Sheet Pan Italian Sausage and Cheese Tortellini recipe delivers everything you want in a weeknight dinner! Hearty pasta, flavorful sausage, roasted vegetables and delicious Italian dressing that ties it all together. Five minutes of prep and only one pan to clean makes it ideal when you have minimal time and want a delicious, crowd-pleasing dinner fast!
I’m a big fan of sheet pan dinners and this is one of my family’s favorites! I love sheet pan meals because everything is combined together on one pan, which means it is prepped, mixed and cooked together. This also means there’s only one pan to clean in the end. Perfection!
This delicious sheet pan recipe contains a satisfying combination of pasta, protein and veggies in every bite. The oven brings out the natural sweetness of the vegetables, while the sausage adds rich, hearty flavor. The cheese tortellini becomes perfectly tender and complements the other roasted ingredients perfectly. If your family loves it as much as mine does, prepare yourself to not have leftovers to enjoy!
Why I LOVE this recipe!
- Easy prep – You’ll only need to roughly chop a few veggies. 5 minutes of prep is all it takes before you place the pan in the oven!
- Common and convenient ingredients – There’s nothing tricky about these simple ingredients and measuring is minimal.
- One pan – One-pan recipes mean easy clean up!
- Crowd-pleaser – The flavors in this dish are comforting and familiar. It’s always a hit with both kids and adults!
Recipe Notes
This Italian Sausage and Tortellini recipe is as simple as promised! Just 5 minutes of prep is all it takes for a family friendly sheet pan dinner.
In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use for how to make Sheet Pan Italian Sausage and Cheese Tortellini to get the absolute best and most delicious results.
Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.
Ingredients + Substitutions
- Frozen cheese tortellini– No need to thaw!
- Red bell pepper – Any bell pepper will work, but red is the sweetest and best for this recipe.
- Red onion – 1/2 onion cut into bit-size pieces
- Broccoli
- Italian dressing – I love Olive Garden’s dressing, but you can use any brand you prefer. If you don’t have any dressing on hand, you can use olive oil or avocado oil and Italian seasoning.
- Italian sausage links – Ground Italian sausage or turkey sausage are great substitutes. If you choose ground sausage, just sprinkle little bits of the sausage over the tortellini and veggies and cook as directed.
- Grated parmesan cheese
Make sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full quantities and ingredients list.
Recipe Variations
If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!
- Spicy Italian Sausage – If you enjoy a bit of heat in your meals, you can use spicy Italian sausage in this recipe. You can also sprinkle on a teaspoon of red pepper flakes for a delicious kick!
- Veggie and Cheese Tortellini Bake – If you’d prefer a vegetarian option, simply omit the Italian sausage. Consider adding more veggies to your sheet pan. Mushrooms cut in half, zucchini and brussels sprouts would all be delicious options that complement this meal well.
- Spinach and Cheese Tortellini – Varying your type of tortellini would be a great way to add additional nutrients or flavors to this dish. Spinach and cheese tortellini would be a delicious option that keeps the tortellini cheesy, but still adds a varying flavor.
Recipe Step by Step
I am going to highlight a few key steps in the recipe here, but make sure to jump down to the recipe card for comprehensive instructions on how to make this sheet pan Italian sausage and tortellini meal.
Spread the frozen tortellini and broccoli onto a sheet pan.
Add red peppers and red onion. Drizzle Italian dressing over the pan and use a spatula to toss until coated.
Use kitchen scissors to cut the sausage into bite-size pieces and drop them over the tortellini and veggies.
Bake for 16-18 minutes or until the sausage is cooked through and the pasta is tender. Garnish with shredded parmesan cheese.
Recipe Tips
- Frozen tortellini – Note that I use frozen tortellini for this recipe. If you happen to use refrigerated tortellini, you’ll need to make a couple of adjustments. First, you won’t need to cook the tortellini as long. So, bake the veggies and sausage first for about 7-8 minutes. Then add the tortellini for the remaining cook time with some extra Italian dressing. Refrigerated tortellini will absorb more dressing than frozen, so you’ll need to use a bit more dressing than the recipe calls for.
- Even-size veggies – Cut the veggies into similar size pieces so they roast evenly.
- Don’t overcrowd – Spread everything into a single layer on the sheet pan. If the ingredients are piled onto each other, they will steam instead of roast and you won’t get the delicious caramelized edges.
- Toss thoroughly – Make sure every piece of tortellini and every vegetable are evenly coated with Italian dressing! This adds flavor and helps the vegetables roast beautifully.
