Pesto Chicken Tortellini: The Perfect 30-Minute Weeknight Dinner

Searching for a meal that’s incredibly delicious, lightning-fast, and guaranteed to please the whole family? Look no further. This pesto chicken tortellini recipe is the answer to your weeknight dinner prayers. It combines tender chicken, cheesy tortellini, and vibrant pesto into a satisfying dish that’s on the table in under 30 minutes. It’s simple, elegant, and packed with flavor.

Forget complicated recipes with long ingredient lists. This dish proves that a few high-quality components are all you need to create something truly special. Let’s dive into making your new favorite go-to dinner.

Why This Pesto Chicken Tortellini Recipe is a Winner

There are countless reasons to love this dish, but here are a few that will get you excited to start cooking. It’s the ultimate combination of convenience and gourmet flavor.

• Incredibly Fast: From start to finish, this entire meal comes together in less than 30 minutes, making it perfect for busy schedules.
• Minimal Ingredients: You only need a handful of simple, easy-to-find ingredients to create a dish bursting with authentic Italian flavor.
• Family-Friendly: The combination of pasta, chicken, and cheesy pesto is a certified hit with both kids and adults.
• Highly Versatile: This recipe is a fantastic starting point. Feel free to customize it with your favorite vegetables or a sprinkle of different cheeses.

The Key Ingredients You’ll Need

We’re using simple, fresh ingredients to maximize flavor. High-quality pesto is the star, so choose your favorite brand or make your own if you have the time.

For the Pesto Chicken Tortellini

• Cheese Tortellini: 20 ounces of fresh or frozen cheese tortellini forms the hearty base of our dish.
• Chicken Breast: One pound of boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces.
• Basil Pesto: About one cup of high-quality basil pesto. This is where most of the flavor comes from!
• Cherry Tomatoes: One pint of cherry or grape tomatoes, halved to release their sweet juices.
• Spinach: A few large handfuls of fresh spinach, which wilts down perfectly into the sauce.
• Garlic & Onion: The aromatic foundation that elevates the entire dish.
• Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated, for serving.
• Olive Oil: For cooking the chicken and aromatics.

Optional Add-ins for Extra Flavor

• Toasted pine nuts for a crunchy texture.
• Sun-dried tomatoes for a deeper, tangy flavor.
• A splash of heavy cream or cream cheese for an extra creamy sauce.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Perfect Pesto Chicken Tortellini

Follow these simple steps for a flawless result. The key is to have all your ingredients prepped and ready to go before you start cooking.

1. Cook the Tortellini: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the tortellini according to package directions. Before draining, reserve about one cup of the starchy pasta water, then set the tortellini aside.
2. Sauté the Chicken: While the tortellini cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
3. Build the Sauce: In the same skillet, add a bit more olive oil if needed. Sauté the onion until softened, then add the garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant. Add the halved cherry tomatoes and cook until they begin to soften and burst, about 3-4 minutes.
4. Combine Everything: Stir the pesto into the skillet with the tomatoes. Add the cooked chicken and tortellini back to the pan. Gently stir to coat everything in the pesto sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water until it reaches your desired consistency.
5. Wilt the Spinach: Add the fresh spinach to the skillet and stir until it’s just wilted. This should only take a minute or two.
6. Serve and Enjoy: Serve your delicious pesto chicken tortellini immediately, topped with a generous amount of freshly grated Parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of black pepper.

Pro Tips for a Flawless Dish

A few simple tricks can take this recipe from great to absolutely spectacular.

• Reserve Pasta Water: This starchy water is liquid gold! It helps the pesto cling to the tortellini and creates a silkier sauce without adding extra fat.
• Use Quality Pesto: Since pesto is the primary flavor, using one you love makes a huge difference. Refrigerated pestos often have a fresher flavor than jarred varieties.
• Don’t Overcook the Tortellini: Fresh tortellini cooks very quickly. Cook it just until al dente, as it will cook a little more when combined with the hot sauce.
• Grate Your Own Parmesan: Pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents that prevent it from melting smoothly. A fresh block of Parmesan will melt beautifully into the dish. Looking for a great main dish? Try this delicious beef and broccoli recipe.

Delicious Variations and Substitutions

One of the best things about this pesto chicken tortellini is how easy it is to adapt. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Make it Creamy

For a richer, more decadent sauce, stir in a quarter cup of heavy cream or two ounces of softened cream cheese along with the pesto. This creates a velvety texture that is pure comfort food. For another comforting creamy dish, check out our creamy tomato gnocchi.

Make it a Baked Dish

Turn this into a cheesy baked tortellini casserole. After combining all the ingredients, transfer them to a baking dish. Top with a generous layer of mozzarella cheese and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Protein and Veggie Swaps

No chicken? This dish is fantastic with Italian sausage or shrimp. You can also load it up with more vegetables like sautéed mushrooms, zucchini, or roasted red peppers. Or, for a lighter alternative, consider trying our popular Mediterranean chicken bowls.

What to Serve with Your Tortellini

This is a wonderful one-pan meal, but a simple side dish can complete the experience. A fresh green salad with a light vinaigrette, like our pomegranate winter salad, is a perfect pairing. You could also serve it with some crusty garlic bread to soak up every last bit of the delicious pesto sauce.

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

This dish is almost as good the next day! Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, gently warm it in a skillet over medium-low heat. You may need to add a splash of water or chicken broth to loosen the sauce as it reheats.

Frequently Asked Questions

Share Your Creations!

I hope you love this simple and flavorful pesto chicken tortellini recipe! It’s a true weeknight hero that I know you’ll make again and again. If you try it, please leave a comment below and let me know how it turned out. Don’t forget to save this recipe to your favorite board on Pinterest!

Pesto Chicken Tortellini Recipe

FL Recipes

Pesto Chicken Tortellini: The Perfect 30-Minute Weeknight Dinner

This quick and easy Pesto Chicken Tortellini recipe is the ultimate weeknight dinner. Tender chicken, cheesy tortellini, and vibrant pesto come together in under 30 minutes for a flavorful meal the whole family will love.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Servings: 6 people

Course: Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine: American, Italian

Calories: 650

Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x?

• 20 ounces fresh cheese tortellini
• 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 cup basil pesto store-bought or homemade
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes halved
• 5 oz fresh spinach about 4-5 cups
• 1 small onion diced
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated, for serving
• Salt and black pepper to taste

Equipment

• 1 Large Skillet or Dutch Oven
• 1 Large Pot For boiling tortellini.

Method

 

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the tortellini according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining. Set aside.
2. While tortellini cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Cook until golden and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove chicken from the skillet.
3. In the same skillet, sauté the onion until softened. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Add halved cherry tomatoes and cook until they begin to burst, about 3-4 minutes.
4. Stir in the pesto, then add the cooked chicken and tortellini back to the skillet. Gently toss to combine. Add reserved pasta water as needed to create a smooth sauce.
5. Add the fresh spinach and stir until just wilted. Serve immediately, topped with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Nutrition

Calories: 650kcalProtein: 38gFat: 35gFiber: 6g

Notes

Reserve Pasta Water: This is key to a silky sauce! Don't forget to save a cup before you drain the tortellini.
High-Quality Pesto: Using a good quality refrigerated pesto will give you the best, freshest flavor.
Customize It: Feel free to add other vegetables like mushrooms, zucchini, or bell peppers.

Keyword chicken tortellini,easy weeknight dinner,pesto chicken tortellini

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