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This recipe for spinach tomato tortellini features a tangy, creamy sauce packed with tender ground meat. Your new favorite quick and easy weeknight pasta dish!
This creamy spinach tomato tortellini is right on the money with the perfect balance flavors. The little stuffed pasta shells explode in your mouth and serve as a wonderful complement to the rich, creamy tomato sauce. What’s better? This dish comes together super quickly, making it a great weeknight dinner option or last-minute meal for unexpected guests.
Big thanks to my former coworker Charlie for this great recipe! The only thing I tweaked from his original version is swapping in ground beef for spicy Italian sausage. If that sounds more like your style, go for it! I can attest that it was super delicious.
Hot Tip: Trader Joe’s has amazing tortellini in the refrigerated aisle. I use it all the time!
How to Make Creamy Spinach Tomato Tortellini
Making this tortellini dish only requires a handful of ingredients and one pot to make. Hello, fewer dishes! Below, find a quick hitter overview of the recipe before you dive in.
- Prep the Veggies: To make the cooking process more streamlined, chop the garlic, onions, and spinach first.
- Brown the Ground Beef: In a deep skillet or pan over medium heat, brown the ground beef until it’s fully cooked. Add the garlic and onions and cook them until softened.
- Add the Sauce and Cream: Pour the pasta sauce into the skillet. Once it comes to a simmer, pour in the heavy whipping cream and stir until well-combined.
- Add the Tortellini and Spices: Add the tortellini and bring to a simmer. Next, season with salt and dried parsley.
- Finish with Spinach and Parmesan: Add in the chopped spinach and grated parmesan cheese. Enjoy!
Tips & Tricks
Below, find a handful of helpful tips and tricks to help you make the best possible creamy spinach tomato tortellini.
- Don’t pre-boil the tortellini. The tortellini will cook as it simmers in the sauce and there’s no need to pre-boil it before adding it in. If you do, it will likely turn mushy and stray away from that perfect al dente texture.
- Use a high-quality marinara sauce or make your own. For the freshest tomato flavor, use a high-quality jarred marinara sauce or whip up your own.
- Experiment with different stuffed tortellini. Tortellini come with so many different fillings and this recipe will work with nearly any store-bought variety. Some are stuffed with cheese and others contain a rich meaty filling. Pick the tortellini that speaks to you! You can’t go wrong.
What Can You Eat with Tortellini?
You can serve creamy spinach tomato tortellini as a meal all on its own or serve it alongside a fresh salad or bread for a more well-rounded meal. A homemade caesar salad is a natural option but you can’t go wrong with a classic garden salad either. If you’re wanting to indulge in some carbs, make a fresh baguette to sop up the creamy sauce with.
Storing Leftover Tortellini Pasta
Store leftover creamy pasta in an airtight container in the fridge. It should keep fresh for up to five days. Refrain from freezing cooked pasta, as it will turn to mush when you reheat it.
Reheating Tip: Reheat your creamy pasta in the microwave or in a skillet over low heat until warmed through.
FAQ
Is there anything inside tortellini?
Tortellini typically comes filled with a three-cheese mixture or a minced meat mixture of pork, veal, or beef.
What kind of cheese is typically inside three-cheese tortellini?
The typical three-cheese mixture inside tortellini is parmesan, romano, and ricotta.
How do you properly cook tortellini?
Refrigerated raw tortellini only takes 2-3 minutes to cook through when added to simmering pasta sauce. On the other hand, frozen tortellini takes about around 5 minutes and dried tortellini takes about 10 minutes.
Can I use a different pasta besides tortellini?
Yes, you can use a different pasta besides tortellini for this dish. Paccheri (tubular pasta) or fusilli work best, but you can also use fettuccine or spaghetti.
How long will my tortellini pasta last in the fridge?
Tortellini will last for up to five days in the fridge when tossed with the pasta ingredients. If you’re using store-bought tortellini, you’ll want to use it within 3 days of opening it.
Other Creamy Pasta Recipes
- Chicken Mushroom Fettuccine Alfredo – White sauce with chicken and mushroom pasta
- Spinach Stuffed Shells – A meatless entree with spinach, a three cheese blend and marinara.
- Creamy Cheesy Baked Gnocchi – Just 6 ingredients, vegetarian, and ready in half an hour.
