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A family favorite, this Quick Tortellini Bolognese will not disappoint. Short-cut Italian-style Bolognese sauce with a mix of crisped pepperoni (the secret), ground beef, spicy sausage, dried herbs, marinara sauce, and a few spoonfuls of cream cheese to create the most delicious and rich Bolognese. A little pesto adds a pop of fresh flavor. Serve this sauce over cheese tortellini and top with plenty of freshly grated parmesan cheese. All it needs is a side of crusty bread for mopping up all that sauce. You can’t go wrong with this quick and simple Bolognese.
It’s been so long since I shared a Bolognese recipe. I forgot how delicious they are. I make this a lot during the fall and winter when I’m in need of a great family meal that’s quick and easy. We have some picky eaters, but everyone enjoys this sauce.
I have a few secrets to making this speedy and quick that I’ve learned over many years of cooking. You’ll love having this recipe on hand, and it’s great for the holidays too!
My secrets are odd, but I promise you they work wonders on this super flavorful, quick-cooking sauce.
First spicy pepperoni in place of the classic, pancetta. Crisping up chopped pepperoni infuses the sauce with a delicious spicy flavor right from the start. Not to mention, the pepper is such a unique yummy addition. I swear, it’s what draws people to this sauce!
Then, for even more flavor, I use spicy Italian sausage. This is the shortcut to not having to use too many seasonings in our sauce. The sausage is pre-seasoned, and once cooked, is so delicious in this red sauce.
Finally, a small amount of cream cheese and basil pesto add a nice rich creaminess.
Here are the details
Step 1: cook the pepperoni
Just as you’d crisp up bacon, do the same for this pepperoni. I buy a spicy beef pepperoni stick and chop it into small pieces, then cook until crispy.
It sounds different, but trust me, it really is delicious. You’ll soon love this addition!
Step 2: create the sauce
Next, everything else goes into the pot. The onion, ground beef, and spicy sausage. Or use ground chicken and spicy chicken sausage. Whatever you prefer.
Now celery, dried oregano, tomato paste, and 2 jars of your very favorite marinara sauce. I love Rao’s Homemade Arrabbiata Sauce or the Carbone Arrabbiata Marinara. Add a splash of water and let the sauce simmer a bit to thicken up.
Then, finish the sauce with melted cream cheese and basil pesto. Yum!
Step 3: cook the tortellini
For this dish, I love serving the sauce with cheese tortellini. Of course, you can use any cut of pasta you like. But the tortellini makes the sauce feel fancy, which is fun and of course delicious.
Boil the tortellini, then add it back to the hot pot. Spoon the sauce over the pasta and toss with fresh parmesan. At this point, it’s going to smell so good.
Step 4: serve
Serve the saucy tortellini topped with fresh herbs and parmesan.
Then, of course, bread on the side is lovely!
This recipe feeds a bit more than you need, so chances are you’ll have leftovers. But the leftovers are just as good or better the following night.
You can also reserve any sauce you don’t use and serve it throughout the week. Use it with pasta or make cheesy stuffed peppers (our favorite). You can also freeze the leftover sauce. The options are endless!
Looking for other family dinner recipes? Here are a few ideas:
Cider Braised Short Ribs with Caramelized Onions
30 Minute Coq au Vin Chicken Meatballs
Lastly, if you make this Quick Tortellini Bolognese be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite
Quick Tortellini Bolognese
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 488 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 4 ounces pepperoni, chopped
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 1 pound ground beef
- 3/4 pound ground spicy Italian sausage
- 1/2 cup chopped celery
- 4 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 jars (24 ounces) marinara sauce
- 3 tablespoons cream cheese, melted
- 1/3 cup basil pesto
- 1 pound cheese tortellini
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- 1. In a large pot, cook the pepperoni over medium heat until crispy, 5 minutes. Add the onion, beef, sausage, celery, garlic, and oregano. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, breaking up the meat as it cooks, until browned all over, 10 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook for 5 minutes, then mix in the marinara sauce. Add 1/2 cup water or use milk. Season with salt and pepper. 2. Simmer over low heat for 10-15 minutes to thicken the sauce. Stir in the cream cheese and pesto.3. Meanwhile, boil the tortellini until al dente. Drain and add back to the pot. Ladle the sauce over the tortellini. Add parmesan and toss to coat.4. Divide the pasta among bowls. Serve topped with parmesan and fresh herbs. Enjoy!
