Cheesy Smoked Sausage and Tortellini

Cheesy tortellini, rolling around in a hot skillet with seared smoked sausage, rich tomato sauce and gooey mozzarella cheese. Now that's a happy place to be. And this insanely easy skillet dinner lands on the table in less than 30 minutes. 

What an explosion of flavor! First there's the smoked sausage - made extra special with a quick char in the skillet. Then, the cheesy tortellini. And zesty sauce. Three elements that marry quickly and magically in just minutes. And then everything is blanketed with cheese.

About the tortellini: I used the refrigerated variety (that's my preference), but choose whatever you prefer, refrigerated or shelf-stable. The brand I buy is sold in 20-ounce packages, but you might find the shelf-stable tortellini in 16-ounce boxes/bags. Choose any brand and/or variety YOU like - and it can be either 16 or 20 ounces.

About the smoked sausage: I chose fully cooked, beef smoked sausage. You can also use chicken sausage, pork sausage, or a combination of beef and pork. Truly, any sausage works, but I recommend the fully cooked smoked variety for the ultimate flavor.

About the tomato sauce: The sauce I used for this was from a carton, a simple tomato sauce that's also sold in cans. It's not pre-seasoned pasta or pizza sauce. I like to start with plain tomato sauce and build my own flavor profile from there (by adding onion, garlic, oregano, and basil). That said, if you want to substitute your favorite marinara or pasta sauce, please do! You can also used crushed, pureed or diced tomatoes (for a chunkier sauce).

Cheesy Smoked Sausage and Tortellini 

16-20 ounces cheese tortellini of choice (see note above)
8 ounces smoked sausage (I used smoked beef sausage), cut into bite-size pieces
1/3 cup minced white onion
1-2 cloves garlic, minced
2 1/2 cups tomato sauce (see note above)
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Cook the tortellini according to the package directions. Drain and reserve 1/2 cup of the tortellini cooking water.
Brown the sausage in a large skillet over medium-high heat, stirring frequently. Add the onion and garlic and cook for 2 minutes. Add the reserved cooking liquid, tomato sauce, oregano, and basil and bring to a simmer. Add the tortellini to the skillet and stir to combine. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, to allow flavors to meld (if you need to add a little liquid here, add a little more tomato sauce or water).

Top the tortellini and sausage with the cheese and remove the pan from the heat. Let stand for 1 minute, until the cheese melts.

Serves 4