Description
Creamy Cheese Tortellini with Meat Sauce is a comforting Italian-inspired dish featuring tender cheese-filled tortellini enveloped in a rich, flavorful meat sauce made with ground beef or Italian sausage, aromatic onions, garlic, crushed tomatoes, and a splash of heavy cream. Garnished with Parmesan cheese and fresh herbs, this hearty meal is perfect for an easy yet satisfying weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 pound fresh or frozen cheese tortellini
Meat Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2–3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage
- 1 can (14 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning or fresh basil
Cream Sauce
- 1/2 to 3/4 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
Garnish
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese (to taste)
- Chopped fresh basil or parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare the Meat Sauce: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add finely chopped onions and garlic, sautéing until fragrant and translucent. Crumble in ground beef or Italian sausage and cook thoroughly until browned. Drain excess fat, then stir in crushed tomatoes and Italian seasoning. Let the sauce simmer gently to marry the flavors and thicken slightly.
- Cook the Tortellini: While the sauce simmers, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add cheese tortellini and cook according to package instructions, typically 3 to 5 minutes for fresh or frozen tortellini. Once tender, drain the tortellini and reserve a bit of pasta water to adjust sauce consistency later if needed.
- Combine Sauce and Tortellini: Reduce heat to medium-low and gradually stir in heavy cream or half-and-half into the meat sauce, stirring continuously. Allow the sauce to become creamy and luscious. Gently fold in the cooked tortellini. If the sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water a little at a time to loosen to your preferred consistency.
- Garnish and Serve: Turn off the heat and sprinkle freshly grated Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh basil or parsley over the dish. Serve immediately while warm, allowing the cheese to melt into the creamy sauce for every bite to be flavorful and satisfying.
Notes
- You can substitute ground beef with Italian sausage for a spicier flavor.
- Use fresh basil or dry Italian seasoning according to what you have available.
- Reserve pasta water to help at loosening the sauce without diluting flavor.
- Adjust the heaviness of the cream sauce by using half-and-half for a lighter option.
- Serve with a side of garlic bread or a fresh green salad to complete the meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: cheese tortellini recipe, meat sauce pasta, creamy pasta dishes, easy Italian dinner, ground beef pasta sauce
