Cheesy Pizza Tortellini Dinner

By Tyla | Last modified on Sep 29, 2025

Featured in: Dinner

Get ready for the ultimate comfort food mashup that’s about to blow your mind — this Cheesy Pizza Tortellini Dinner is what happens when your favorite pizza decides to have a passionate affair with a bowl of tortellini, and their beautiful baby is this incredible one-pan wonder. We’re talking cheese tortellini swimming in rich marinara sauce, loaded with pepperoni, Italian sausage, and enough melted mozzarella to make you question your life choices (in the best way possible).

This is the kind of dinner that makes everyone at the table go suspiciously quiet because they’re too busy shoveling food into their faces to talk. It’s got all the flavors of your favorite pizza, but in cozy pasta form that you can eat with a fork. Perfect for when you can’t decide between pizza night and pasta night — why choose when you can have both?

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Pizza flavors in pasta form — because sometimes you want both and life’s too short
One-pan magic — less dishes, more eating time
Kid-approved, adult-obsessed — everyone wins at this dinner table
Ready in 30 minutes — faster than delivery and way more delicious
Completely customizable — add whatever pizza toppings make you happy
Comfort food overload that hits all the right spots
Perfect for feeding a crowd without breaking the bank

The Good Stuff You’ll Need

For the Pasta Base:

1 lb cheese tortellini (fresh or frozen, whatever floats your boat)
2 tbsp olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce (or use your homemade if you’re fancy)
1 cup chicken broth
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for the spice lovers)

For the Pizza Party:

1/2 lb Italian sausage, casings removed
4 oz pepperoni, sliced (because pepperoni is life)
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms (optional, but recommended)
1/2 cup diced bell peppers (any color you like)
1/4 cup sliced black olives (optional, for the olive enthusiasts)

For the Cheese Situation:

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/4 cup ricotta cheese (for extra creaminess)

For the Finishing Touches:

Fresh basil leaves, chopped
Extra parmesan for serving
Red pepper flakes for the table
Garlic bread (because why not go all out?)

Let’s Do This

Step 1: Get Your Game Face On

Heat olive oil in a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. We’re doing this all in one pan because we’re efficient like that.

Step 2: Meat the Team

Add Italian sausage to the pan, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Brown it for about 5-6 minutes until no longer pink.

Add diced onion and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Toss in garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.

Step 3: Veggie Power

Add mushrooms and bell peppers to the party. Cook for 3-4 minutes until they start to soften. If you’re using olives, throw them in now too.

Step 4: Sauce It Up

Pour in marinara sauce and chicken broth. Add Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes if you’re feeling spicy. Bring to a simmer and let it bubble happily.

Step 5: Tortellini Time

Add tortellini to the sauce mixture. If using frozen, no need to thaw — just dump them right in. Stir gently to coat everything.

Cover and simmer for about 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tortellini are tender and have absorbed some of that delicious sauce.

Step 6: Pepperoni Party

Stir in half the pepperoni slices and let them warm through for about 2 minutes. Save the rest for topping because presentation matters.

Step 7: Cheese Overload Time

Remove from heat and stir in ricotta cheese until melted and creamy. Top with mozzarella and parmesan cheeses, plus the remaining pepperoni slices.

Cover and let sit for 3-4 minutes to melt the cheese, or pop under the broiler for 2-3 minutes for that bubbly, golden top.

Step 8: The Grand Finale

Garnish with fresh basil and serve immediately with extra parmesan and red pepper flakes on the side.

Watch everyone’s faces light up when they take their first bite. Take a mental picture — this is what happiness looks like.

Serving Suggestions

Serve with a crisp Caesar salad to balance all that cheesy goodness
Garlic bread or crusty Italian bread for sopping up the sauce
A nice Chianti or Sangiovese if you’re feeling wine-y
Keep some antacids handy (just kidding… mostly)

Switch It Up

Meat Lovers: Add cooked bacon, ham, or ground beef along with the sausage

Veggie Supreme: Skip the meat and load up with zucchini, spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes

White Pizza Version: Use alfredo sauce instead of marinara for a creamy twist

Spicy Italian: Add hot Italian sausage and extra red pepper flakes

Hawaiian Style: Add pineapple chunks and ham (don’t @ me, pineapple pizza lovers unite)

Four Cheese: Use a blend of mozzarella, provolone, fontina, and parmesan

Make-Ahead Tips

Brown the sausage and prep all veggies the night before
Make the whole thing earlier in the day and reheat gently with a splash of broth
Freeze leftovers for up to 3 months (though good luck having leftovers)
Keep extra cheese on hand because someone always wants more

Questions People Actually Ask

Q: Can I use regular pasta instead of tortellini? A: Sure, but you’ll lose some of the magic. Try penne or rigatoni if you must.

Q: My tortellini are getting mushy. What happened? A: They cooked too long. Fresh tortellini cook faster than frozen, so keep an eye on them.

Q: Can I make this in a slow cooker? A: You could, but the texture won’t be the same. This is really meant to be a stovetop dish.

Q: What if I don’t like pepperoni? A: Use whatever pizza toppings you love — Canadian bacon, salami, or just load up on more cheese.

Q: Can I make this lighter? A: Use turkey sausage, reduce the cheese, and add more veggies. But honestly, sometimes you just gotta live a little.

Q: Help! It’s too saucy/not saucy enough. A: Too saucy? Simmer uncovered for a few more minutes. Not saucy enough? Add more broth or sauce.