Description
Hearty meat lovers pizza tortellini brings Italian-American fusion to your dinner table with bold, robust flavors. Packed with savory meats and cheese-filled pasta, this dish promises a satisfying meal that will delight your taste buds.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Base:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 0.5 lb Italian sausage
- 0.25 lb pepperoni, sliced
Cheese and Dairy:
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 0.5 cup parmesan cheese, grated
- 0.25 cup ricotta cheese
Pizza and Pasta Elements:
- 1 package cheese tortellini
- 1 pizza sauce
- 1 pre-made pizza crust
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Herbs and Seasonings:
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 0.5 tsp garlic powder
- 0.25 tsp red pepper flakes
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F, preparing a robust cooking environment for the ultimate meat lovers fusion dish.
- In a large skillet, brown ground beef and Italian sausage over medium-high heat, breaking meat into small crumbles and draining excess fat.
- Season the meat mixture with oregano, basil, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper, ensuring a deeply flavored protein base.
- Cook cheese tortellini according to package instructions, slightly undercooking to prevent mushiness during final baking.
- Brush pre-made pizza crust with olive oil, creating a golden, crispy foundation for the layered ingredients.
- Spread pizza sauce evenly across the crust, leaving a small border around the edges for a classic pizza presentation.
- Layer the seasoned meat mixture uniformly over the sauce, creating a rich and hearty base.
- Distribute cooked tortellini across the meat layer, ensuring even coverage.
- Sprinkle sliced pepperoni over the tortellini, adding an extra punch of meaty flavor.
- Top generously with mozzarella and parmesan cheeses, creating a melty, golden cheese blanket.
- Dollop ricotta cheese in small clusters across the surface for creamy texture variations.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until cheese is completely melted and crust edges turn golden brown.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing to allow ingredients to set and flavors to meld.
Notes
- Enhance meat flavor by using a combination of ground beef and sausage with varying fat percentages for richer taste profiles.
- Prevent tortellini from becoming soggy by slightly undercooking them before adding to the pizza, maintaining their delightful texture during final baking.
- Experiment with different cheese blends like provolone or fontina to add complex and nuanced flavor dimensions to the dish.
- Accommodate vegetarian preferences by substituting meat with plant-based protein alternatives like seasoned mushrooms or meat substitutes while maintaining the recipe’s robust flavor foundation.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 1200 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg