Creamy Garlic Parmesan Tortellini with Sausage and Broccoli
A quick, comforting one-pan meal featuring cheese tortellini and tender broccoli tossed in a rich, homemade Parmesan cream sauce with savory crumbled Italian sausage.
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 25 minutes mins
Course DINNER
Cuisine Italian
- Cheese tortellini: 1 package about 20 oz
- Italian sausage mild or spicy: 1 lb
- Broccoli florets: 3 cups
- Garlic: 3 cloves minced
- Heavy cream: 1 cup
- Parmesan cheese: 1 cup freshly grated
- Olive oil: 1 tablespoon
- Salt: 1/2 teaspoon
- Black pepper: 1/4 teaspoon
- Red pepper flakes: 1/4 teaspoon optional
Cook Sausage: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook, breaking it into crumbles, until browned and cooked through. Transfer the cooked sausage to a plate and set aside.
Sauté Garlic: In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium. Add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Prepare Sauce: Pour in the heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Stir in the grated parmesan cheese until fully melted and the sauce is smooth. Season with salt, pepper, and the optional red pepper flakes.
Cook Tortellini & Broccoli: Meanwhile, cook the tortellini in a large pot of salted boiling water according to the package instructions. Add the broccoli florets during the last 2-3 minutes of cooking. Drain the tortellini and broccoli together.
Combine: Add the cooked sausage, drained tortellini, and broccoli to the skillet with the sauce. Toss everything to coat well.
Serve: Serve hot, garnished with extra parmesan and cracked black pepper.
Using freshly grated Parmesan will ensure the sauce is smooth and not grainy.
You can substitute spinach or peas for the broccoli.
If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to thin it out.