Sweet n’ Spicy Italian Sausage & Mushroom Tortellini
Juicy sausage, tender mushrooms, and pillowy cheese tortellini all wrapped up in a rich, slightly sweet, slightly spicy sauce. If you’ve never added a touch of sweetness to your pasta sauce, consider this your sign. It’s the ultimate balance of flavors—spicy, savory, and just a little unexpected. And the best part? It all comes together in about 30 minutes, making it the perfect weeknight dinner when you want something indulgent without spending hours in the kitchen.
This dish hits all the right notes: hearty, creamy, just the right amount of heat, and that little drizzle of honey at the end? Absolute game-changer.
What You’ll Need
This recipe is all about layering bold flavors with simple ingredients.
Cheese Tortellini – The ultimate pasta upgrade, because stuffing pasta with cheese is always a good idea.
Italian Sausage – Sweet, spicy, or mild—whatever you love, go for it.
Mushrooms – Add depth and soak up all that rich sauce.
Tomato Paste – Intensely rich and perfect for building a thick, flavorful base.
Chicken Broth & White Wine – The dynamic duo that makes the sauce velvety and full of flavor.
Italian Seasoning & Garlic Powder – Because no Italian-inspired dish is complete without them.
Red Pepper Flakes – Adds just the right amount of heat (or a lot, your call).
Honey – The unexpected twist that balances out the spice and brings everything together.
Butter – Because a little richness never hurt anyone.
Fresh Parsley & Parmesan – The perfect finishing touch.
How to Make It
Start by bringing a large pot of salted water to a boil and cooking the tortellini according to the package instructions. Drain, reserving about ¼ cup of pasta water, and set aside.
Meanwhile, heat a little olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced sausage and cook until browned and fully cooked through. Once the sausage is looking golden and crispy on the edges, toss in the mushrooms and cook for another 3-4 minutes until softened. Remove everything from the pan and set aside.
In the same pan, add the tomato paste and gradually stir in the chicken broth and white wine. Mix until smooth and let it simmer for a minute or two. Then, stir in the Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, butter, garlic powder, and honey. Let it simmer on low-medium heat for a few more minutes, giving it a quick taste to adjust seasoning as needed.
Now, return the sausage and mushrooms to the pan, stirring to coat everything in that luscious sauce. Add the cooked tortellini along with the reserved pasta water, tossing everything together until well combined. If you want a little extra sweetness, drizzle in some more honey—it’s totally worth it.
Let the pasta sit for a few minutes before serving to let all those flavors really meld together. Garnish with fresh parsley, shower it with Parmesan, and dig in.
Sweet n’ Spicy Italian Sausage & Mushroom Tortellini
Juicy sausage, tender mushrooms, and cheesy tortellini all hanging out in a rich, slightly spicy, slightly sweet sauce. If you’ve never added a little sweetness to your pasta sauce, well… congratulations on living a very safe and predictable life. But seriously, give it a shot. The combo of sweet, spicy, and classic Italian flavors is basically a flavor jackpot. Taste as you go, adjust as needed.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook tortellini according to package instructions. Drain, reserving ¼ cup pasta water, and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add sausage and cook until browned and fully cooked through.
- Add mushrooms, toss to combine, and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened. Remove sausage and mushrooms from the pan and set aside.
- In the same pan over medium heat, add tomato paste. Gradually stir in chicken broth and white wine, mixing until smooth and sauce-like.
- Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low-medium. Stir in Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, butter, garlic powder, and honey. Let simmer for a few minutes, adjusting seasoning to taste.
- Return sausage and mushrooms to the pan, stirring to coat in the sauce.
- Add cooked tortellini and reserved pasta water, tossing to combine. Drizzle with additional honey if desired.
- Let sit for a few minutes before serving. Garnish with parsley and Parmesan. Enjoy!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
✔️ Sweet, Spicy & Savory – The perfect balance of bold flavors.
✔️ One-Pan Wonder – Less cleanup, more time to enjoy.
✔️ Fast & Easy – Ready in about 30 minutes.
✔️ Versatile – Use your favorite sausage, adjust the spice level, or add more veggies.
This dish is cozy, indulgent, and a total flavor bomb—basically, everything you want in a pasta night. Try it once, and it’ll definitely be making a repeat appearance in your dinner rotation.
