Marry Me Chicken Tortellini
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If you’re on the hunt for new weeknight dinner options, you’ll want to try this flavorful marry me chicken tortellini inspired by the TikTok recipe! It’s made with a creamy, cheesy, rich tomato-based sauce, delicious chicken breast pieces, and cosy cheese tortellini.
This recipe is a family favorite because of how easy, tasty, and satisfying this pasta is! It will surely become a weekly meal staple in your home.
Table of Contents
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Comforting: What’s cosier than tortellini with red sauce? This delicious marry me chicken tortellini that features a rich, creamy sauce!
- One pan: This Tik Tok chicken tortellini comes together in one pot, so cleaning up (no tough-to-wash casserole or bake dishes!) is a breeze. Plus, no appliances like a slow cooker, oven, or crock pot needed!
- Crowd Pleaser: Even the picky eaters in my house have trouble turning down this marry me chicken dish. It’s a delicious dinner option with a flavorful sauce and bold taste. You can also easily swap out ingredients your family doesn’t enjoy, like making this dish without sun dried tomatoes.
- Budget-friendly: This chicken tortellini recipe easily serves five and comes out to about £2.49 per serving.
- Easy Recipe for Dinner: This recipe calls for simple ingredients (many are likely already in your pantry) and about 30 minutes of your time. That’s why it’s one of the best chicken and tortellini recipes!
Here are a few more creamy pasta recipes to try: Creamy Philadelphia Chicken Pasta, High Protein Cottage Cheese Pasta, or Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Pasta.
What type of tortellini is best?
Like many chicken tortellini recipes, you can use nearly any type of pasta. Whip up this marry me chicken tortellini with fresh, dried, or frozen tortellini.
The main difference will be how long it takes for the pasta to cook. As far as tortellini flavours, I recommend cheese or spinach. If you use pasta with meat fillings, it can compete with the other flavours in this chicken tortellini marry me dish.
Ingredients
The main ingredients that make this marry me chicken tortellini recipe fantastic are the following.
Chicken Breasts
I love creating this marry me chicken tortellini with chicken breasts, as it helps keep the cook time down. You can also make tortellini recipes with chicken thighs or drumsticks, but it will take a little bit longer for the meat to cook fully.
Cheese Tortellini
Tortellini helps bulk up the dish, making it more filling. If you prefer, you can serve the marry me chicken and sauce over pasta noodles or bowtie noodles instead.
Spinach
I’ve included spinach in this recipe for some added nutrients. If you have picky eaters, you can use other veg like zucchini (courgette) instead of making this dish with spinach.
Sun-dried tomatoes
they are the star of the show when it comes to any ‘marry me’ recipe. Don’t skip this ingredient!
See the recipe card for full information on all ingredients and quantities.
Variations/ Adaptations
Try these variations to add your own twist to chicken tortellini pasta! Instead of tortellini, serve the marry me chicken on pasta like penne or noodles. As a quick note, this swap may mean you need to boil the pasta for longer, and you may need more liquid for the sauce.
This marry me chicken tortellini is also delicious with other protein, like salmon, shrimp, or pork. Depending on the protein you choose, it may change the cook time of the dish.
Or, make this recipe vegan by using tofu cutlets (or making it with mushrooms), coconut milk instead of crème fraiche, vegetable broth, spinach tortellini, and dairy-free cheese.
If you prefer a dairy-free version, use the same swaps as the vegan option (like no cream), but keep the chicken stock and chicken pieces.
You can also make this marry me recipe gluten-free by using gluten-free tortellini and stock. Turn this recipe high-protein by adding blended cottage cheese to the sauce. Make it richer by adding cream cheese to the sauce. Or, add a kick of heat with a small amount of cayenne pepper.
How to make marry me chicken tortellini
- Heat a large frying pan with 1 Tbsp of sun dried tomato oil from the jar. Once hot, add the sliced chicken and sliced red peppers, and sprinkle with salt and pepper (Image 1).
- Once the chicken is browned and the peppers are cooked, deglaze the pan with a splash of chicken stock (Image 2).
3. Remove the chicken and peppers from the pan and set aside for later. Add the garlic, smoked paprika, tomato puree, sun dried tomatoes, and red chili flakes to the pan (Image 3).
4. Cook ingredients over medium/low heat for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally to create a sauce (Image 4).
5. Add the tortellini and a bit of chicken stock to the pan with the sauce (Image 5).
6. Next, add the cooked chicken and peppers back to the pan and cook everything for 8-10 minutes (Image 6).
7. In this step, add the spinach, crème fraîche, and grated parmesan (Image 7).
8. Cook an additional 2 minutes, stirring until the spinach is wilted (Image 8).
Need to use leftover chicken? Try these recipes: Wagamama’s Chicken Ramen, The BEST Crispy Chicken Wrap, or Easy Spanish Chicken.
