🥘 Meat Lover’s Tortellini Skillet
Ingredients (Serves 4)
Pasta & Protein
-
1 package (9–12 oz) cheese or meat tortellini (fresh or frozen)
-
8 oz Italian sausage, sliced or crumbled
-
6 oz cooked bacon, chopped
-
½ cup pepperoni or salami, chopped (optional)
Veggies & Sauce
-
1 small onion, diced
-
2 cloves garlic, minced
-
1 bell pepper, diced
-
1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
-
1 cup marinara or tomato sauce
-
½ tsp crushed red pepper (optional)
-
Salt & pepper to taste
Cheese & Finish
-
1 cup shredded mozzarella
-
¼ cup grated Parmesan
-
Fresh basil or parsley for garnish
Instructions
1. Cook the proteins
-
Heat a large skillet over medium heat.
-
Cook sausage until browned; remove and set aside.
-
In the same skillet, cook bacon until crisp. Remove and set aside.
2. Sauté veggies
-
In the same skillet, sauté onion, garlic, and bell pepper 3–4 minutes until softened.
3. Add pasta & sauce
-
Add tortellini, diced tomatoes, and marinara sauce.
-
Pour in ½ cup water or broth (for a little extra sauce).
-
Stir in cooked sausage, bacon, and pepperoni.
-
Cover and simmer 5–7 minutes until tortellini is tender.
4. Add cheese
-
Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan over the top.
-
Cover 2–3 minutes until cheese melts.
5. Serve
-
Garnish with fresh basil or parsley.
-
Optional: add a drizzle of olive oil or extra red pepper flakes.
Tips & Variations
-
Creamy version: Stir in ¼ cup cream or cream cheese before topping with mozzarella.
-
Veggie boost: Add spinach, mushrooms, or zucchini for extra flavor.
-
Spicy twist: Use spicy Italian sausage or crushed red pepper.
-
Shortcut: Frozen tortellini works great—just increase simmering by 2–3 minutes.
This skillet is hearty, cheesy, and packed with meat—basically a full comfort dinner in one pan 😌
I can also give a one-pot, slow-cooker version for even easier cleanup if you want. Do you want me to do that?