Hen Pesto Tortellini Recipe | Diethood
Basil pesto is scrumptious stirred by way of this creamy rooster pesto tortellini! This can be a fast and straightforward pasta dinner with tacky tortellini, herby pesto, juicy rooster, and recent spinach. Make it in a single pan in 20 minutes.

My sister and I are all the time discussing the right way to embody protein and veggies in our youngsters’ favourite meals. After all, you are able to do it the sneaky method, like this crimson pepper pasta sauce or a rooster pasta bake. Nonetheless, I made a decision to flip my one-pan Italian rooster tortellini into this scrumptious, straightforward rooster pesto tortellini, and it was a HUGE success with the pasta fiends in my home. It’s a brilliant tasty, 20-minute dinner that mixes tortellini pasta, basil pesto, and (leftover) rooster in essentially the most superb, creamy sauce.
Issues to Know About This One-Pan Hen Pesto Tortellini
- Gentle and creamy. This dish is straightforward and fast, because of the fast-cooking cheese tortellini. It’s additionally tremendous creamy, however mild, with low-fat cream cheese within the sauce.
- Filled with pesto. Herby basil pesto is flavor-packed, with a little bit of chunkiness from the pine nuts. I might eat it by the spoonful, however I’ll accept stirring it right into a creamy tortellini rooster pasta.
- Simple clear up. One pan, 20 minutes, and straightforward components mix on this straightforward tortellini recipe. It’s the stuff of weeknight dinner goals.
- A family-favorite. Pairing frozen or refrigerated tortellini with recent veggies, lean protein, and low-fat dairy creates a meal that’s grownup and kid-friendly. Did I point out it’s scrumptious? As a result of it undoubtedly deserves a second point out!


Substances You’ll Must Make This Recipe
Pasta recipes are a few of my favourite “fridge dinners” as a result of I can filter out the components which were lingering for some time. Right here’s a take a look at what you’ll must make this tortellini with pesto and rooster. Scroll to the recipe card for the total listing, measurements, and step-by-step recipe directions.
- Tortellini – Any type goes, however my children are partial to a few cheese tortellini, which embody creamy ricotta, aged Parmesan, and Romano. So good! You should utilize cheese, veggie, or meat-filled tortellini.
- Olive Oil – Or one other impartial cooking oil for sautéing the garlic.
- Garlic – Freshly minced, or you need to use ½ teaspoon of garlic powder per clove.
- Pesto – Use your favourite jarred or home made basil pesto. You can even make this recipe with parsley pesto or spinach pesto.
- Hen Broth – I wish to prepare dinner with low-sodium rooster broth or inventory. For further depth of taste, exchange ½ of the rooster broth with dry white wine, like Chardonnay.
- Cream Cheese – Use the kind of cream cheese that is available in bricks, and chop it into small chunks so it’s simpler to soften. For a lighter dish, use low-fat cream cheese.
- Parmesan Cheese – Freshly grated is finest; nonetheless, you need to use pre-grated parmesan if that’s what you might have.
- Italian Seasoning – Dried oregano, basil, thyme, and rosemary, or any mixture of those herbs will work, too.
- Hen – This pesto tortellini recipe is a good way to make use of up leftover baked rooster breasts or rotisserie rooster. Should you don’t have leftover rooster, minimize up a number of rooster breasts into rooster bites and prepare dinner them, as I did right here.
- Child Spinach – Recent or frozen. Should you’re utilizing frozen spinach, thaw and drain the spinach nicely. You can even use chopped Swiss chard or kale.
- Mozzarella and Recent Basil – Non-obligatory, for serving. I wish to soften complete mozzarella slices on high of the tortellini, or you need to use shredded mozzarella. Lower the basil into ribbons.
Can I Use One other Sort of Pasta?
Sure. Whereas I like tacky tortellini, any brief pasta goes splendidly with the pesto and rooster on this recipe. Strive penne, rigatoni, fusilli, and even gnocchi. The cooking occasions will differ relying on the kind of pasta you employ, although, so take note of the package deal instructions.


Suggestions and Variations
- Season the pasta water. Earlier than cooking the tortellini (or any pasta), add a beneficiant 2-3 spoonfuls of desk salt to the boiling water. Salting the water yields extra flavorful pasta. It’s a small tip that makes a distinction each time I prepare dinner pasta.
- Swap the pesto. Strive a model with sun-dried tomato pesto or olive tapenade for a special taste profile.
- Add extra veggies. Embrace further veggies like onions, broccoli, bell peppers, asparagus, artichoke hearts, or mushrooms. You’ll be able to sauté them earlier than including the garlic.


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Cook dinner the pasta. Cook dinner the tortellini in keeping with the instructions on the package deal.
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Sauté. Within the meantime, warmth olive oil in a big nonstick skillet. Add the garlic and prepare dinner for 15 seconds, or till aromatic.
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Make the sauce. Stir within the pesto. Add the rooster broth and convey to a boil. Then, whisk within the cut-up cream cheese. Add the Parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning, and proceed whisking till you get a creamy sauce.
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Add the rooster. Stir within the rooster and spinach; prepare dinner for 1 to 2 minutes, or till the rooster is heated by way of and the spinach is wilted.
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Add tortellini. Drain the tortellini and add them to the skillet; slowly stir to coat.
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Add cheese (optionally available). Should you’re including mozzarella cheese, layer the slices excessive of the tortellini combination and broil for 1 to 2 minutes, or till the cheese is melted.
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Take pleasure in! Garnish with recent basil ribbons and serve.
Energy: 625kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 49g | Fats: 31g | Saturated Fats: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 2g | Monounsaturated Fats: 7g | Ldl cholesterol: 138mg | Sodium: 917mg | Potassium: 737mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 7459IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 426mg | Iron: 5mg
Dietary data is an estimate and supplied as courtesy. Values could differ in keeping with the components and instruments used. Please use your most well-liked dietary calculator for extra detailed data.
The best way to Make Hen Pesto Tortellini
Getting ready the tortellini takes minutes, and I get the sauce going within the meantime. All the pieces will get tossed with rooster, cheese, and spinach earlier than it’s able to serve. Fairly breezy, huh? Right here’s the right way to make this creamy pesto tortellini with rooster in a number of brief steps.






- Cook dinner the tortellini. Carry a pot of salted water to a boil, and prepare dinner your tortellini in keeping with the package deal instructions. The cooking time might be shorter for those who’re utilizing recent tortellini.
- Sauté. In the meantime, in a big skillet, sauté the garlic. After 30 seconds, add the pesto and broth.
- Make it tacky. Subsequent, stir within the cream cheese, parmesan, and Italian seasoning. Cook dinner till the cheese melts and the sauce thickens and turns into creamy.
- Put all of it collectively. Add the rooster items and spinach to the sauce. Stir till that heats by way of. Then, drain the tortellini, and add it to your skillet. Slowly stir so every little thing is evenly coated.
- Add mozzarella (optionally available). Should you’re including mozzarella cheese, layer the slices or shredded cheese on high of the creamy tortellini. Should you’re utilizing an oven-proof skillet, place the pan underneath your oven’s broiler for 1-2 minutes to soften the cheese. In any other case, cowl the pan with a lid to assist encourage the cheese to soften.
- End and serve. Slice up some recent basil ribbons, sprinkle them on high, and serve!


Storage and Reheating
- Refrigerate. Retailer any leftover rooster pesto tortellini in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days. I don’t advocate this dish for freezing.
- Reheat. Heat up the tortellini within the microwave or in a saucepan on the range. Should you discover the pasta a bit dry from storage, stir in a splash of broth or milk.
