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On a chilly night when you’re craving a cozy and easy dinner recipe, this Sausage and Kale Tortellini Bake is sure to be a family favorite.
I am all about a simple skillet dinner, especially during busy school weeknights. On nights when I need to get dinner on the table quickly, I love turning to this recipe that is not only simple to make but also requires only a few fresh ingredients. It uses my favorite shortcut ingredient — fresh cheese tortellini — which adds heft and creaminess to the skillet. I also love to use Italian sausage, which has so much flavor, but you could use any type of ground meat such as beef, pork, or turkey. The whole thing comes together in a little over 30 minutes and with such easy clean-up, you can spend more time with your family or getting things done around the house!
ingredients:
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Italian Sausage
- Yellow Onion
- Lacinato Kale
- Marinara Sauce
- Low-Sodium Chicken Broth
- Lemon Zest
- Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice
- Kosher Salt
- Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- Fresh Cheese Tortellini
- Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
- Fresh Basil
- Crushed Red Pepper Flakes (Optional)
step-by-step:
Step one: preheat the oven
Preheat the oven to 375℉.
step two: Brown the Sausage and Sauté the Kale
Heat the oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and onions and cook, breaking up the meat with the edge of a wooden spoon, until cooked through and no longer pink, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain off any excess fat.
step three: add the kale
Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the kale and cook, stirring, until it has slightly wilted, about 2 minutes.
step four: simmer the sauce
Add the marinara sauce, broth, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Stir until well combined. Bring to a simmer, about 5 minutes.
step five: cover with cheese and bake
Once simmering, remove from the heat and add the tortellini. Gently stir to combine and spread into an even layer in the skillet. Top with the mozzarella cheese. Transfer to the oven and bake until the tortellini is tender and the cheese is golden brown, about 20 minutes.
step six: rest, garnish, and serve!
Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh basil and serve with crushed red pepper flakes, if desired. Enjoy!
recipe faqs:
A 10- to 12-inch cast-iron skillet or a similar heavy-bottomed skillet that is oven-safe, like stainless steel! Just be sure to avoid nonstick since most nonstick surfaces aren’t safe at high temperatures.
Taste Republic makes my favorite gluten-free tortellini. If you need a dairy-free option, Kite Hill is great!
I can’t wait to hear what you and your families think of this Sausage and Kale Tortellini Bake! Tag me on social @thedefineddish so I can see your final dish!
want more cozy pasta recipes? try these!
One-Pan Italian Sausage and Orzo
Sausage and Kale Tortellini Bake
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 1 cup finely diced yellow onion
- 4 cups roughly chopped lacinato kale (from about 1/2 bunch)
- 1 (24-ounce) jar marinara sauce
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
- zest of 1/2 lemon
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 16 ounces fresh cheese tortellini
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
For Serving:
- fresh basil
- crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375℉.
- Heat the oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and onion and cook, breaking up the meat with the edge of a wooden spoon, until cooked through and no longer pink, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain off excess fat. any
- Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the kale and cook, stirring, until it has slightly wilted, about 2 minutes.
- Add the marinara sauce, broth, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, and pepper and stir until well combined. Bring to a simmer, about 5 minutes.
- Once simmering, remove from the heat and add the tortellini. Gently stir to combine and spread into an even layer in the skillet. Top with the mozzarella cheese. Transfer to the oven and bake until the tortellini is tender and the cheese is golden brown, about 20 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh basil and serve with crushed red pepper flakes, if desired.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Photography by Eat Love Eats.
My sister in-law made this and said it was so easy and delicious. Even her picky 11 yr old ate it! I am looking to make easy recipes for my son and daughter-in-law when they have their baby in February. Would you freeze this or make the sausage mixture and make it more of a “meal prep” meal?
I think this one would definitely freeze well. I would make the recipe all the way up to the point where everything is in the dish, but don’t bake it. That way, they can pop it in the oven and bake whenever they want! From frozen, it will likely take 15-20 more minutes in the oven.
Alex when you say fridge do you mean frozen or just cold? I could only find frozen at the store today? Will that be ok?
This is truly a quick, easy, delicious week night dinner! Thanks Alex!
Made for my boyfriend and I tonight and it was a hit! Alex, do you have a large oven safe skillet you’d recommend? I used my cast iron skillet but it was a little small. Love your recipes, thanks for all you do!
This has become a favorite of mine for skillet dinners!
I used spinach instead of kale and left out the lemon flavor, but it was delicious and so easy!! Also I used chicken and cheese sausage from Central Market and it was amazing!! Didn’t need to drain fat because it is more lean.
So delicious and easy! Will definitely be making this again and again.
Whole family loved it!
Glad it was a hit!
Are you supposed to double the amount of marinara as you increase the servings ? All say “one jar”
Could I make it in a Dutch oven? I don’t have an oven safe skillet.
yes you can! 🙂
I’m new to The Defined Dish and this was my first recipe to try. We absolutely loved it! Can’t wait to have the leftovers! 😊
Welcome! Glad you enjoyed this recipe and excited to have you here!