Recipe Short Cuts
If you need to make this recipe, but are extra short on time, here are a few ideas that can help make this recipe even faster!
- Pre-cut veggies – Skip the chopping and buy pre-cut broccoli florets or a frozen onion and pepper blend.
- Fully cooked sausage – Instead of raw sausage, use fully cooked Italian sausage links. Simply slice and add them to the sheet pan. This will significantly reduce your cook time.
- Line the pan – Save yourself on cleanup time by lining your pan with parchment paper or foil.
Freezer Meal Instructions
Making this Sheet Pan Italian Sausage and Tortellini recipe into a freezer meal is simple! Follow the steps below and you can store this recipe in the freezer for up to 6 months.
To freeze before cooking
- The Italian sausage, tortellini, red pepper and red onion all freeze well. Combine sausage and veggies in a zip-top bag and freeze. Using fresh broccoli and Italian dressing on baking day will be best.
- Thaw the sausage and veggies in fridge overnight. Once thawed, continue with the recipe as recommended.
How to Freeze baked tortellini with Italian sausage After Cooking
- Allow the dish to cool completely and place in air tight freezer-safe container and freeze.
- When ready to enjoy again, thaw overnight in the refrigerator then warm in the oven at 350° for 15-20 minutes.
- Note that after freezing, the tortellini may be a bit softer and the vegetables will lose some of their crispness and become more tender. The overall flavor will still remain delicious!
What to Serve with Sheet Pan Italian Sausage and Tortellini
Since this protein based dinner has the delicious flavors of sausage, cheesy pasta and veggies, it will pair well with many of your favorite Italian side dishes.
Choose one or several of these side dishes to create a wholesome, well-rounded dinner. There are both classic options and some healthy options to keep it light.
Side Dish Ideas
Italian Sausage and Tortellini Leftovers
If you have leftovers after making this recipe, then it is your lucky day! They save and reheat well, and can make the start of another delicious dish.
To save leftovers, separate into meal sized portions and then place in an airtight container and store:
- in the refrigerator for 3-4 days
- in the freezer up to a month
Leftover Recipes
Here are a few ways to repurpose those leftovers and give them a delicious makeover!
- Stuffed Peppers– Hollow out whole bell peppers and fill with leftovers. Bake until warmed through.
- Baked Dish– Place all leftovers into a baking dish. Add additional Italian dressing to keep it from drying out and top with a combination of shredded Mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Bake until warmed and the cheese on top is bubbly.
- Sausage and Tortellini Salad – Top a bowl of leafy greens such as romaine lettuce, spinach or arugula with your leftovers. Drizzle balsamic vinegar over the top. You can serve your leftovers in this salad either cold or warmed.
Recipe FAQ’s
Do I need to thaw the frozen tortellini first?
No need! The frozen tortellini can go directly onto the sheet pan. It will cook through as it bakes with the sausage and vegetables.
What type of Italian sausage should I use?
You can use mild, sweet or hot Italian sausage depending on your family’s preferences. Turkey or chicken Italian sausage are lighter options.
How do I keep the tortellini from drying out?
Make sure everything is well coated with the Italian dressing before baking. If needed, stir everything on the pan halfway through baking to help dispurse the moisture being released from the vegetables and Italian sausage.
More EASY Sheet Pan Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, I really hope you will take a moment to grab a few more easy recipes for another busy night!
You can check out all of my easy sheet pan recipes here, or see a few of our readers favorite recipes below.
- Sheet Pan Lasagna
- Sheet Pan Cashew Chicken
- Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
- Sheet Pan BBQ Chicken Bites with Buttered Corn
Sheet Pan Italian Sausage and Tortellini
Ingredients
- 20 ounces frozen cheese tortellini
- 1 red bell pepper, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1/2 red onion, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 8 ounces broccoli florets, cut into very small florets
- 1/2 cup Italian dressing
- 1 pound Italian sausage links
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese, plus more for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425˚F.
- Spread the frozen tortellini and cut veggies (red pepper, onion, and broccoli) on a large sheet pan. (No need to thaw the tortellini.)Drizzle Italian dressing over the pasta and veggies and use a spatula to toss them until coated.
- Use kitchen scissors to cut the sausage links into bite-sized pieces and drop them over the top of the tortellini and vegetables. Sprinkle the parmesan cheese evenly over the whole sheet pan.
- Bake for 16-18 minutes or until the sausage is cooked through (145˚F internal temp) and the pasta is tender.
- Once done, garnish with more parmesan and serve warm. Enjoy!
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