Take-out Tuesday, Slow Cooker Tortellini 3 Ways
This recipe is perfect for these cold winter nights,
the slow cooker does all the work
and you can enjoy this 3 different ways!
Depending on the amount of tortellini you add,
this can be a hearty soup, stew or a dish like baked pasta
Using bottled marinara sauce makes this recipe a breeze to make
It also has ground pork, sweet Italian Sausage,
onions, garlic, Italian seasoning and a dash of red wine
Quickly saute the onions
Brown the ground pork and Italian sausage
Put the sauce into the slow cooker, add the onions, garlic,
browned meat and Italian seasoning
Mama Mia herself would never guess this sauce
was not made from scratch 😊
Add a dash of red wine and let this cook for 3-4 hours on high
or 5-7 hours on low
About 30-45 minutes before serving, add the tortellini~
And here’s the secret,
Depending on how much tortellini you add,
it can be a soup, a thick stew, or like baked tortellini!
PLUS
you don’t even have to cook the tortellini first before adding!
If you want it to be a soup,
just add a little tortellini and more water, wine or beef broth
If you want it to be thick like chili or stew, add a little more tortellini
If you want it to be like a baked pasta dish add a lot of tortellini
The tortellini softens as it soaks up moisture from the marinara sauce
You can even stir in a spoonful of ricotta
for creaminess like lasagna if desired
3 Way Tortellini, Soup-Stew-Pasta
Equipment
- slow cooker
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound Italian sausage
- 1/2 pound ground pork
- 1 medium yellow onion chopped
- 1/2 T butter
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 jars 25 oz. each, Marinara or Tomato Sauce or 6 cups homemade sauce
- Salt & Pepper to taste
- Pinch of sugar
- 6-10 ounces dry packaged cheese filled tortellini*
- dash red wine, optional
- ricotta cheese optional
- Sprig of basil for garnish
- Parmesan cheese for garnish
- additional red wine, broth or water depending on desired result
Instructions
- In a 12” skillet over medium heat, melt butter with olive oil and saute the onion until transparent and starting to brown. Add sausage and brown, stirring and breaking apart with wooden spoon. Add garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes.
- While the meat is cooking, pour the marinara sauce into the slow cooker. Add sugar and seasonings. Stir in the cooked sausage with onions and garlic. Add a dash of red wine. Set the slow cooker on high, and cook for 3-4 hours or low for 5-7 hours.
- About 30-45 minutes before you are ready to serve, pour the dry packaged tortellini into the soup. Use 4-6 oz. for soup, 6-8 oz. for a thicker stew, and 8-10 oz. for a pasta dish more like baked pasta than soup.
- Turn the slow cooker up to high (or leave it if it was already on high) and let the tortellini cook for 15-20 minutes. Add additional liquid as desired. Turn slow cooker back down and serve within 30 minutes. Refrigerate or freeze leftovers.
Notes
Enjoy!
I will be joining these fabulous parties and blogs:
Sundays on Silverado/ Happiness is Homemade
What’s for Dinner / Love Your Creativity
Between Naps on the Porch / Monday Linky Party
Wednesday Linky Party / Karin’s Cottage Linky Party / Creative Crafts
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This looks like a perfectly delicious weeknight supper. Especially right now on these cold blustery days.
Thanks Bernadette, there’s nothing better than comfort food on a winter day!
A fuss free and soul comforting meal!
Thanks Angie!
On this cold and rainy day, this is the perfect dish for supper. Pasta is always a favorite at our house. Stay warm and cozy on this winter’s day, Jenna!
Thank you Pam, yes I’m staying cozy at home today for sure!
Definitely a snow day dish!
Yes, and did you get a lot of snow yesterday?
We got a good foot on Sunday, then yesterday, just a couple of inches, then it rained in the night and took a lot of it away. Today is warm and foggy!
That does look tasty and easy, too!
That it is, thanks Jeanie!
Love comfort food! Sounds easy and tasty.
Thank you Deb!
Cozy for a chilly stormy night!
Thanks Leslie Anne, stay safe in your turbulent weather!
This sounds perfect for the cold weather we are having! Thank you for sharing the three ways to make this, Jenna.
Thank you Kitty, so easy too~
Any one of those would be perfect for the weather we are getting right now.
Yes, thanks Linda. It’s really cold here too, I’ve been hibernating!
Jenna, this sounds like an easy way to make tortellini in the slow cooker. Thanks for this dinner idea, I will have to pin this and save the recipe.
Julie’s Creative Lifestyle
Thank you Julie! I love using my slow cooker, it’s so nice to prep early in the day and know dinner will be ready when you want it! Happy 2024~
Looks good and can’t wait to try this recipe. Love tortellini and love using a slow cooker.
Thanks Kari, I hope you enjoy!
Slow cooker recipes are the best and this one will be perfect as we face some Texas chilly weather in a few days!
Thanks Mary, stay cozy!
Such and easy way to enjoy some comfort food for the winter months! I love the addition of ricotta too ♥
Thanks Mary, I love easy slow cooker recipes 🙂
I love this – so easy and it looks delicious – I also love your artwork!! Thanks for sharing at the What’s for Dinner party. Hope your week is starting great!
Thank you Helen, I love using my slow cooker, set and forget!