Marry Me Chicken Tortellini Skillet (Printable)
Golden chicken and cheese tortellini in a luxurious sun-dried tomato parmesan cream sauce
# What You'll Need:
→ Proteins
01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 lb), cut into bite-size pieces
→ Pasta
02 - 1 lb fresh or refrigerated cheese tortellini
→ Vegetables & Flavorings
03 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and chopped
06 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs (basil, oregano, thyme)
07 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
08 - 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
09 - 1 cup heavy cream
→ Cheese & Seasonings
10 - 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving
11 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
12 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil (for garnish)
# Directions:
01 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken pieces, season with salt and pepper, and sauté for 5–6 minutes until golden and cooked through. Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside.
02 - In the same skillet, add garlic and sun-dried tomatoes. Sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Stir in Italian herbs and red pepper flakes, then add chicken broth. Bring to a simmer, scraping up browned bits from the pan.
04 - Lower heat to medium. Stir in heavy cream and parmesan cheese, whisking until smooth and creamy.
05 - Return chicken to the skillet. Add tortellini and gently toss to coat in the sauce.
06 - Cover and cook for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tortellini is tender and heated through. Add a splash more broth or cream if sauce thickens too much.
07 - Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt and pepper if needed. Sprinkle with fresh basil and additional parmesan before serving.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The entire dish comes together in one pan, so you can spend less time washing up and more time actually enjoying dinner
- That sun-dried tomato and parmesan cream sauce is the kind of rich, restaurant-quality flavor that makes people think you spent hours cooking
02 -
- The sauce will continue thickening as it stands off the heat, so do not worry if it looks slightly thinner than you want when you first finish cooking
- Fresh parmesan makes an enormous difference in texture, pre-grated cheese can make your sauce slightly grainy instead of silky smooth
03 -
- Do not crowd the pan when searing your chicken, work in batches if necessary so each piece gets proper color
- Reserve about a quarter cup of the pasta cooking water if you are boiling tortellini separately, it can help loosen a too-thick sauce