Tips for the best result
- Grate your own cheese. When making this chicken and tortellini dish, be sure to grate your own cheese. If you use pre-shredded cheese, it won’t melt as well since it typically includes an anti-caking agent.
- Use fresh garlic. Fresh garlic has a bolder taste than garlic powder, which is perfect for adding flavour to the marry me chicken tortellini sauce. In a pinch, you can use garlic powder or pre-minced garlic, but fresh is best.
- Use the sun-dried tomato oil to fry- this adds another layer of flavour
- Don’t overcook the chicken! We slice the chicken into thin pieces so that it can fry quickly which prevents overcooking.
Serving Suggestions
Since this marry me chicken tortellini is a more comforting, richer dish, I love serving it with lighter sides like a garden salad. This chicken and cheese tortellini is also great with steamed, roasted, or pan-fried veggies. For a cosier meal, serve creamy chicken tortellini with rolls or bread so you can sop up the extra sauce.
Leftover Storage and Reheat Instructions
Refrigerator
If you have leftover chicken tortellini, you can keep it in the fridge for 4-5 days. Be sure to pack the tortellini and chicken in an airtight container once it’s cooled before refrigerating it.
Freezer
This marry me chicken tortellini is one recipe I wouldn’t recommend freezing as dairy-based sauces usually separate in the freezer. However, if you must freeze this dish, be sure to pack the cooked pasta and sauce separately. Then, defrost the frozen leftovers in the fridge overnight.
Reheat
For a quick reheat, you can toss portions in the microwave for a few minutes until warmed through. Be sure to stir the recipe every 30 seconds or so until it’s done reheating. This method is best for refrigerated, not frozen, leftovers. If you freeze the leftovers, you’ll need to warm the sauce on the stove on low-medium heat to help it come back together. Add a splash of milk or chicken broth to bring back the creamy texture. You can microwave the leftover pasta.
Recipe FAQs
If you’re having trouble incorporating the parmesan cheese, it may be because you need to add it slowly. By adding it bit by bit and stirring consistently, you’ll help prevent cheese clumps. Also, be sure to use freshly grated parmesan cheese. Pre-shredded cheese usually has an anti-sticking coating that makes it more difficult to melt.
Yes, you can make this marry me chicken tortellini without cream. It won’t have as rich a flavour, but it will still taste delicious. You may need to add a cornstarch or flour slurry to thicken up the sauce with this swap. Instead of making this recipe with heavy cream, you can also make it with half and half if that’s available.
Make these yummy veg mains for a well-rounded meal: Easy Cauliflower Cheese, Easy Sauteed Savoy Cabbage, or Crispy Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes.
If you tried this Marry Me Chicken Tortellini, it would be mean so much to me if you could leave a review & a star rating to let me know how you found it! I love hearing about your experiences – it motivates me to keep creating more and more recipes for you guys 💛 Let’s get cooking! – Mimi x
Marry Me Chicken Tortellini
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts, approx 300g , thinly sliced (£2.65)
- 1 red pepper, thinly sliced (£0.60)
- 3 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced (£0.39)
- 80 g sun-dried tomatoes, thinly sliced (£2.75/4= £0.69)
- 3 tbsp tomato puree (£0.65)
- 2 packs of cheese tortellini (£4)
- 2 handfuls of spinach (£1/2= £0.50)
- 100 ml crème fraîche (£0.87/2= £0.43)
- 50 g Parmesan or Pecorino (£1.35)
- Fresh basil (£0.55)
Cupboard Essentials
- 1 tbsp sundried tomato oil, from jar
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes
- 800 ml chicken stock
- Salt
- Pepper
Method
- In a large frying pan, heat 1 tbsp of sun dried tomato oil. Add the thinly sliced chicken breasts, red pepper, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Fry over high heat for about 5 minutes, then set aside.
- Deglaze the pan with a splash of chicken stock. Reduce the heat to medium/low, then add the sun-dried tomatoes, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, tomato puree, and garlic. Fry for about 5 minutes, adding a splash of stock as needed to prevent burning.
- Add the cheese tortellini and the remaining chicken stock to the pan. Return the cooked chicken and red pepper to the pan as well. Cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- In the final 2 minutes of cooking, add the spinach, crème fraîche, and grated Parmesan or Pecorino.
- Once the sauce has thickened and the tortellini is al dente, serve the dish with an extra sprinkle of Parmesan, a pinch of red pepper flakes, and torn fresh basil.
Notes
- Grate Your Own Cheese as pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents that prevent proper melting.
- Use Sun-Dried Tomato Oil for Frying: Utilizing the oil from sun-dried tomatoes when frying adds an extra layer of flavor to the dish.
- Don’t Overcook the Chicken: Thinly slicing the chicken allows it to fry quickly, helping to avoid overcooking.
Nutrition
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