This baked tortellini combines Italian sausage, creamy sauce, tortellini, and kale for a quick and easy weeknight meal.

A scoop of Baked Tortellini on a white plate.

It costs around $28.13 to make this dish. The recipe makes six servings and costs about $4.68 per serving.

The inspiration behind this casserole recipe was this recipe for Zuppa Toscana. I made its classic flavors into this Creamy Tuscan Tortellini Bake.

What You’ll Love About Baked Tortellini:

  • Weeknight friendly: This easy recipe takes fifteen minutes to make, thanks to shortcuts like microwaved potatoes.
  • Comfort Food: It’s packed with protein, a flavorful sauce, and lots of melty cheese. 
A tortellini casserole in a pyrex dish with some of it scooped out with a spoon.

Ingredients and Estimated Cost:

Per Serving Cost: $4.68

Recipe Cost: $28.13

  • 1 pound mild ground Italian sausage – $4.49
  • 2 small russet potatoes – $1.48
  • 1 pound tortellini – $5.99
  • 2 cups chopped kale – $3.98
  • 5 Tablespoons butter – $1.05
  • 6 Tablespoons all-purpose flour – $0.06
  • 1 ½ cups milk – $0.47
  • 2 cups chicken broth – $2.00
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder – $0.01
  • 8 oz block cream cheese – $3.00
  • 1 ¼ cups fresh grated Parmesan cheese – $3.99
  • ½ teaspoon freshly cracked pepper – $0.06
  • ¼ teaspoon salt – $0.01
  • 1 cup Panko bread crumbs – $1.30
  • 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil – $0.24

NOTE: The recipe prices are calculated by using grocery store websites. The recipe cost is calculated by the amounts needed for the recipe. The actual cost of the recipe will vary depending on what ingredients you already have. I updated the pricing for this recipe in March 2024.

All of the ingredients needed to make this recipe and they're labeled.

How To Make Baked Tortellini

***For complete recipe instructions, scroll to the recipe card below.

  1. Cook sausage in a skillet over medium heat, breaking up meat, until cooked through (8 minutes). Drain on paper towels.
  2. Microwave halved and quartered potatoes (wedged 1/8-inch thick) on high for 3 minutes.
  3. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Whisk in flour for 2 minutes. 
  4. Slowly whisk in milk and bring to a low boil, whisking for 2 minutes to thicken. Repeat with broth.
  5. Add garlic powder, cream cheese (until melted), Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. Stir until the cheese melts.
  6. In a large bowl, combine sausage, potatoes, tortellini, kale, and creamy mixture. 
  7. Pour the mixture into a 9×13-inch greased baking dish. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes in a 375°F oven. 
  8. Combine remaining Parmesan cheese, panko breadcrumbs, and olive oil. Uncover the casserole, sprinkle with crumb mixture, and bake for 8 more minutes.
  9. Cool for 5 minutes before serving.

A picture collage showing how to make this entire recipe from the creamy sauce to baking and serving.

Recipe Variations:

  • I used 2% milk in this recipe. You can use any other milk except skim milk.
  • Instead of mild Italian sausage, you can use hot or sweet Italian sausage.

More Easy Recipes:

A close up of a scoop of casserole.
A close up picture of a scoop of Baked Tortellini so you can see the kale, potatoes, and Italian sausage.
5 from 4 votes

Baked Tortellini

Recipe Cost $ $28.13
Serving Cost $ $4.68
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
6 people
This baked tortellini combines Italian sausage, creamy sauce, tortellini, and kale for a quick and easy weeknight meal.

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 lb mild ground Italian sausage
  • 2 small russet potatoes scrubbed and dried
  • 1 lb tortellini from the refrigerator section
  • 2 cups chopped kale
  • 5 Tablespoons butter
  • 6 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ cups milk
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 8 oz block cream cheese softened
  • 1 ¼ cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese divided
  • ½ teaspoon freshly cracked pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup panko bread crumbs
  • 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

Prep Oven and Pan:

  • Preheat oven to 375℉.
  • Spray a 9×13-inch (or 3 quart) baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

Cook Sausage:

  • Cook the Italian sausage in a large skillet over medium heat. Break up the meat with the back of a wooden spoon as it cooks.
  • Cook for about 8 minutes or until fully cooked. Drain on paper towels.

Prep and Cook Potatoes:

  • Cut the potatoes in half length-wise, then cut in half again to make quarters.
  • Slice the potato wedges ⅛ inch thick (they should make little triangles).
  • Place potatoes in a microwave-safe bowl and cook on high for 3 minutes.

Make Cream Sauce:

  • Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
  • Add the flour and whisk constantly until combined. Continue cooking and whisking for 2 minutes to thicken.
  • Slowly whisk in the milk. Bring to a low boil and whisk for 2 minutes until the mixture thickens.
  • Slowly whisk in the chicken broth. Bring to a low boil again and whisk for about 2 minutes to thicken the mixture.
  • Add the garlic powder and stir in the cream cheese until melted and combined.
  • Add the Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper and stir until the cheese is melted.

Assemble Casserole:

  • In a large bowl, add the sausage, potatoes, tortellini, kale, and cream sauce.
  • Stir to combine, then pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish.
  • Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.

Make Topping:

  • While the casserole bakes, combine the remaining ¼ cup of Parmesan cheese, panko, and olive oil in a small bowl.

To Finish:

  • Once the casserole has baked for 30 minutes, uncover it and sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture evenly over the top.
  • Return the casserole to the oven for another 8 minutes. Once out of the oven, cool for 5 minutes, then serve!
  • Once out of the oven, cool for 5 minutes, then serve!

Nutrition

Serving: 1.5cup | Calories: 903kcal | Carbohydrates: 66g | Protein: 41g | Fat: 53g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 19g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 140mg | Sodium: 2089mg | Potassium: 780mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 2786IU | Vitamin C: 26mg | Calcium: 599mg | Iron: 5mg

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Recipe Rating




11 Comments

  1. Melissa {Persnickety Plates} says:

    Great casserole idea!

  2. Natalie White says:

    This looks amazing… we love buying tortellini from the fridge section, but at the moment we just cook it in some tomato, garlic and chipotle sauce with some fried peppers and onions – we desperately need to try something new and this looks right up my street!!

  3. Tortellini is one of my favorite pastas! Yum 🙂 That casserole dish is beautiful!

  4. kristi@ishouldbemoppingthefloor says:

    Looks so delicious…and I love that casserole dish you’re giving away. Beautiful!

  5. I love casseroles! This looks like a delicious one.

  6. Michelle @ A Dish of Daily Life says:

    This looks like perfect comfort food to me! Crossing my fingers on your giveaway!

  7. Claudia Lamascolo says:

    What a big win this was everyone raved about this dish and it was so easy to make!

  8. Lisa Huff says:

    Mmmmm Love how cheesy this looks! Perfect family friendly dinner. My kids are going to love!

  9. Looks great! Perfect family comfort food.

  10. This looks so delicious and yummy! Can’t wait to give this a try! My family is going to love this recipe! So excited!

  11. H.L.McCallum says:

    I have to say I was very intrigued by your Creamy Tuscan Tortellini Bake when I noticed it on Facebook. I think my family would really enjoy it, and I will put this recipe on my must-try list. Happy New Year.