Warm-You-Up Tortellini Pasta Recipe With Italian Sausage & Vodka Sauce by Terri Kendrick

It’s cold outside, but you’ll feel warm and cozy in a flash with a bowl of this hearty pasta and sausage recipe. Savory sausage links, cheese-filled tortellini and creamy vodka sauce combine to warm you up and fill your belly on a cold winter’s night. This Italian dinner tastes even better the second day (if you have leftovers, that is!).

To make this pasta with vodka sauce you will need the following ingredients: Italian sausage, cheese tortellini, vodka sauce, bell pepper, red onion, dried basil, garlic salt, Parmesan cheese and crushed red pepper flakes. That's it! Before you know it you will have an Italian meal on the table for your family to enjoy.

Serve this pasta dinner with a salad and a hunk of crusty bread and you have a meal for the family or dinner guests!

Note: 30Seconds is a participant in the Amazon affiliate advertising program and this post contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission or fees if you make a purchase via those links.

Cuisine: Italian
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 pound sweet Italian link sausage, sliced
• 10 ounces cheese tortellini
• 12 ounces vodka sauce
• 1/2 bell pepper, chopped
• 1/2 red onion, sliced
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1/4 cup shaved Parmesan cheese
• crushed red pepper flakes, to taste (optional)

Helpful Products

• Soup Pot
• Cutting Board
• Chef Knife
• Measuring Cups
• Measuring Spoons
• Skillet
• Salt and Pepper
• Grater
• Airtight Containers
• Pasta Pot
• Pasta Bowls

Recipe Notes

• Use any type of tortellini you like.

•  If you want to ramp up the spice, use hot sausage instead of the sweet Italian.
  

• You can easily substitute shrimp or chicken for the sausage.

• If you don’t want to use a sauce with alcohol, you can make your own “vodka sauce” minus the vodka.

Here’s how to make it:

1. Cook the sausage over medium-high heat until browned on both sides. Remove from the pan and drain on paper towels.
   
2. Cook peppers and onions in the sausage drippings until softened.
   
3. Meanwhile cook the tortellini according package directions. Drain the pasta.
   
4. Return the sausage and pasta to the pan with the peppers and onions. Add vodka sauce and sprinkle with basil, garlic salt and crushed red pepper flakes. Stir over low heat until everything is warmed through.
   
5. Top with Parmesan cheese before serving.
   

Nutrition Facts Per Serving

Calories: 479

Total Fat: 18.1g

Saturated Fat: 5.2g

Cholesterol: 33mg

Sodium: 1376mg

Total Carbohydrate: 54.5g

Dietary Fiber: 0.9g

Total Sugars: 21.3g

Protein: 24.7g

Vitamin D: 0mcg

Calcium: 575mg

Iron: 3mg

Potassium: 182mg

Recipe cooking times, nutritional information and servings are approximate and provided for your convenience. However, 30Seconds is not responsible for the outcome of any recipe, nor may you have the same results because of variations in ingredients, temperatures, altitude, errors, omissions or cooking/baking abilities. This recipe has been analyzed by VeryWellFit. However, any nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and it is up to the individual to ascertain accuracy. To ensure image quality, we may occasionally use stock photography.

Need to convert cooking and baking measurements? Here are some kitchen conversion charts. Here's how to submit your recipes to 30Seconds.

Take 30 seconds and join the 30Seconds community, and follow us on Facebook to get recipes in your newsfeed daily.