- Stuffed Shells with Meat Sauce – Three cheeses & meat sauce for the coziest pasta bake
- Creamy One-Pot Pasta – Creamy red sauce with sausage pasta
- Easy One-Pan Meatball Pasta Recipe – Creamy meatball pasta
- Broccoli Mushroom Alfredo Pasta – Vegetarian white sauce pasta
Recipe
Creamy Spinach Tomato Tortellini Recipe
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Servings
12 Servings
Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Total Time 40 minutes mins
Recipe contributed by: Natalya Drozhzhin
This recipe for spinach tomato tortellini features a tangy, creamy sauce packed with tender ground meat. Your new favorite quick and easy weeknight pasta dish!
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 tbsp garlic parsley salt
- 1 diced onion
- 2 diced garlic cloves
- 16 oz pasta sauce
- 1 cup whipping cream
- 2 lb packaged tortellini
- 2 cups chopped spinach
- 1 cup parmesan
- 1 tbsp dried parsley
US Units – Metric
Instructions
Gather the ingredients for the recipe and chop all the veggies.
Preheat a deep skillet over medium heat and add the ground beef to it. Brown the beef, breaking it apart as you go. Add in the chopped onions and garlic and cook until they soften.
Add the pasta sauce to the meat mixture. As soon as it simmers, pour in the whipping cream and stir it until it's evenly distributed.
Add in the tortellini and bring the mixture to a simmer. Season it with garlic parsley salt and dried parsley.
Add in the spinach and parmesan cheese, stirring until well-combined.
Serve immediately and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Creamy Spinach Tomato Tortellini Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 212 Calories from Fat 153
% Daily Value*
Fat 17g26%
Saturated Fat 9g45%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 6g
Cholesterol 60mg20%
Sodium 951mg40%
Potassium 298mg9%
Carbohydrates 4g1%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 2g2%
Protein 11g22%
Vitamin A 993IU20%
Vitamin C 5mg6%
Calcium 133mg13%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Posted February 24, 2022
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DNiece WhalenJan 30, 2024 This recipe was really quick and easy to make! I did add a 24oz jar of pasta sauce and a bit more whipping cream. I also used Buitoni tortellini and really underestimated just how much 2lbs is! Make sure your pan is DEEP! 5 stars!
Natalya DrozhzhinJan 31, 2024 Thank you for sharing your feedback! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
DonnaDec 19, 2023 Will this be good if I don’t put ground beef in the recipe? We have some vegetarians.
Natalya DrozhzhinDec 20, 2023 Hey Donna, The flavor will taste different without the spicy Italian sausage. It could be made without it, but I can't guarantee it'll taste flavorful.
KRYSTAL MAYNov 21, 2023 This was absolutely amazing and so easy to make. I followed the recipe almost to a tee. I used Raos Marinara, 24oz jar vs 16. I also went with Fresh 5 cheese tortellini and it was amazing. I did double the spinach only beacause it shrivles up so much. My boyfriend and I's only complaint is it was so good we ate way to much hahahaha! Ten stars on this recipe. Will definitely be making again!
Natalya DrozhzhinNov 21, 2023 Hey Krystal, If the only complaint is you ate too much, - I'll take that as the best compliment! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
TShyAug 29, 2023 I made it just like your recipe, and it was delicious. Tortellini only took 2 minutes to cook, so I didn’t need to pre cook. I made twice as much for a large family, so I used twice the ingredients.
Natalya DrozhzhinAug 29, 2023 Hi TShy, I'm so happy to hear it turned out delicious. I'm sure your family appreciated a large pot of soup!
OneAug 15, 2023 Specify that people need to cook the noodles in hot water, and not try to cook it in the sauce
Tell people what kind of tortellini to use.
Ps, Ricotta is not suited to this recipe.Natalya DrozhzhinAug 16, 2023 Hi One, In the blog post I mention that I use refrigerated tortellini from Trader Joe's, but different stuffed tortellini can be used - doesn't have to be ricotta. I also don't recommend pre-boiling the tortellini since it does cook in the sauce and pre-boiling it will make it extra mushy. I hope this helps! 🙂
Angelina MartinezMay 18, 2023 If I don't have whipping cream could I use cream cheese?
