Easy Creamy Tortellini with Chicken and Broccoli Recipe
This Easy Creamy Tortellini with Chicken and Broccoli is a comforting and flavorful pasta dish that combines tender cheese tortellini, juicy chicken breast pieces, and nutritious broccoli florets all enveloped in a rich, garlicky Parmesan cream sauce. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, this recipe blends simple ingredients to create a delicious creamy meal everyone will love.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
pasta and vegetables
- 12 oz cheese tortellini (fresh or frozen)
- 2 cups broccoli florets (steamed or cooked)
meat
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
sauce and seasoning
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
garnish
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the bite-sized chicken pieces and season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Cook the chicken until it is golden brown and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté the garlic: In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. Be careful not to burn the garlic as it will turn bitter.
- Make the creamy sauce: Pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth into the skillet with the garlic. Bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring frequently to combine the flavors. Allow the sauce to slightly thicken for 3-5 minutes.
- Add the cheese: Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese to the sauce. Continue stirring until the cheese has melted and the sauce is creamy and smooth.
- Cook the tortellini: While the sauce is simmering, cook the cheese tortellini according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and add the tortellini to the skillet.
- Add broccoli and chicken: Fold the steamed broccoli florets and cooked chicken back into the creamy sauce with the tortellini. Stir to coat everything evenly and warm through for another 2-3 minutes.
- Season and garnish: Taste the dish and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley just before serving for a fresh burst of color and flavor.
Notes
- You can substitute fresh broccoli with frozen broccoli florets if fresh is unavailable; just steam or microwave them before adding.
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or a mixture of milk and cream.
- Parmesan cheese can be replaced with Pecorino Romano for a sharper taste.
- If you prefer a spicier kick, add red pepper flakes when sautéing the garlic.
- This dish pairs well with a crisp green salad or crusty garlic bread.
- Make sure to not overcook the tortellini; it should be tender but still have a slight bite.
Keywords: easy creamy tortellini, chicken tortellini recipe, broccoli pasta, creamy chicken pasta, quick Italian dinner
