Tortellini with Italian Sausage, Fennel, and Mushroom

A hearty Italian pasta dish combining cheese tortellini with spicy Italian sausage, fresh fennel, and crimini mushrooms in a creamy sauce. Finished with baby spinach and Parmesan cheese for a rich and satisfying meal.

6 servings
33 min

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 large fennel bulb
  • 1 pound spicy Italian sausages
  • 8 ounce crimini mushrooms
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 1 tablespoon fennel seeds
  • ½ cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 cup low-salt chicken broth
  • 16 ounce tortellini
  • 5 ounce baby spinach leaves
  • ½ cup Parmesan cheese

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add sliced fennel bulb, sausage, and mushrooms; sauté until sausage is brown and cooked through and fennel is almost tender, 12 to 15 minutes. Add garlic and fennel seeds; stir 1 minute. Stir in cream, then 1 cup broth; boil until liquid is reduced and very slightly thickened, 2 to 3 minutes.

    18 min

  2. 2.

    Meanwhile, cook tortellini in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain tortellini; return to same pot.

    10 min

  3. 3.

    Add sausage mixture to tortellini in pot. Toss over medium heat until blended. Add spinach; toss gently until spinach wilts. Stir in 1/2 cup cheese; add more broth by 1/4 cupfuls to moisten if dry. Season with salt and pepper, sprinkle with chopped fennel fronds, and serve, passing additional cheese.

    5 min