Description
Creamy Garlic Butter Beef Tortellini with Italian Sausage & Spinach is a rich and comforting Italian-inspired dish featuring tender cheese tortellini tossed in a luscious garlic butter cream sauce, combined with savory ground beef, spicy Italian sausage, and fresh spinach. Perfect for a satisfying family dinner, this recipe comes together in just 30 minutes and serves six.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat
- 1/2 pound ground beef
- 1/2 pound Italian sausage
Pasta & Vegetables
- 1 pound cheese tortellini
- 3 cups fresh spinach
Dairy
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Other
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper or to taste
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Cook the meat: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and Italian sausage, breaking them apart with a spatula. Cook until browned and fully cooked, about 6–8 minutes. Drain excess fat and set the meats aside.
- Sauté garlic and wilt spinach: In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in the spinach and cook until wilted, about 2–3 minutes.
- Make the sauce: Pour in the heavy cream and stir well, letting it simmer for 3–4 minutes. Add grated Parmesan cheese and season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Stir until the cheese melts and the sauce thickens slightly.
- Cook tortellini: While the sauce simmers, cook the cheese tortellini in a separate pot of salted boiling water according to package instructions. Drain and reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water.
- Combine and toss: Return the cooked beef and sausage to the skillet with the sauce. Add the drained tortellini and gently toss to coat, adding reserved pasta water a little at a time if the sauce needs loosening.
- Serve: Serve hot, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
- Drain the excess fat after cooking the meat to avoid a greasy sauce.
- Reserve some pasta water to adjust the consistency of the sauce for a creamier texture.
- Use fresh spinach for the best flavor and texture, but baby spinach can be substituted.
- Add fresh parsley or basil as garnish to enhance color and flavor.
- Feel free to substitute the Italian sausage with a milder or spicier version depending on your preference.
