Description
A hearty and comforting slow cooker recipe combining lean turkey sausage, creamy cheese tortellini, fresh spinach, and a savory tomato broth, topped with cream cheese and melted Mozzarella. Perfect for an easy, hands-off meal that delivers rich flavors and satisfying textures.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat
- 1 pound lean turkey sausage
Pasta
- 1 bag (19 ounces) frozen cheese tortellini
Produce
- 3 cups baby spinach leaves
Canned Goods
- 2 cans (14.5 ounces each) diced tomatoes, drained
- 3 ½ cups chicken broth
Spices & Seasonings
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Dairy
- 1 block (8 ounces) cream cheese, cubed
- 1 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Brown the Sausage: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown and crumble the lean turkey sausage until fully cooked. Drain off any excess grease to keep the dish light and flavorful.
- Layer Ingredients in Slow Cooker: Grease the inside of a large 7-quart slow cooker. Place the frozen cheese tortellini in the bottom of the slow cooker. Evenly spread the cooked turkey sausage over the tortellini. Then pour in the baby spinach leaves, drained diced tomatoes, chicken broth, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Add Cream Cheese and Cook: Distribute the cubed cream cheese evenly on top of the mixture. Close the slow cooker with its lid. Cook on low heat for up to 5 hours, or on high heat for 3 to 4 hours. For best results, allow at least 2 hours of cooking and stir occasionally to prevent the tortellini from sticking to the bottom.
- Finish with Mozzarella and Serve: Once cooking is complete, sprinkle the shredded Mozzarella cheese evenly over the top. Leave the lid off and let it stand for 15 to 20 minutes so the cheese can melt and the flavors can meld. Serve warm and enjoy your comforting meal.
Notes
- Stir occasionally during cooking to prevent the tortellini from sticking to the slow cooker bottom.
- Draining the diced tomatoes avoids excess liquid, keeping the dish from becoming too watery.
- You can substitute the turkey sausage for Italian sausage if preferred, but this will alter the nutritional content.
- Letting the dish stand with shredded cheese on top enhances the flavor and melt quality.
- This recipe works best in a slow cooker with a 7-quart capacity or larger to allow room for expansion.
