About This Recipe
Many of us are turning to comfort foods these days, and with good reason. Colder weather has set in in the upper Midwest, and everyone wants to feel warm inside and out. So what’s the best comfort food besides chocolate? Pasta! More specifically, this wonderful and easy recipe for Triple Sauced Tortellini.
This delicious and easy recipe is simple to make and has the most incredible flavor and texture. The little stuffed pasta is combined with ground beef, vegetables, and then tomato pasta sauce, Alfredo sauce, and pesto. The combination of the ingredients tastes like so much more than the sum of its parts.
You can vary this recipe any way you’d like. Use ground sausage or chopped chicken instead of the beef. Add frozen peas, green beans, or sliced zucchini. Or use frozen ravioli in place of the tortellini.
This recipe should be served with Cheesy Toasted Bread Sticks and a green salad tossed with little grape tomatoes and Italian salad dressing. Yum.
Tips for best results:
- Use a real good frozen tortellini. Rosetto is my personal favorite.
- You can make this recipe as spicy or mild as you’d like depending on the type of pork sausage you buy. If you can’t find bulk pork sausage, which can be rare, buy pork sausages and remove the meat from the casing.
- The recipe is done when the casserole is bubbling furiously around the edges and just starting to bubble in the center.
Why this recipe works:
- The three sauces are different enough that each stands out, but they all contribute something to the recipe. The Alfredo sauce makes the sauce creamy, the tomato pasta sauce is rich and savory, and the pesto adds a note of brightness.
- The frozen tortellini cooks to perfection in the oven surrounded by all those sauces.
- The vegetables have to be cooked first because they wouldn’t soften properly in the time the casserole bakes.
Steps
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1
Done
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Preheat the oven to 375°F. Spray a 13-inch by 9-inch pan glass baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside. |
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2
Done
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In a very large skillet over medium heat, melt the olive oil and butter together. Add the ground beef, onion, garlic, and red bell pepper; cook, stirring frequently to break up the meat, until the beef is browned. |
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3
Done
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Add the flour to the skillet. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in the pasta sauce, Alfredo sauce, and pesto until combined. |
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4
Done
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Put the frozen tortellini into the prepared pan. Pour on the meat mixture and mix gently. Sprinkle with the cheese. |
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5
Done
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Put the baking dish on a cookie sheet to prevent spillovers. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes or until the casserole is bubbling and the tortellini is tender. Serve. |
