At our household, Trader Joe’s tortellini is a quick dish to make! With numerous tortellini flavors available, we opted for the spinach type for this particular recipe. Additionally, the 4 cheese tortellini from Trader Joe’s is also worth a try. Our recipe features chicken sausage, two types of tomatoes, and asparagus. Thanks to the speedy cooking time of Trader Joe’s tortellini, this dish can be whipped up in no time!
Three Reasons Why You’ll Love This Pasta
- Bursting with Flavor: This pasta dish combines the savory taste of browned chicken sausage with the fresh flavors of cherry tomatoes and asparagus, all brought together by a rich, buttery sauce with a hint of garlic and shallots. Each bite is a delightful explosion of taste.
- Nutritious and Balanced: Packed with protein from the chicken sausage and nutrients from the asparagus and tomatoes, this dish offers a balanced meal that’s both satisfying and good for you. The addition of whole, fresh ingredients ensures a wholesome dining experience.
- Quick and Easy: Despite its gourmet taste, this pasta is quick and easy to prepare. With simple steps and a short cooking time, it’s perfect for a busy weeknight dinner or an impressive yet hassle-free meal for guests. Plus, it requires minimal cleanup since everything is cooked in one pan!
What size asparagus is the most tender?
For years I used to beg Bruce to select the smaller asparagus when we shopped at the grocery store. I felt that smaller meant that it would be more tender. Bruce never agreed with me. Well, turns out that Bruce is right. (He is most of the time) To harvest asparagus, it takes 3 years to grow. A young asparagus plant is putting more of its energy into producing spears that will stand upright, so most of the plant material in the spears of younger asparagus plants is actually crude fiber.
Read more about asparagus from Peter Ferretti, professor of vegetable crops at Penn State, here: The Skinny On Asparagus Is That Thicker Means More Tender
Storing and Reheating This Pasta Dish
Storing Leftovers:
- Cool Completely: Allow the pasta to cool completely before storing to prevent condensation and sogginess.
- Airtight Container: Transfer the pasta to an airtight container. This helps maintain the freshness and prevents the pasta from drying out.
- Refrigerate: Store the container in the refrigerator. This pasta dish will stay fresh for up to 3-4 days.
Reheating Leftovers:
- In the Oven:
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Transfer to Oven-Safe Dish: Place the pasta in an oven-safe dish. If the pasta seems dry, add a splash of water or chicken broth.
- Cover with Foil: Cover the dish with aluminum foil to retain moisture.
- Bake: Bake for about 20 minutes, or until the pasta is heated through.
- In the Microwave:
- Portion the Pasta: Place a portion of the pasta in a microwave-safe dish.
- Add Moisture: Add a splash of water or chicken broth to prevent the pasta from drying out.
- Cover: Cover the dish with a microwave-safe lid or a damp paper towel.
- Reheat: Microwave on medium power for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through, until the pasta is heated through.
- On the Stovetop:
- Use a Pan: Place the pasta in a skillet or pan.
- Add Moisture: Add a splash of water or chicken broth.
- Heat Gently: Heat over medium-low, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is warmed through.
By following these steps, you can enjoy your delicious pasta dish even as leftovers, maintaining its flavors and textures.
Equipment
- pot
- pasta spoon
Ingredients
- 1 shallot
- 5 cloves of garlic
- 1 Teaspoon olive oil
- 3 Trader Joes Spicy Italian pre-cooked chicken sausages
- ½ cup white wine
- ½ cup roasted tomatoes
- ½ stick of butter
- 1 bunch asparagus
- Pinch of red pepper flakes
- Freshly ground pepper
- 10 ounce package of Spinach Tortellini
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes cut in half we used multi color
- 1 Tablespoon Pecorino Romano
Instructions
Prep ingredients:
- Put pot of water on to boil for the pasta.
- Peel and chop shallot into small dice. Shred garlic. Cube butter by slicing in half, and then small cubes. Cut cherry tomatoes in half. Slice roasted tomatoes into bite size slices. Cut asparagus on the bias (diagonally) into 1 inch pieces, throwing out the tough ends. Slice the chicken sausage.
