The Best One Pot Italian Meals - In 30 Minutes OR LESS!

Hi friends, how have you been?

This week was especially busy in our home.  Honestly, I think that "busy" will be the running theme around here, from here on out. Four kids keep you busy - but in the happiest of ways! While the days are certainly filled to the brim with work, school, activities, and other random responsibilities - there's one thing that remains steadfast in our home; family dinners.

Family dinner is something that my husband and I have always prioritized. It's the simplest way to come together each day - especially when we're feeling like the busyness of life is pulling everyone in opposite directions. No matter what's going on in our lives individually, we can always find our way back to each other, around the dinner table. In my book, there's nothing better than great food + the company of the ones you love most.

Creating great food for your family, even when you're strapped for time, can be easier than you think. Check out my new fave one pot Italian meal recipes below  + the secret ingredient that makes these meals come together { and taste amazing } in 30 minutes OR LESS.

This weekend, we celebrated Italian heritage month in our home, with two amazing one pot Italian meals. Both meals are packed with flavor, and come together in under 30 minutes, My secret ingredient?  Johnsonville Italian Sausage. It's already packed with flavor and seasoning, so I can save myself the time {and expense} of reaching for my spice cabinet.

Instead, I can add a few simple ingredients to one pot { or skillet } and have an amazing fresh family sized Italian meal - ready in under 30 minutes. One of my favorite parts{aside from the amazing food of course}? When dinner is done, I don't have a huge mess to clear in the kitchen! Tell me, what busy mom wouldn't love that?

Ready to pull together some delicious Italian comfort food for your family? Check out two of my new favorite one pot Italian meal recipes below.

{BEST EVER!} Spinach Cheese Tortellini Skillet with Italian Sausage Recipe

Serves: 4
Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Cook Time: About 20 minutes

What you'll need:

• 1 package (12 oz) Johnsonville Fresh Sweet Italian Ground Sausage
• 8 oz. baby Bella mushrooms
• 1 can (14.5 oz) roasted diced tomatoes
• 1 can ( 8 oz) roasted tomato sauce
• 1 can ( 6 oz) tomato paste
• 1 package ( 9 oz ) refrigerated cheese tortellini 
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 1 bag ( 6 oz ) baby spinach
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste 

How to:

1. Bring 6 quarts of water to a boil. Add 2 tablespoons salt. Drop the tortellini into the boiling water and cook according to the package directions. Tortellini should be tender yet al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil set over high heat. Place the sausage in the pan and allow it to cook. Saute / move the sausage occasionally to avoid sticking. Cook for about 4-5 minutes. Once cooked, drain excess fat and set sausage aside. 
3. In the same pan, add mushrooms and cook 4-5 minutes, until  tender. Add in minced garlic and cook until fragrant - approximately 1-2 minutes.
4. Sir in the sausage, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, salt and pepper. Let simmer for 6-8 minutes.
5. Add cooked tortellini and fresh spinach into the pan and toss until ingredients are integrated and the spinach has wilted.
6. Season with salt and pepper to taste; plate and serve with Parmesan cheese.

Rigatoni Salsiccia e Rapini Recipe

Serves: 4-6 people
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: About 20 minutes

What you'll need:

• 1 package (12 oz. ) Johnsonville Fresh Mild or Hot Ground Sausage
• 1 package (1 lb. ) rigatoni
• 1 head of broccoli rabe
• 1 large tomato, diced
• 6 cloves of peeled garlic, crushed
• 4 ounces olive oil
• 1 teaspoon chili flakes
• 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• salt and pepper to taste

How to:

1. Bring 6 quarts of water to a boil. Add 2 tablespoons salt. Drop in pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water. 
2.  In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil set over high heat. Place the sausage in the pan and cook for 4-5 minutes. Remove sausage from heat and set aside to drain on a paper towel-lined dish.
3. Bring 6 quarts of water to a boil in the pot used for pasta. Cut florets off broccoli rabe head. Drop into boiling water for 1-2 minutes with 2 tbsp. salt. Transfer florets to a bowl of ice water. Once ice melts, drain and set aside.
4. Heat 3 tbsp. olive oil in a sauté pan until hot. Add the crushed garlic cloves and saute until golden brown. Then add chili flakes, sausage, broccoli rabe and tomatoes. Sauté and toss for 2-3 minutes.
5. Add pasta to the pan with the Parmesan cheese, half of the reserved pasta water, salt and pepper. Toss for 1-2 minutes until ingredients are integrated. If pasta deems dry, add more of the pasta water (as needed).
6. Plate and serve with Parmesan cheese.

Johnsonville fresh ground Italian sausage is such a versatile ingredient. It can add a boost of flavor to so many different meals and recipes - get creative! It's become my go-to "secret" ingredient.

Johnsonville sausage offers up authentic Italian flavor, with the perfect blend of fresh herbs and spices, that are sure to please the entire family!  You can find it in the refrigerated section of grocery retailers in a variety of flavors and choices including:

• Fresh Italian Mild Sausage Links
• Fresh Italian Holt Sausage Links
• Fresh Italian Four Cheese Sausage Links
• All Natural Fresh Italian Mild Ground Sausage
• All Natural Fresh Italian Hot Ground Sausage
• All Natural Fresh Italian Sweet Ground Sausage
• Chorizo Ground Sausage

For more delicious recipes and culinary inspiration visit. www.johnsonville.com and follow Johnsonville on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram.

What's your favorite Italian meal / recipe? I'd love it if you'd share in a comment below!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Johnsonville . The opinions and text are all mine.