Easy recipe!!! Congratulations! I am so glad you guys are here and I hope you stick around for a while! As you know, I will be creating one new and exclusive recipe a week! So make sure you’re subscribed and don’t forget to check your inbox Sunday morning! You’ve got mail!
Since having Collins a little over 3 months ago my cooking has gotten more simple (still delicious) but simple in the fact that I need to get it prepped and ready in the 30-45 minutes of peace and quiet I get a day! This had me thinking, if I don’t want to dirty tons of dishes and spend time planning recipes, I bet I’m not alone. Cue the beginning of something amazing.
I am making it my mission to create quick, easy, simple and delicious meals you can throw together in no time, all without making a huge mess in the kitchen! You’re going to see lots of one-pot, one-pan, oven-ready, skillet meals! So get ready, its going to be a yummy ride.
Now onto our first and quite possibly your favorite dish, Sausage Tortellini Bake. This week we are starting out with one of the most simple dishes, mine and everyone’s favorite, baked pasta! Let the oven do all the work. that’s my moto.
This is one of my favorite meals because it is super versatile and can be made with your choice of protein, sauce, pasta and veggies! Depending on your dietary needs and or restrictions you can tailor this to fit exactly what you need and want!
Make sure to share your photos with me @brookslately on Instagram. I can’t wait to for you and your family to start cooking! See you next week! Enjoy
XOXO,
Caroline
sausage tortellini bake
Serves 4-6
Tools:
Large skillet
9 x 13 casserole dish
Foil
Ingredients:
1 lb spicy Italian sausage
1 (20 ounce) bag of 5 cheese tortellini
1 (24 ounce) jar Rao’s Tomato Basil Sauce
1/2 cup water
1 cup chopped spinach
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Remove the casings from your sausage and add your 1 lb spicy Italian sausage to a large skillet over medium high heat. Use a wooden spoon or spatula to crumble into 1 inch pieces and cook for about 3-5 minutes, or until browned.
Pour cooked sausage into casserole dish. Add in 1 (20 ounce) bag of uncooked 5 cheese tortellini, 1 (24 ounce) jar Rao’s Tomato Basil Sauce, 1/2 cup water, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper. Stir to mix all ingredients evenly. Top with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
After 20 minutes, remove casserole dish from the oven and discard foil. Stir in 1 cup chopped spinach. Top with 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese. Place back into oven for 10 minutes.
Serve and enjoy!
stove top version
apparently some people don’t like “baked” pastas. So, I’m going to share a one-pot version you can make just as quick and easily on the stove!
one-pot cheesy sausage tortellini
Serves 4-6
Tools:
Large skillet
Ingredients:
1 lb spicy Italian sausage
1 (20 ounce) bag of 5 cheese tortellini
1 (24 ounce) jar Rao’s Tomato Basil Sauce
1/2 cup water
1 cup chopped spinach
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
Directions:
Add your 1 lb spicy Italian sausage to a large skillet (or dutch oven) over medium high heat. Use a wooden spoon or spatula to crumble into 1 inch pieces and cook for about 3-5 minutes, or until browned.
Once sausage is cooked, add in 1 (20 ounce) bag of uncooked 5 cheese tortellini, 1 (24 ounce) jar Rao’s Tomato Basil Sauce, 1/2 cup water, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper. Stir to mix all ingredients evenly. Turn heat to high and bring to a boil. Once boiling, turn heat down to med/low and cover with a lid.
Cook on medium/low until pasta is cooked through, about 10-15 minutes. Stir frequently! Stir in 1 cup chopped spinach. Add in 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese. Mix until cheese is melted and spinach is wilted.
Serve and enjoy!
ingredient swaps
1 lb spicy Italian sausage-
Don’t like Italian sausage? Sub for chicken sausage, ground chicken, ground turkey.
If using chicken sausage cut into coins and brown just like Italian sausage.
If using ground chicken or turkey add in 1 tbsp of Italian seasoning and a dash of red pepper flakes, while browning.
Want to make it meatless? Just leave the meat out completely. You can cook some mushrooms and onions in place of the meat to sneak in some more veggies! Just chop your veggies and sauté in a little oil for about 5 minutes (in place of meat). Follow the rest of the steps as written.
1 (20 ounce) bag of 5 cheese tortellini
Dairy free? You can swap this for an all meat stuffed tortellini.
If you want to make this a little lighter swap the tortellini for some regular pasta. I think any tube pasta works best. Rigatoni, penne, or ziti are a few of my favorites!
Gluten free? Use your favorite gluten free pastas. I like Banza brand! If using gluten free pasta make sure to boil separately. Cook according to package instructions. Gluten free pasta tends to get chewy if you slow cook it!
1 (24 ounce) jar Rao’s Tomato Basil Sauce
I love this brand because it has whole REAL ingredients without any added sugar. If you have another favorite premade sauce feel free to use that!
Don’t like tomato sauce? You can use a jarred cream sauce in place of the tomato sauce! This will make a delicious creamy sausage alfredo situation.
TIPS: Keep the sauce on low the whole time until simmering (little bubble around the edge of the pan) don’t bring to a boil! If you need to thin it out just add a touch more water! Stir frequently while pasta is cooking in the sauce!
Want a simple pesto or butter sauce? Brown sausage. In a separate pot boil pasta. Once pasta is cooked, drain and add to meat. Stir in pesto or butter. Turn heat to medium, add in spinach and cheese and stir!
1 cup chopped spinach
Not a fan of spinach? You can leave this out or swap this for any leafy green. Chopped kale, arugula or even some peas would be delicious!
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Dairy free? Leave this out or use one of your favorite dairy free cheese brands.
Don’t want mozzarella you could add parmesan cheese instead! It will mix and melt nicely while adding a salty, nutty bite!
salt
Let’s get this straight. CHECK YOUR SALT! If you are still using plain old table salt to season your food (kindly) you’re doing it wrong!!
Go to the store and grab Kosher Salt! It is the best way to season while cooking. The larger crystals allow it to melt more nicely and gives it a subtle salty flavor! Keep the table salt for baking.
Low sodium? You could leave the salt out completely. The sausage and sauce has plenty of flavor.
pepper
PEPPER, one of my favorites and another super important ingredient! You need a pepper grinder! A pepper grinder allows for a much more fresh pepper flavor and really makes such a difference in your cooking!
Grab a cheap pepper grinder on amazon and whole pepper corns at the store and get grinding. Trust me!
Hope you guys love this recipe as much as I do! Don’t forget to tag me when you make this @brookslatey on Instagram. I can’t wait to see! If you’d like to receive another recipe next week make sure to subscribe below! Happy Cooking!