Brown the sausage:
- In a hot pan, add the sliced chicken sausage. Stir to distribute evenly in pan. Fry a few minutes on one side. Toss or stir to brown the other side. The chicken sausage is already cooked, so you are just looking for the pieces to be browned on each side. Remove chicken sausage from pan, and place in a dish, and cover with foil.
Prepare the pasta sauce:
- To the same pan you browned the chicken sausage in, add a bit of olive oil, and the shallots. Stir to cook. You are looking for the shallots to sweat a little, and not brown. Add in the garlic, and stir, watching to make sure garlic does not burn. Add in the white wine. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes. Allow to reduce for about 5 minutes or so. Add in the oven roasted tomatoes and black pepper and stir.
Finish the Pasta:
- Drop the pasta into boiling water to cook, following directions for time. About 1 minute before tortellini is done, add the asparagus to the sauce, along with half the butter. Toss the sauce to slightly cook the asparagus.
- Now add in the chicken sausage and cherry tomatoes. Add in the drained tortellini to the sauce and the remaining butter. Toss or stir to melt butter into sauce.
- Serve pasta in dishes with pecorino Romano shredded over the top. Enjoy!
Nutrition
More pasta recipes to try!
- Baked Italian Sausage Pasta
- Cheesy No-Boil Lasagna with Italian Sausage & Spinach
- Lemony Cheese Ravioli
Dana says
The flavors in this are awesome! And it’s filling without weighing you down, which is great.
Caroline says
I love that this uses a few shortcuts to speed things up but is also packed with tasty veggies. Colorful and tasty!
Ieva says
Lovely recipe! Equally vibrant in colours and flavours – will definitely make it again soon!
Kim says
I really love Trader Joe’s Tortellini – and I’ve had it with sausage before, but never chicken sausage and asparagus. This looks amazing and I can’t wait to try it!
Mandi says
This is such a comforting bowl of tortellini. I love the addition of Trader Joe’s sausage. It’s so good!
Bruce and Dina Miller says
Mandi,
Huge Trader Joes Chicken sausage fans over here!
Dina and Bruce
Gina says
This meal is so tasty and often asked for in my house! Perfect after a busy day!
Bruce and Dina Miller says
Gina,
A serious go-to recipe over here! Thank you!
Dina and Bruce
Ned says
The recipe was absolutely delicious and a definite winner! Such great flavor! Thank you so much!
Bruce and Dina Miller says
Ned,
So much flavor, and so easy! Thank you!
Dina and Bruce
Suja md says
This looks and sounds fabulous! Love this recipe.
Bruce and Dina Miller says
Suga,
Many thanks!
Dina and Bruce
Suja md says
Outstanding recipe thanks so much! tasted so much good!
Kathleen says
I am loving the fresh flavors and fresh ingredients in this fabulous tortellini copycat recipe.
Bruce and Dina Miller says
Kathleen,
A favorite over here!
Dina and Bruce
Tara says
Oh yum! Such a great use for the tortellini. I especially love the addition of the sausages. Definitely the perfect combination of flavors.
Bruce and Dina Miller says
Tara,
Thank you so much!
Dina and Bruce
Mahy says
It’s been a while since I last made tortellini at home. Definitely one of my favorite dishes out there!
Kechi says
This was the dinner that I didn’t know I needed – easy, tasty and satisfying! And I can’t wait to make this again. Thanks for this recipe.
Bruce and Dina Miller says
Kechi,
That just made our day! Thank you so much!
Dina and Bruce
Paula says
This tortellini was absolutely fantastic, Loved the addition of sausage!
Bruce and Dina Miller says
Paula,
Thank you! Easy and delicious!
Dina and Bruce
Tayler says
I made this pasta for dinner last night and it was delicious! The whole family loved it!
Bruce and Dina Miller says
Tayler,
Oh yay! Glad you all enjoyed it!
Thank you,
Dina and Bruce
Anjali says
This was such a great way to use Trader Joe’s tortellini!! Paired with the sausage and other ingredients, it made for such a satisfying and easy dinner for our family!
Bruce and Dina Miller says
Anjali,
So glad you enjoyed this!
Dina and Bruce