This Trader Joe’s Tortellini Recipe is a creamy and delicious recipe, which is made with fresh tortellini and chicken. It’s the perfect weeknight dinner, ready in about 35 minutes.
Jump to RecipeTrader Joe’s Tortellini Recipe Ingredients
- ¼ pound bacon, diced
- 1 large chicken breast, about 16 ounces
- Kosher salt
- Coarse ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 3 tablespoons flour
- Olive oil
- 1 small onion, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 5 ounces jarred roasted red peppers, sliced
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 20 oz fresh tortellini (e.g., spinach & ricotta)
- ½ – 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups baby spinach
- ½ cup basil leaves
How To Make Trader Joe’s Tortellini
- Cook the bacon: In a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven, cook the diced bacon over medium heat until it’s nearly crispy. Use a slotted spoon to remove the bacon, leaving about 2 tablespoons of grease in the pan.
- Prep and cook the chicken: While the bacon cooks, flatten the chicken breast to an even thickness and cut it into bite-sized pieces. In a bowl, toss the chicken with a pinch of salt, pepper, half the Italian seasoning, and 1 tablespoon of flour. Add the seasoned chicken to the hot bacon grease and cook for 4-5 minutes, turning, until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan.
- Sauté the aromatics: Add about a tablespoon of olive oil to the pan if needed. Add the sliced onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until it begins to soften. Stir in the minced garlic until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Build the sauce base: Stir in the tomato paste and sliced roasted red peppers. Sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons of flour over the mixture and stir constantly for one minute.
- Simmer the tortellini: Slowly pour in the chicken broth while stirring, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Add the fresh tortellini, stir to combine, and let the mixture simmer for about 5 minutes, or until the tortellini is nearly cooked.
- Make it creamy: Season with salt, pepper, the remaining Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Stir in the heavy cream and let it return to a gentle simmer.
- Melt the cheese and wilt greens: Gradually add the Parmesan cheese, stirring continuously until it’s fully melted into the sauce. Add the baby spinach and basil, stirring until they are completely wilted.
- Combine and serve: Return the cooked chicken and bacon to the pan. Stir everything together and let it simmer for a couple of minutes for the flavors to meld. Serve immediately.
Recipe Tips
- What kind of tortellini should I use? Fresh, refrigerated tortellini works best as it cooks quickly in the sauce. Any filling like cheese, spinach, or mushroom is delicious in this dish.
- How to prevent the cream sauce from breaking? After adding the heavy cream, keep the sauce at a gentle simmer. Avoid a rapid boil, which can cause the cream to separate. Add the Parmesan cheese off the heat or on very low heat to ensure it melts smoothly.
- Can I make this without bacon? Yes. If omitting bacon, simply start by cooking the chicken in 2 tablespoons of olive oil or butter instead of the bacon grease.
- How do I know when the tortellini is cooked? Fresh tortellini is usually done when it floats to the surface of the liquid and is tender to the bite.
What To Serve With Creamy Chicken Tortellini
This is a rich and satisfying one-pan meal that doesn’t need much else. However, it pairs beautifully with a simple side of crusty garlic bread for dipping in the sauce, or a crisp green salad with a simple vinaigrette to cut through the richness.
How To Store Tortellini
- Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The sauce will thicken considerably when chilled. Reheat gently on the stovetop with a splash of milk or chicken broth to loosen the sauce.
Tortellini Recipe Nutrition Facts
- Serving: 1/6th of recipe
- Calories: 680 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Protein: 35g
- Fat: 38g
- Saturated Fat: 19g
- Sugar: 8g
Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.
FAQs
Yes, you can substitute half-and-half, but the sauce will be less rich and may not be as thick. You might need to simmer it a few extra minutes to let it reduce slightly.
Absolutely. Sautéed mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, or chopped asparagus would be wonderful additions. Add mushrooms with the onions, and more delicate vegetables like asparagus in the last 5-7 minutes of cooking.
The spice level is controlled by the amount of red pepper flakes you use. Use ½ teaspoon for a mild warmth or a full teaspoon (or more) for a spicier kick. You can also omit it entirely.
Try More Recipes:
- Trader Joe’s Bomba Sauce Recipe
- Trader Joe’s Harissa Recipe
- Trader Joe’s Chicken Cilantro Mini Wontons Recipe
Trader Joe’s Tortellini Recipe
Course: DinnerCuisine: Italian-AmericanDifficulty: Easy6
servings10
minutes25
minutes680
kcalA rich and creamy one-pan pasta dish with tender chicken, crispy bacon, and cheese tortellini in a savory tomato cream sauce with spinach and basil.
Ingredients
¼ lb bacon, diced
1 large chicken breast
Salt, pepper, Italian seasoning
3 tbsp flour, divided
Olive oil
1 small onion, sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
5 oz roasted red peppers, sliced
1 tbsp tomato paste
2 cups chicken broth
20 oz fresh tortellini
½-1 tsp red pepper flakes
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup Parmesan cheese
2 cups baby spinach
½ cup basil leaves
Directions
- Cook bacon until almost crispy; remove from the pan, leaving the grease.
- Toss bite-sized chicken with salt, pepper, seasoning, and 1 tbsp flour; cook in the bacon grease until browned. Remove from pan.
- Sauté onion in the same pan until soft, then add garlic. Stir in tomato paste, red peppers, and remaining flour.
- Whisk in chicken broth, then add tortellini and simmer for 5 minutes until nearly cooked.
- Stir in seasonings, heavy cream, and then slowly melt in the Parmesan cheese.
- Wilt the spinach and basil into the sauce.
- Return the chicken and bacon to the pan, stir to combine, and serve.
Notes
- Using fresh, refrigerated tortellini is key to the quick cooking time.
