Description
Marry me chicken tortellini brings together creamy sauce and tender pasta in a romantic Italian-inspired dish. Parmesan cheese and sun-dried tomatoes elevate this crowd-pleasing meal you’ll want to share with someone special.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 package (20 oz / 567 g) cheese tortellini (fresh or refrigerated)
- 1 lb (454 g) chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh basil or parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Seasoning: Uniformly coat chicken pieces with salt and pepper for robust flavor enhancement.
- Searing: Ignite olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, caramelizing chicken until golden and fully cooked, roughly 5-7 minutes.
- Flavor Base: Infuse minced garlic into the skillet, releasing its intense aromatic profile while preserving the savory chicken drippings.
- Sauce Composition: Craft a velvety sauce by blending heavy cream, chicken broth, sun-dried tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and optional red pepper flakes, allowing ingredients to harmonize and intensify.
- Cheese Integration: Gradually whisk Parmesan into the simmering liquid, transforming the sauce into a luxuriously smooth and creamy consistency.
- Protein Reunion: Reintroduce seared chicken to the skillet, allowing it to luxuriate in the decadent sauce for 3-5 minutes, absorbing maximum flavor.
- Pasta Preparation: Concurrently cook tortellini in a separate pot until achieving perfect tenderness, then drain thoroughly.
- Final Assembly: Gently incorporate tortellini into the chicken-sauce mixture, ensuring each morsel is generously enrobed with the rich, creamy sauce.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle fresh basil or parsley atop the dish, providing a vibrant, herbaceous finish, and present immediately while the sauce remains delightfully warm.
Notes
- Seasoning Strategy: Generously salt and pepper chicken before searing to enhance natural flavors and create a delicious golden crust.
- Temperature Control: Maintain medium heat when sautéing to prevent burning garlic and scorching the skillet, which can introduce bitter undertones.
- Sauce Consistency Tip: Whisk Parmesan cheese slowly and steadily to prevent clumping, creating a smooth, velvety sauce that coats ingredients perfectly.
- Tortellini Timing: Cook pasta just until al dente to prevent mushiness, ensuring a satisfying texture when combined with the creamy sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg