Pin it
This one-pan Chicken Tortellini miracle has turned into a must-have in my home. The whole thing comes alive when juicy chicken chunks and cheese-stuffed pasta swim together in that rich sun dried tomato cream sauce. I've whipped this up so many times now, and it still transforms an ordinary evening into something worth talking about.
Why This Dish Stands Out
What gets me excited is how regular ingredients team up to create something you'd swear came from a top-notch eatery. The sauce gets its wow factor from those oil-packed sun dried tomatoes, and adding tortellini with fresh spinach means you don't need another side. And the cleanup? Just one pan to wash when you're done!
Key Components
- Chicken: Cutting it into small chunks and adding Italian seasonings makes every bite super juicy and packed with flavor.
- Cheese Tortellini: Grab whatever you can find - the stuff from the fridge section or fresh works just as well.
- Sun-Dried Tomatoes: These tiny taste explosions soaked in olive oil totally transform the sauce.
- Spinach: Tossing in baby spinach brings some nice green color and lets me feel good about dinner.
- Heavy Cream: This is what makes that sauce so smooth and irresistible.
- Parmesan Cheese: Skip the container stuff and grate it yourself for that real punch of flavor.
Follow These Easy Steps
- Ready Your Chicken:
- Chop chicken into equal chunks, dust with seasoning, then lightly roll in flour.
- Brown the Meat:
- Warm up butter with olive oil and toss in that chicken until it turns perfectly golden.
- Create Your Sauce:
- Throw in those flavor makers with the tomatoes, mix in some paste and broth while scraping all the tasty bits off the bottom.
- Cook the Pasta:
- Drop tortellini straight into your sauce mixture, put a lid on it, and let them get soft.
- Put It All Together:
- Mix the chicken back in with spinach, pour in cream, shower with Parmesan, and finish with some torn basil leaves.
Insider Tricks
Don't cheap out on the cheese - real grated Parmesan changes everything. Try to cut all your ingredients about the same size for perfect bites. Sometimes I switch the chicken for spicy sausage or toss in some sliced mushrooms. Adding a tiny bit of crushed red pepper gives it just enough kick.
Storage Advice
You can keep this in your fridge for up to five days no problem. The tortellini will drink up some of the sauce overnight, so when you warm it up, add a little water to bring back the creaminess. Warming it slowly on the stove works better than the microwave.
Questions You Might Have
Can I make this gluten-free? Sure thing, just swap in gluten-free pasta and use cornstarch instead of flour for the chicken. Want it vegetarian? Leave out the chicken, use vegetable stock and you'll still get an amazing meal. Storing leftovers? Put them in a sealed container and they'll stay good for about 5 days - just add a splash of water when heating.
Perfect Pairings
This goes great with a basic green salad or some oven-roasted broccoli on the side. Make sure you've got some warm garlic bread ready to mop up all that sauce. Pour yourself a glass of light white wine and you've got yourself a proper dinner.
What Makes It So Popular
There's a reason everyone asks for seconds - you get that amazing sauce, tender chicken bites, cheese-filled pasta and nutritious spinach all cooked in one pan. It's fancy enough when friends come over but simple enough for a weeknight dinner, which is why it works so well.
Pin it
Frequently Asked Questions
- → What's the best way to reheat this?
- Reheat with a splash of water to keep the sauce creamy, as tortellini absorbs sauce over time.
- → Can different tortellini package sizes work?
- Sure! Adjust the broth up or down so the sauce balances with the tortellini size.
- → Why cut the chicken small?
- Smaller chicken pieces cook faster, so you stay on track with the 25-minute timing.
- → Can I swap out the vegetables?
- Spinach and sun-dried tomatoes shine here, but quick-cooking veggies will work in a pinch.
- → What pan should I use?
- Go with a big cast iron or nonstick pan to cook everything evenly without sticking.