Description
This Creamy Crockpot Tortellini is a comforting Italian-American slow cooker dish featuring tender cheese tortellini, savory Italian sausage, and a rich tomato and cream cheese sauce. Easy to prepare and perfect for a cozy meal, this recipe combines fresh spinach and flavorful seasonings to create a hearty and satisfying main course.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 (20 oz) package refrigerated cheese tortellini
- 1 pound Italian sausage (mild or spicy)
- 3 cups baby spinach
- 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (8 oz) block cream cheese, cubed
- 2 cups chicken broth
Seasonings
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Cook the Sausage: In a skillet over medium heat, brown the Italian sausage until fully cooked, breaking it into crumbles as it cooks. Drain any excess fat if necessary.
- Combine Ingredients in Slow Cooker: Add the cooked sausage to the slow cooker along with crushed tomatoes, cubed cream cheese, chicken broth, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning. Stir well to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Slow Cook: Cover the slow cooker and set it to cook on low for 3 to 4 hours, allowing flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken.
- Add Tortellini and Spinach: About 30 minutes before serving, stir in the refrigerated cheese tortellini and baby spinach. Cover again and cook on low until the tortellini is tender and the spinach is wilted, approximately 25 to 30 minutes.
- Final Stir and Serve: Gently stir the dish once more before serving to evenly distribute the ingredients and sauce. Optionally, sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese for added richness.
Notes
- For extra richness, stir in 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese just before serving.
- Frozen tortellini can be used but increase the cook time by an additional 15 minutes after adding it to the slow cooker.
- Drain excess fat from sausage after cooking to reduce greasiness.
- This dish pairs well with a side of garlic bread or a fresh green salad.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 510
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
