My girlfriends and I are so busy, that it has gotten really hard to plan time to spend together. We are juggling work, kids, sports practices, and more, so sometimes we can’t coordinate a dinner until the night of. That’s why it’s great to have a few easy dinner recipes that you know you can pull together, even at the spur of the moment. This simple tortellini recipe is a favorite, especially when it’s paired with a loaf of good bread and a few bottles of good wine!
LAST MINUTE DINNER PARTY MENU
PREPPING THE INGREDIENTS FOR THE PARTY
You can use either fresh or frozen tortellini to make this recipe. I usually buy a big bag of frozen tortellini from the grocery store. I love making tortellini because it is hearty and filling, but takes only minutes to cook!
I am generally a white wine drinker (I know, I know), but this meal is set off really well with red wine. I like Red Velvet because it is a delicious red blend of Zinfandel, Merlot, and Petite Sirah. You could always outsource the wine duties by asking your friends to bring their favorite bottles.
MAKING THE CREAMY PASTA DISH
The sauce cooks up almost as quickly as the pasta. Since there is so much flavor built into the sausage, you don’t add any additional spice to the sauce itself. Since there is wilted spinach in the dish you can choose to pair it with a spinach salad, or just serve it alongside crusty bread to save time.
This is a meal best-served family style. Add in your favorite music and some good friends, and you have a recipe for a perfect night in with friends, even last minute!
CREAMY SAUSAGE TORTELLINI
CREAMY SAUSAGE TORTELLINI
Print PinIngredients
- 24 oz cheese tortellini
- Aidells Italian sausage chopped
- 8 oz cream cheese cubed
- 2 14.5 oz cans diced tomatoes
- 4 cups baby spinach
Instructions
- Cook tortellini according to package directions
- Drain pasta. Add sausage to emptied pot. Cook according to package directions.
- Add cream cheese and tomatoes. Cook until cheese melts.
- Add spinach and cook until spinach wilts.
- Mix pasta into sauce mixture.
- Serve and enjoy!
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