We made this for Christmas 2023, it was easy and tasted fantastic! The best part was we could make it ahead and just add the cream cheese and pesto upon reheating. The tortellini was made day of. An excellent recipe that will definitely be made again! The only change I made was to use mild Italian sausage as I am a little wussy on spicy heat.
So glad you enjoyed this recipe! xT
Love this recipe. Can I substitute cream cheese spread for block cream cheese?
Hi Paula! Yes, that should be just fine! 🙂 xT
I made this for dinner last night and it was delicious! I made the sauce earlier in the day and let it simmer for several hours. I tasted the sauce several times during the afternoon and it was go good. I actually waited to add the pesto and cream cheese until shortly before we ate and that took the flavor over the top! My husband I both loved this dish. I’m going to freeze the remaining sauce for future dinners. YUM!
So glad you enjoyed this recipe Amanda! xT
I think this is a family favorite recipe, my kids practically licked their plates clean!
Love to hear that Ashley! Thank you! xT
Hi! Can this recipe be used for spaghetti noodles instead of tortellini? thank you!!
Hey Anna,
Of course, you could really use any noodles you like! I hope you love this recipe, let me know if you give it a try! xx
THIS IS DELICIOUS!
Absolutely recommend! Super quick, easy, and perfect for a cold autumn night.
Can’t wait to eat leftovers tomorrow!
Hi Mallory,
I appreciate you giving this dish a try and sharing your feedback! Love to hear that it was a winner:) x
Can I make this sauce ahead of time and reheat before tossing with the tortellini?
Hi Julie,
Totally, that will work well for you! I hope you love this recipe! xx
Is it 24 ounces total of marinara or two 24 ounce jars for 48oz total?
Hi Dana,
You will want to use 2 24oz jars, so 48oz total. I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give this recipe a try! xT
I wish I would have read this comment earlier….making tonight and only bought one 24 oz jar. I think ingredients should be reworded.
The cheese tortellini I buy comes in 20 oz packages, and there is plenty of sauce for that much tortellini. Delicious!
Hey Judy,
Happy Monday!! Love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks for trying and your feedback! xT
SO DELICIOUS & COMFORTING! Made this for the first time last week and the whole family absolutely loved it. I’m making it again this week. I love how easily and quickly the meal came together.
Hi Amanda,
Happy Friday!! Thanks so much for trying this recipe and sharing your review, so glad it was a hit! xT
I made this about a week ago and it was SO tasty! I love having a bolognese that doesn’t take like 18 hours to make. The pepperoni was genius. Thanks for another winner!!
Hey Sarah,
Love to hear this!! Thanks a lot for trying this dish and your review, so glad it was enjoyed:) xx
Oh my gosh this sounds so good. Can’t wait to try it!
Thank you so much for trying out this recipe! So glad you enjoyed it! Have a great Halloween 🙂 xT
Hi Tieghan ! Happy Halloween ! This was a big hit with my two boys and hubby ! Leftovers were just as good ! Thanks for all you do, you make my family and I happy !
Thank you so much for trying out this recipe! So glad you enjoyed it! Have a great Halloween 🙂 xT
I made this for my brother, his wife and my boyfriend. Quick, easy and cozy. I’ll be using this sauce recipe on repeat.
Hi Meghan! Thank you so much! So glad you enjoyed this recipe 🙂 xT
I made this last night and it’s amazing as usual. I have made the other slower version of the family Bolognese as well and both are delicious! Pretty quick and so yummy.
So glad you enjoyed this recipe Kendra!