Tortelloni with Creamy Tomato Sauce and Spinach

Looking for a quick dinner solution? You can make this easy creamy tomato sauce for your stuffed pasta like tortelloni or tortellini in just 15 minutes! Use store bought pasta parcels along with a sauce made of minimal ingredients that will create loads of flavour!

Want something even quicker? Take a look at our 5 Minute Ravioli Sauce!

The need for a quick and easy midweek dinner never really goes away. And a fresh stuffed pasta like tortellini or ravioli is my number one choice when I do need something fast.

My love for them might be based in another type of dumplings I was raised on. Or it could simply comes from the fact they are ubiquitous in supermarkets. And so easy to serve for dinner!

This recipe for tortelloni is a quick one. And no, ‘tortelloni’ is not ‘tortellini’ spelled wrong. They are two types of Italian stuffed pasta. Similar but not exactly the same!

Tortellini vs Tortelloni

The two pasta parcels are very similar but with a few differences. The main visible difference is the size. Tortelloni are bigger, nearly the size of ravioli.

They are traditionally stuffed with spinach and ricotta while tortellini are stuffed with a meat filling. That being said, you can find so many types of stuffing nowadays.

That might not be traditional but it certainly is delicious. The ones you see in this recipe were filled with mushrooms and mascarpone, very popular in my house. And they were divine!

Tortelloni are usually only dressed with butter and sometimes fried sage while tortellini are served in a broth. However, we are taking liberties here by offering a very quick and easy cream sauce for our tortelloni.

Creamy Tomato Sauce Recipe

This sauce is a combination of cream and tomatoes with a touch of aged cheese. Hard Italian cheese like This is an affiliate link.Parmesan (Parmigiano Reggiano), Grana Padano, Pecorino Romano or Asiago could be added. 

Instead of using straight up tomatoes I went with This is an affiliate link.sun-dried tomato pesto. So much flavour is already built into it, so why not use it for a quick sauce with a killer taste! It’s a little kitchen hack I like using when I need flavours fast.

Finally, I’ve thrown a handful of fresh spinach for a vibrant and healthy touch of green. Vegetables help balance out the creamy sauce, and you can use any that you love. Asparagus, kale or tenderstem broccoli (broccolini) all sound like great choices to me. You will want to parboil asparagus and broccoli before adding to the sauce as they take a little longer to cook. 

Although designed with tortelloni in mind, I love using this easy and delicious sauce for any type of pasta, stuffed or not! It’s a great recipe to have up your sleeve when you are short on time! 

Serving suggestions

To make sure that the pasta doesn’t get soggy, it’s best to serve this dish when it is hot and fresh from the pan. I like to add some freshly shaved Parmesan cheese and black pepper to finish things off.

I usually serve stuffed pasta with a light salad for a casual weeknight dinner. This Tomato Salad with Basil and Mozzarella is a favourite, although a simple green salad is also a good choice. 

If you are expecting guests and want to show off with a traditional 3 course Italian dinner, start with antipasti. We have an extensive collection of authentic Italian recipes to choose from. Finish it off with our instant individual Amaretti Tiramisu and classic Italian cocktails. 

More stuffed pasta recipes

• 5 Minute Ravioli Sauce
• Butternut Squash Ravioli Sauce
• Chicken Meatball Soup with Tortellini
• Tortellini with Sun-dried Tomatoes in Cream Sauce