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Crockpot Creamy Tuscan Sausage Tortellini Easy Dinner Recipe

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This Crockpot Creamy Tuscan Sausage Tortellini is a comforting, crowd-pleasing dinner featuring savory Italian sausage, cheesy tortellini, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach in a luscious, creamy sauce. It’s an easy, dump-and-go slow cooker meal perfect for busy weeknights or cozy gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound Italian sausage (mild or spicy, casings removed)
  • 20 ounces refrigerated cheese tortellini (fresh preferred, frozen works with extra time)
  • 3 cups chicken broth (low-sodium preferred)
  • 8 ounces cream cheese (room temperature, cut into cubes)
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes (thinly sliced, oil-packed and patted dry)
  • 5 ounces fresh baby spinach
  • 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
  • 4 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Kosher salt and black pepper to taste
  • Fresh basil leaves (optional, for garnish)
  • Extra parmesan cheese (optional, for serving)

Instructions

  1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add Italian sausage, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Sauté until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
  2. Transfer the cooked sausage to a 6-quart crockpot. Add chicken broth, cream cheese (cubed), heavy cream, sun-dried tomatoes, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes (if using). Stir gently to combine.
  3. Cover and cook on LOW for 3-4 hours. After about 1 hour, stir gently to help the cream cheese incorporate.
  4. Stir in cheese tortellini. Re-cover and cook on LOW for another 30-40 minutes (add 10 minutes if using frozen tortellini), stirring once halfway through. Tortellini should be tender but not mushy.
  5. Stir in fresh baby spinach and shredded parmesan. Cook uncovered for 5-10 minutes until spinach wilts and parmesan melts. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
  6. Serve hot, garnished with fresh basil and extra parmesan if desired. The sauce will thicken as it cools.

Notes

For a lighter version, use turkey or chicken sausage and swap heavy cream for half-and-half. Add tortellini only in the last 30-40 minutes to prevent mushiness. If sauce is too thick, add a splash of broth or cream; if too thin, cook uncovered for a few minutes. Can be made gluten-free or dairy-free with appropriate substitutions. Leftovers reheat well with a splash of milk or broth.

Nutrition

Keywords: crockpot, slow cooker, Tuscan, sausage, tortellini, creamy, easy dinner, comfort food, Italian, family meal

Find it online: https://tempotaste.com/crockpot-creamy-tuscan-sausage-tortellini-easy-dinner-recipe/