Description
A quick, one-pan weeknight dinner featuring smoky grilled Italian sausage and cheese tortellini in a rich, creamy Parmesan sauce, cooked entirely in a cast-iron skillet.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 pounds Italian sausage (mild or hot, casings removed)
- 1 pound tortellini (cheese or meat)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup chicken broth (low-sodium)
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Olive oil (for cooking)
Instructions
- Prep ingredients: Chop onion, mince garlic, and grate Parmesan cheese.
- Boil tortellini in a large pot of salted water until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Heat a cast-iron skillet on the grill over medium heat with a splash of olive oil.
- Crumble and brown the sausage in the skillet for 6-8 minutes until crispy. Remove sausage to a plate, leaving fat in the pan.
- Sauté diced onion in the sausage fat for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add garlic and red pepper flakes, cooking for 1 minute.
- Pour in chicken broth and simmer for 2 minutes, scraping up browned bits. Add heavy cream and return sausage to the pan. Simmer for 3-4 minutes until sauce thickens.
- Remove skillet from heat. Stir in Parmesan cheese gradually until melted and smooth. Adjust consistency with reserved pasta water if needed.
- Add cooked tortellini to the skillet and toss to coat in the sauce.
- Serve immediately, topped with fresh basil, extra Parmesan, and a drizzle of olive oil.
Notes
Save the starchy pasta water to help thicken the sauce. Use fresh Parmesan only, as pre-grated cheese contains anti-caking agents that can make the sauce grainy. Remove the pan from heat before adding cheese to prevent separation. For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 380
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 48
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 15
Keywords: sausage, tortellini, creamy pasta, one-pan meal, grill recipes, weeknight dinner, Italian sausage, cast iron skillet, smoky flavor