Creamy Tortellini Pasta Skillet (Just 6 Ingredients!)

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So all tortellini recipes are not created equal! Easy tortellini recipes are a dime a dozen out there on the web. Don’t be fooled! This Creamy Tortellini Pasta Skillet (Just 6 Ingredients!) recipe is the “cream” of the crop. And, it’s super fast and satisfying; your family and guests will be all over this great dinner idea….I promise.

Creamy Tortellini Pasta Skillet (Just 6 Ingredients!) Recipe

Howdy! Chef Alli Here. Let’s Get You Cookin’….Shall We?? 🙂

Is there anything in this world that’s better than a big, rich, creamy pan of pasta??? I think it’s pretty hard to top it and I know my family would totally agree.

This recipe originated with my sis-in-law, Kristi, and we fell in love with it at once. Not only is it delicious, it’s quick and easy to make…I always keep a bag of tortellini in my freezer just in case I need to whip up this super speedy meal.

I recently made zucchini lasagna roll ups in my favorite cast iron skillet and in spite of the substitution of zucchini for the regular pasta, they scarfed it right down – I was thrilled. I love it when there’s an empty pan after dinner!

Another favorite around here (that I often give as a food gift when there’s a new baby or funeral food is needed) is Spaghetti Pie….please try the low-carb version of spaghetti pie too!

Things to Love About This Recipe –

1. Rich, Rich, Rich! A small bowl of this carb-loaded pasta is all you’ll need.
2. Everybody loves it – even the pickiest of eaters.
3. You can customize it however you wish!

So What 6 Ingredients Do You Need to Make Creamy Tortellini Pasta?

• Olive oil
• Garlic
• Tortellini, preferably the refrigerated or frozen type
• Whipping or heavy cream
• Italian Sausage
• Frozen peas

How to Make Creamy Parmesan Tortellini Pasta in 3 Easy Steps –

1. In a deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat, add the oil and get it hot; add the garlic, cooking and stirring for 30 seconds.
2. Add 2 cups of cream to the garlic in the skillet, then stir in the tortellini and Italian sausage; simmer the tortellini until the cream sauce thickens a bit, approx. 8-10 minutes.
3. To serve, toss in the peas, if using, then top with Parmesan. Eat!

Easy Recipe Tips for Making Creamy Tortellini with Cream Sauce

• Can I use dried tortellini (that’s found in the pasta aisle) instead of the fresh (refrigerated or frozen) type of tortellini recommended in this recipe?
• What about using half-and-half in the tortellini sauce instead of whipping cream to cut calories?
• Could I substitute other meats for the Italian sausage in the tortellini?
• How could I tweak the sauce to add some variation to this pasta dish?
• Does this pasta hold well? Meaning, does it make good leftovers?

You can absolutely use dried tortellini in this pasta dish and I’ve done it a couple of times myself. I find that the refrigerated/frozen type of tortellini (whether cheese-stuffed or meat-stuffed) is larger in size and has a different texture that we prefer. Either type still makes a delicious dish.

If you’d like to use half-and-half to make the tortellini sauce to save fat and calories, you can do so. You will need to add a thickener (such a cornstarch slurry made from equal parts cornstarch and water) to the half-and-half so that it can thicken as it simmers; whisk constantly!

Feel free to substitute any cooked meat in the tortellini. We’ve used leftover grilled salmon and leftover grilled steak and they were both delicious. Chopped, cooked ham or bacon is also a good option.

To customize the sauce for the tortellini, you could add a bit of pesto, marinara sauce, or even mushroom sauce. Plus you can add some spinach or other fresh veggies to the sauce, as well.

There is only ONE THING that’s a little disappointing about this recipe – it doesn’t make the best leftovers. This is because the pasta always sucks up the sauce and when you reheat it, the pasta tends to be greasy in texture. However, I always keep it for leftovers and when I reheat it, I stir in some milk to help reconstitute the sauce, helping to make the pasta creamy again.

Other Pasta Recipes to Enjoy –

• Italian Sausage and Ricotta Stuffed Shells
• Instant Pot Fiesta Beef and Noodles
• Cheeseburger-Stuffed Pasta Shells
• Instant Pot 5-Minute Little Smokie Mac and Cheese
• Instant Pot Pepperoni Pizza Pasta
• Cast Iron Chicken Marsala
• Loaded Bubble-Up Chicken Pot Pie

Printable Directions for Making Tortellini Pasta Skillet

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Let’s Get You Cookin’,
Chef Alli

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