Ingredients
Meat
- 1 lb Italian sausage (mild or spicy)
Pasta & Greens
- 1 (19 oz) package frozen cheese tortellini
- 4 cups fresh spinach, chopped
Canned & Dairy
- 1 (28 oz) can diced tomatoes (undrained)
- 1 (8 oz) block cream cheese, cubed
Liquids & Seasonings
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Sausage: In a skillet over medium heat, cook the Italian sausage until browned and fully cooked, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain any excess fat and set aside to keep the dish from being greasy.
- Prepare the Crockpot: Add the browned sausage, undrained diced tomatoes, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and chicken broth to the crockpot. Stir thoroughly to combine all the flavors evenly.
- Add the Cream Cheese: Place the cubed cream cheese on top of the mixture in the crockpot. Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 2-3 hours until the cream cheese melts completely and blends into the broth, creating a creamy sauce.
- Add the Tortellini and Spinach: In the last 30 minutes of cooking, stir in the frozen cheese tortellini and chopped fresh spinach. Mix well to ensure the tortellini cooks through and the spinach wilts perfectly.
- Season to Taste: Before serving, taste the dish and adjust salt and pepper as needed to enhance the flavors.
- Serve: Ladle the creamy tortellini and sausage mixture into bowls. It pairs wonderfully with crusty bread or a simple salad for a complete meal.
Notes
- Use spicy sausage if you prefer a bit of heat in the dish.
- This meal freezes well; store leftovers in an airtight container and reheat when ready.
- Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top before serving for extra flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Category: Dinner, Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Italian-American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (1/6th of recipe)
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 85mg