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Creamy Garlic Parmesan Tortellini with Sausage and Broccoli

Warm, comforting creamy cheese tortellini combined with savory beef sausage and fresh broccoli, all tossed in a luscious garlic Parmesan sauce—an easy and flavorful dinner perfect for busy weeknights or casual weekends.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian-Inspired
Calories: 700
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ingredients
  • 12 oz cheese tortellini pasta pillows stuffed with cheese
  • 1 lb beef sausage mild or spicy, crumbled
  • 2 cups broccoli florets fresh
  • 2 tbsp butter for sautéing garlic and building flavor
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1.5 cups heavy cream
  • 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese grated
  • 0.5 cup chicken broth used to deglaze pan and thin sauce
  • 0.25 tsp red pepper flakes optional
  • salt and black pepper to taste
  • fresh basil or parsley chopped, for garnish

Equipment

  • Large Pot
  • Large skillet
  • Wooden Spoon

Method
 

  1. Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook cheese tortellini until tender, about 3-5 minutes. Drain well, reserving ½ cup of pasta water. Set aside.
  2. Step 2: Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add crumbled beef sausage and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Transfer sausage to a bowl and set aside, leaving drippings in the skillet.
  3. Step 3: In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté gently for about 1 minute until fragrant and lightly golden. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
  4. Step 4: Pour in chicken broth to deglaze the pan, scraping up browned bits. Let simmer gently.
  5. Step 5: Stir in heavy cream, grated Parmesan, red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and black pepper. Simmer for 3-4 minutes, stirring often, until sauce thickens and becomes glossy.
  6. Step 6: Add broccoli florets to the sauce and cook for 2-3 minutes until tender but still vibrant and crisp.
  7. Step 7: Return cooked sausage and drained tortellini to the skillet. Toss gently to coat everything evenly in the sauce. If sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water a splash at a time to loosen it.
  8. Step 8: Let everything simmer together for 1-2 minutes to meld flavors. Remove from heat and garnish with fresh chopped basil or parsley before serving.

Notes

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat gently with a splash of milk or broth to loosen the sauce. Frozen leftovers are not recommended as texture may change. For a lighter sauce, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream. Add mushrooms or spinach for extra veggies.