Ingredients
Equipment
Method
Prep Your Oven and Pan
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grab a very large (12-inch) oven-safe skillet—this will be your MVP for this entire meal!
Brown the Sausage and Sauté Vegetables
- Heat the olive oil in your skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the ground Italian sausage and begin to break it into medium-sized chunks with a spoon. You'll hear it sizzle and start to brown, about 2 minutes. For efficiently breaking up the sausage into perfect, even crumbles, use a meat chopper. Next, toss in the finely diced yellow onion, bell peppers, and optional crushed red pepper flakes. Season generously with a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Cook Until Tender and Fragrant
- Continue to cook everything together, stirring frequently and further breaking up the sausage, until the vegetables soften and become tender, and the meat is fully cooked through, typically 8 to 10 minutes. If you notice a significant amount of excess fat in the pan, carefully drain it off before returning the skillet to the stove. Then, stir in the minced garlic and Italian seasoning. Cook for just about 1 minute, stirring constantly, until the garlic becomes wonderfully fragrant – be careful not to burn it!
Simmer the Sauce
- Pour in the rich marinara sauce and savory chicken broth, stirring to combine all those delicious flavors. Bring the mixture to a low boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and let it gently simmer for about 5 minutes. This allows the flavors to meld beautifully. Now's the crucial moment: taste the sauce and adjust the seasonings to your preference. It should taste absolutely delicious to you, as this forms the bulk of the dish's flavor foundation.
Add Tortellini and Mozzarella
- Carefully add the refrigerated cheese tortellini to the simmering sauce, stirring gently until all the pasta is coated. Remove the skillet from the heat. Evenly top the entire dish with the shredded mozzarella cheese.
Prepare and Add the Garlic Bread Topping
- In a small bowl, combine your 2 cups of cubed crusty bread with the 2 tablespoons of melted butter mixed with 1 minced garlic clove, and the 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese. Toss until the bread cubes are evenly coated. Scatter these garlicky, cheesy bread cubes evenly over the mozzarella layer in the skillet. This is where the magic truly begins!
Bake to Golden Perfection
- Transfer the skillet to your preheated oven. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown and bubbly, the tortellini is tender and cooked through, and importantly, the garlic bread topping is beautifully golden and crispy. The final 10-15 minutes of baking are especially crucial for achieving that irresistible crunch on the bread.
Serve and Enjoy!
- Once out of the oven, your one-pan masterpiece is ready! Garnish generously with fresh basil or finely chopped parsley for a burst of color and freshness. Serve immediately and savor every comforting bite.
Nutrition
Notes
For perfectly textured ground Italian sausage, use a meat chopper. Always taste and adjust seasonings of the sauce base before adding tortellini. If the garlic bread isn't crispy enough, broil for 1-2 minutes at the end, watching closely. Balance the richness with a simple green salad or lemony green vegetables. Leftovers store in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator and reheat well in the microwave or oven. This recipe can be frozen before or after baking for up to 3 months. Nutrition information is estimated based on common ingredients and serving sizes and may vary.