Description
Creamy tortellini is a comforting, quick, and flavorful dinner that blends cheese-filled pasta with a rich, velvety sauce made from heavy cream, Parmesan, butter, and garlic. This easy-to-make dish is perfect for busy weeknights or cozy meals, offering versatility with optional veggies, proteins, and herbs to suit your taste.
Ingredients
Pasta
- Cheese-filled tortellini (fresh or frozen, filled with ricotta or three cheeses) – 12 oz
Sauce
- Butter – 2 tablespoons
- Garlic cloves, minced – 2
- Heavy cream or half-and-half – 1 cup
- Parmesan cheese, freshly grated – 3/4 cup
- Salt – to taste
- Black pepper – to taste
Garnish
- Fresh basil or parsley, chopped – 2 tablespoons
Instructions
- Cook the Tortellini: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the tortellini according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, reserving a little pasta water for later use if needed, and set the tortellini aside.
- Prepare the Creamy Sauce: While the pasta cooks, melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant but not browned, about 1-2 minutes. Pour in the heavy cream and bring it to a gentle simmer.
- Add Cheese and Seasonings: Reduce heat to low, then stir in freshly grated Parmesan until melted and smooth. Season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Gently fold the cooked tortellini into the sauce, ensuring every piece is coated evenly. Let it warm together for 1-2 minutes so the flavors meld beautifully.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle chopped fresh basil or parsley on top before serving for a fresh burst of color and flavor that balances the richness.
Notes
- Don’t overcook pasta; keep tortellini al dente for best texture.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan for optimal sauce creaminess.
- Reserve some pasta water to adjust sauce consistency if needed.
- Simmer sauce gently to avoid curdling for a velvety texture.
- Add fresh herbs last to preserve their brightness.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: creamy tortellini, quick dinner, easy pasta recipe, comfort food, Italian pasta, tortellini recipe, creamy sauce