Nothing beats a good pasta for dinner. It's filling, tasty and cheap. This recipe for Slow Cooker Cheesy Italian Tortellini is also a snap to make. With just 15 minutes of prep time, you can get dinner rolling before you head out to work, and come home to the delicious smell of a homemade Italian dinner. This simple dish from Betty Crocker is sure to be a hit with the entire family and pairs great with your favorite green salad or garlic bread. This recipe makes enough to serve four healthy-sized portions. 

For this dish, you'll need your slow cooker and the following ingredients:

1/2 pound lean ground beef (at least 80 percent)
1/2 pound Italian sausage
1 container (15 ounces) marinara sauce
1 cup mushrooms, sliced
1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes with Italian herbs (undrained)
1 package refrigerated, cheese-filled tortellini
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese or pizza cheese blend

1. Brown your lean ground beef and sausage over medium heat until brown and drain. 

2. Coat your slow cooker dish with nonstick spray, and add your beef, sausage, marinara sauce, mushrooms and diced tomatoes. Allow this mixture to cook on low for 7 to 8 hours. 

3. About 15 minutes before serving, add your tortellini and stir to coat well. Top with cheese, cover and let it cook for another 15 minutes or until the tortellini is soft. 

*Tip: Make sure your lean ground beef has at least 80 percent fat. If you choose ground beef with too little fat, the burger will dry out. Instead, choose at least 80 percent lean and drain off excess fat. You can still cut calories without losing flavor and texture, according to Real Simple. 

Copyright 2016 Cooktop Cove