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Slow Cooker Tortellini in Rich Tomato and Cream sauce

Slow Cooker Tortellini in Rich Tomato and Cream Sauce

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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 15 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American, Italian
Servings 6 generous

Equipment

  • 6‑quart slow cooker a standard size that fits most crock pot soup recipes and crockpot cheese tortellini dishes just right.
  • Wooden spoon or silicone spatula for stirring without scratching.
  • Knife and Cutting Board for prep of onion and garlic.
  • Measuring cups and spoons Measuring cups and spoons – because eyeballing your heavy cream leads to… unexpected experiments.

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb 450 g fresh cheese tortellini (or use frozen if that’s what your freezer looks like)
  • 1 lb 450 g bulk Italian sausage, casings removed (or turkey sausage if you want a leaner twist)
  • 1 28 oz/800 g can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 15 oz/425 g can tomato sauce
  • 1 cup 240 ml heavy cream (gives it that rich, silky mouthfeel)
  • 1 medium yellow onion finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes optional, for a little heat
  • ½ teaspoon salt adjust to taste
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ cup 30 g grated Parmesan cheese (plus extra for serving)
  • 2 cups 60 g fresh baby spinach (optional but adds freshness)
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil for garnish

Instructions
 

Brown the sausage (optional but flavorful)

  1. In a skillet over medium heat, cook the bulk Italian sausage, breaking it up until it's no longer pink. Drain fat if needed, and transfer the sausage to the crock pot. This step plays nicely into sausage crockpot recipes and really boosts the taste.

Add aromatics & sauces

  1. Into the crock pot, mix onion, garlic, crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine—this is your flavor base.

Slow cook stage

  1. Cover and cook on LOW for 2 hours. This is your slow cooker doing the work while you do something more fun (like binge-watching or folding laundry).

Stir in the cream & cheese

  1. After 2 hours, stir in heavy cream and Parmesan cheese until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning.

Add tortellini & spinach

  1. Nestle fresh cheese tortellini into the sauce—no stirring needed; just push them down gently. Sprinkle on spinach. Cover and cook on LOW 1 more hour (or HIGH for 30 minutes) until tortellini is tender but not mushy. This transforms it into one of the best crockpot cheese tortellini meals around.

Garnish & serve

  1. Once cooked, stir gently to distribute spinach, then top with fresh basil and extra Parmesan.