Natalya DrozhzhinMay 18, 2023 Hi Angelina, the whipping cream is used to make the dish saucy, so I don't think cream cheese would substitute well here as it won't create the liquid/sauce we want to coat the tortellini. Instead, you could use half and half or even milk (or even milk + a bit of cream cheese), but your overall sauce may be a bit thinner. Flavor wise it should still taste good. I hope you enjoy it!
See Also14+ Recipes for Leftover Ham
CamrynNov 30, 2022 I accidentally used prepackaged tortellini before boiling them first. .. any way to save this?
Natalya DrozhzhinNov 30, 2022 Hey Camryn, you can cook them for a bit longer and it should work out well. Keep me posted if this helped.
Heather JohnsonNov 2, 2022 This was so good! I was also surprised how quick it was to put together. I didn't change anything, only halved the recipe and it was perfect. Defintely a keeper!
Natalya DrozhzhinNov 3, 2022 Hi Heather! So glad to hear that! I appreciate your feedback, Enjoy!
RobinJul 14, 2022 What happened to the carrots?
Natalya DrozhzhinJul 14, 2022 Hey Robin, carrots was a typo. Thanks for catching that!
BetsyFeb 25, 2022 Hearty, delicious & so easy! Love the sauce! So good! This just made the monthly recipe rotation! Love it!!
Natalya DrozhzhinFeb 25, 2022 Thank you, Betsy! Happy to hear you loved it!
wilhelminaFeb 25, 2022 My family loved this dinner! It was super easy to make, it's going on the regular menu!
Natalya DrozhzhinFeb 25, 2022 Glad you found a new favorite recipe to add to your rotation, Wilhelmina! Thanks for commenting.
AprilFeb 24, 2022 OMG this was amazing!! Making it again later this week, it's sooooo good.
Natalya DrozhzhinFeb 25, 2022 Thank you, April- glad you enjoyed it so much!
yasminDec 14, 2016 Just made it. The best ever! So fast also. I did not have fresh spinach, i used frozen. Now i know what to do with all those spinach bricks in my freezer! How delicious! Beyond easy! Natalya, you are genius!
Natalya DrozhzhinDec 14, 2016 Thank you for sharing. That's a really good tip with a frozen spinach.
JulieOct 12, 2016 Made this dish. Here are some tips: 1 pound of Tortellini is PLENTY! Even if it's considered "fresh", it's better to boil & make sure that the Tortellini is thoroughly cooked before adding it to the meat mixture. 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese is plenty for this dish because the Tortellini already have cheese inside of them. Thank you @Mom'sDish!
Natalya DrozhzhinOct 16, 2016 Thanks for sharing all your ideas 😉
JulieOct 5, 2016 Do you have to cook the Tortellini separately and then add it in?
Natalya DrozhzhinOct 5, 2016 I used fresh, so no need to precook.
LucyOct 5, 2016 I love the addition of spinach! Thank you for posting 🙂 I'm assuming you used fresh tortellini? Do you think frozen would work just as well?
Natalya DrozhzhinOct 5, 2016 I use fresh, I would say precook frozen one.
ZSOct 4, 2016 wow. looks like quick recipie.
good for busy working mothers when kids homework on your to do list.
Have to try it...Natalya DrozhzhinOct 4, 2016 I hope you will love it as much as we did 🙂 Keep me posted!
ZSOct 5, 2016 ok, I did it with a few adjustments.
# 1. I didn't have tortellini, so I used rotini instead.
# 2. I had basil tomato pasta sauce not traditional ragu sauce (from Aldi)
# 3. I didn't have spinach, so I didn't use it.
# 4. I did add cremini mushrooms to the sauce while I was sauteing garlic, onion, and minced meat.
# 5. I didn't use garlic salt, instead I used only salt & pepper.Now guess what ?
- it turned out delicious
- my husband ate 2 plates of this pasta
- my husband isn't fan of pasta but he really like it and told it is delicious.
- and indeed it took 40 minutes to prepare this dish
- this dish is so creamy, and light. Not a fatty one.
- this dish is great for busy weekdays, especially for mom of 4 with full time work and homeworks with kidsthanks once again.
Natalya DrozhzhinOct 5, 2016 Oh so happy to hear that you guys loved it. I agree about it tasting light while creamy. I love that you shared all the adjustments you made because it gives others ideas as well 🙂
