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Juicy, tender chicken combines with cheesy tortellini in a creamy tomato sauce to create this Creamy Chicken Tortellini! The entire dish cooks in just one pan to create an easy well-rounded dish for dinner.
This one-pot dish is so easy and comes together with a simple tomato cream sauce, fresh tortellini that cooks quickly and a cheesy grated Parmesan. Enjoy this easy tortellini recipe as a hearty meal on busy weeknights. Serve it with a side salad or garlic bread!
Simple ingredients create amazing texture and flavor. The flavor is similar to Tuscan chicken pasta and is a hit with both kids and adults.
If you love this creamy pasta dinner, then you will also love my Creamy Tuscan Salmon or Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo Bake!
Why You’ll Love Creamy Tortellini
Imagine digging your fork into cheesy al dente pasta, all coated in a rich, velvety cream sauce that clings to every bite. Tender, golden-seared chicken breast slices melt in your mouth, their savory juices blending into the luxurious sauce infused with garlic, parmesan, and a hint of herbs. Each forkful delivers a delicious balance of creamy, cheesy goodness.
If the flavor and delicious-ness isn’t the only reason to try this meal, then here are a few other reasons you’ll love it!
- Hearty Comfort Food: This is the kind of comfort food that you will be reaching for again and again. Cheesy pasta with creamy sauce and sun-dried tomatoes. What could be better?
- Easy One Pot Recipe: Meals that cook in one pot make dinner clean up easy. Everything, including the pasta, cooks in one skillet!
- Family-Friendly: I haven’t met one person that doesn’t love this pasta. You can even adapt it to fit your tastes.
Ingredients You Need
NOTE: The full list of ingredients with measurements is provided in the recipe card below.
- Chicken Breasts: I like to use boneless, skinless chicken breasts for this recipe, but you could also use boneless, skinless chicken thighs too. Chicken thighs take a little longer to cook so just be sure to adjust cook time.
- Cheese Tortellini: You can buy fresh or frozen tortellini. I like to use fresh cheese tortellini. You could also substitute with spinach tortellini.
- Onion: I like to use a white onion, but a yellow onion works great too.
- Garlic: Always use fresh garlic for the best flavor.
- Sun-dried Tomatoes: I use the sun-dried tomatoes in oil, but just be sure to drain the oil before adding to the recipe. You can use sun-dried tomatoes without oil, just be sure to rehydrate them in water before using.
- Tomato Sauce: You can use your favorite tomato sauce. Regular store-brand sauce works fine here as you season the sauce.
- Heavy Cream: A must for creamy and delicious flavor.
- Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated cheese is always the best. Buy a block of Parmesan cheese and grate it yourself.
- Fresh Basil: I love adding a bit of freshly chopped basil to the top of the pasta for serving.
- Extra-Virgin Olive Oil: My choice for the best cooking oil for this dish.
- Butter: Use unsalted butter.
- Seasonings: You will need Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
Chef’s Kiss
To add a kick of heat, you can add crushed red pepper flakes to the sauce. Or see my tips and variations below for other ideas to add your own twist to this recipe.
Recipe Tips, Variations and Shortcuts
- Use rotisserie chicken: Although the chicken cooks quickly and easily, you can make the prep even quicker by using a rotisserie chicken or any leftover chicken you have available.
- Use other pasta: I love using cheese tortellini for this dish because it’s comforting, flavorful and filling. But you can also use penne pasta, rigatoni, farfalle (bow tie pasta) or fettuccine. Use whatever you have!
- Add more veggies: If you’re looking to give the pasta a little veggie boost, add other fresh vegetables like fresh baby spinach, diced zucchini, chopped broccoli, snow peas, bell peppers or shredded kale.
- Thicken the sauce: if the sauce isn’t thickening, just simmer a little longer and it will thicken up. You can also add more Parmesan cheese to make the sauce thicker and creamier.
- Add bacon: If you’re looking for even more flavor or protein, add some crumbled cooked bacon to the pasta.
Serving Suggestions
This dish is very hearty and can serve 6 with smaller portions. Serve the creamy tortellini with a side Caesar Salad or my famous Cheesy Bread!
Storage and Reheating
Creamy chicken tortellini tastes amazing as leftovers. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheat on the stovetop in a skillet or in the microwave. If the sauce is a little thick, add a splash of water or heavy cream to make it smooth again.
Creamy Chicken Tortellini
Ingredients
For the chicken:
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts thinly sliced
- 1 to 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
For the sauce:
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 white onion minced
- 8 ounces cherry tomatoes
- 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes drained of oil, chopped
- 1/4 cup tomato sauce
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Freshly cracked black pepper to taste
For the pasta:
- 1 pound cheese tortellini (fresh or refrigerated)
- 1/4 cup fresh basil chopped
Instructions
Cook the chicken:
- In a small bowl, mix together the Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder and salt. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels, then rub the seasoning evenly over both sides of each slice.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat with a drizzle of oil. Add the seasoned chicken and sear for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until fully cooked through. Transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside.
Make the sauce:
- In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic. Sauté for about 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant and softened.
- Add the cherry tomatoes and sun-dried tomatoes to the pan along with the tomato sauce. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 to 5 minutes, gently pressing down on about half of the cherry tomatoes with a wooden spoon to release their juices while leaving some whole for texture.
- Pour in the heavy cream. Stir until combined, then add the Parmesan cheese. Stir until the cheese melts into the sauce. Season with the Italian seasoning, salt, and freshly cracked black pepper, adjusting to taste, as needed. Let the sauce simmer for 2 to 3 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Add the tortellini to the sauce and toss to coat. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes so the pasta absorbs the flavors. Nestle the cooked chicken back into the skillet, spooning sauce over the top. Let everything heat through for another 3 to 5 minutes.
Garnish and serve:
- Just before serving, stir in the chopped fresh basil for a burst of freshness. Plate the pasta and chicken together, spoon over extra sauce, and garnish with more Parmesan, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Amazing! so easy to make.
Great recipe!
Your recipe totally saved dinner, the sauce came out so creamy, and it felt like I actually put effort in even though it was super easy.
A perfect, cozy dish. My family absolutely loved it. The leftovers were amazing, too!
Perfect for when you need a cozy, hearty meal. I’ll be trying this recipe 😊