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!

Simple dinner party food and wine on a table

LAST MINUTE DINNER PARTY MENU

PREPPING THE INGREDIENTS FOR THE PARTY

Italian Sausage Tortellini in a dish near a bottle of red wine

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!

A dish of pasta, some bread, and a bottle of wine on a table

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

Closeup of creamy sausage tortellini in a 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!