Cheesy Tortellini with Veggies

🧂 Ingredients

• 1 lb. 96% lean ground beef
• 1 small onion

  diced
• 2 carrots

  peeled and thinly sliced
• olive oil
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 2 14.5-oz. cans crushed tomatoes

  undrained
• 26 oz. jar spaghetti sauce
• 2 tbsp. tomato paste
• 1 tbsp. dried basil
• 1 tsp. dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp. dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
• 2 whole bay leaves
• 1 tsp. granulated sugar
• 1 zucchini

  chopped
• 1 yellow squash

  chopped
• 8 oz. mushrooms

  sliced
• 4 cloves garlic

  minced
• 1 red bell pepper

  chopped
• 1 tsp. Salt and pepper

  to taste
• 32 oz. pkg. cheese tortellini

  UNCOOKED
• 3 cups mozzarella cheese

  shredded, divided use

Instructions

• 1 Pour a couple of tablespoons of olive oil in large skillet.
• 2 Add ground beef, onions, carrots and ½ tsp. each of salt and pepper and sauté
  until beef is browned.
• 3 Transfer mixture to a large 6-qt. Dutch oven.
• 4 Add chicken broth, crushed tomatoes, spaghetti sauce, tomato paste, basil,
  oregano, thyme, red pepper flakes, bay leaves and granulated sugar.
• 5 Simmer over low heat while you chop the veggies.
• 6 In skillet add another tablespoon or so of olive oil, add zucchini, yellow
  squash and bell pepper.
• 7 Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper.
• 8 Sauté for about 5-8 minutes or until veggies soften slightly.
• 9 Add squash mixture to large Dutch oven.
• 10 Add another tablespoon of olive to skillet and sauté garlic and mushrooms for
  5-8 minutes or until mushrooms are lightly browned.
• 11 Add mushroom mixture to Dutch oven.
• 12 Simmer for 20-30 minutes until flavors mingle well and carrots are fully cooked.
• 13 Remove bay leaves.
• 14 Stir in cheese tortellini UNCOOKED and 1 ½ cups cheese.
• 15 Spray a 9x13” glass baking dish with olive oil cooking spray.
• 16 Pour tortellini mixture into prepared dish.
• 17 Top with remaining 1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese.
• 18 Cover with foil.
• 19 Bake at 350 about 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
• 20 Remove foil and return to oven about 5 more minutes or until cheese gets lightly
  browned, if desired.

Nutrition Info