Creamy Pesto Three Cheese Tortellini with Chicken
This Creamy Pesto Three Cheese Tortellini with Chicken is one of those rare weeknight dinners that feels special but only takes 20 minutes. Tender three-cheese tortellini gets tossed in a rich, garlicky pesto cream sauce with juicy chicken. It’s cozy, flavorful, and something the whole family actually asks for again.
I make this constantly because it’s perfect for busy nights. I usually grill a few extra chicken breasts at the beginning of the week (or grab a rotisserie chicken), so dinner comes together fast. Leftover chicken works beautifully here.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ready in about 20 minutes
- Uses leftover or rotisserie chicken
- Creamy, cheesy, and full of bright pesto flavor
- Kid-approved and customizable
- One of those “tastes like it took longer” meals
Ingredients
- 3 cheese tortellini pasta
- butter
- cooked chicken
- cream of chicken soup
- pesto sauce
- milk
- garlic
Life… super busy right now! I love that I can whip this together in less than 20 minutes.
I usually grill up a bunch of chicken breasts at the beginning of the week. That makes for really easy salads, quesadillas or any other dish that calls for chicken during the week. Other times I’ve grabbed a rotisserie chicken from the store.
How to cook three cheese tortellini?
If you have fresh pasta, frozen pasta, or boxed (shelved) pasta that basics are typically all the same. You start by bring a pot of water to a boil. You want the pot to be large enough to fill with plenty of water and the pasta.
Once the water comes to a boil I add about a tablespoon of salt. Stir that in and then add the pasta.
Now you’ll want to check your packaging on how long to cook the pasta. Fresh pasta cooks up quick in just a couple of minutes.
Pasta Directions
Once you’ve added the pasta to the boiling water it’s time to work on the rest of the pasta dish. The tortellini I used takes 10 minutes to boil. Just the perfect time to put together the rest of this recipe.
Add the butter to a large skillet and turn the heat to medium. Once the butter has melted, added the cooked, shredded (or chopped) chicken. Stir the chicken around the butter to coat and let it cook a couple minutes.
Then add the cream of chicken soup, pesto, milk, and garlic. Mix those together slowly. Once it starts to bubble, I lower the temperature to low and let it simmer until the pasta finishes cooking.
Once the pasta has cooked, drain water from it and then add it to the saucepan with the pasta sauce. Mix the pasta into the creamy mixture until it’s coated. Serve hot!
Easy Variations
Now one of the great things about pasta dishes is that most can be altered of added to so easily! Here are some suggestions on ways to change of this recipe:
- tomatoes – you could add fresh, diced Roma tomatoes or drain a small can of Italian stewed tomatoes (drained) to the dish when you add the pesto.
- parmesan cheese or romano cheese – grate some fresh and sprinkle on top of the dish after you’ve added the pasta.
- Add fresh mozzarella balls to the pasta sauce when you add the pest.
- chill this recipe and serve it as a chilled pasta salad
- add baby spinach to the sauce when you add the pesto
- use a wheat flour pasta instead
- add dollops of creamy ricotta cheese to the finished pan
- sprinkle chopped parsley to top of the finished dish
Here’s the favorite pasta dish in our family… creamy, dreamy recipe…
Creamy Pesto Three Cheese Tortellini with Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 bag of Barilla® Three Cheese Tortellini
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 cups cooked chicken
- 1 can of cream of chicken soup
- 1/2 cup pesto sauce
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 clove minced garlic
Instructions
- Bring a pot of water to a boil and add your bag of Barilla® Three Cheese Tortellini. Boil on medium heat for 10 minutes.
- While your Barilla® Three Cheese Tortellini is boiling, add your butter to a pan over medium heat. Once butter is melted add your cooked chicken. Toss about for 1-2 minutes.
- Add the can of cream of chicken soup, pesto sauce, milk and garlic to the chicken. Mix till combined.
- Turn heat to low and let simmer until pasta is done.
- After pasta has boiled for 10 minutes scoop out the pasta and add it to your creamy pesto chicken. Toss it all together and let simmer another minute before serving.
Other Pasta Recipes
The 20-minute timing is especially useful here because tortellini gives the meal a substantial base without adding several separate components. Pairing it with a garlicky cream sauce and chicken also suggests a clear order of operations: get the pasta cooking first, then finish the sauce while it is close to done so everything reaches the table hot. Pesto is a smart shortcut for building flavor quickly.
This creamy pesto tortellini looks absolutely delicious and so easy to throw together! It’s the perfect comfort food to enjoy while unwinding with a quick game of Spacebar Clicker after a long day. Definitely saving this recipe for dinner this week!
This looks absolutely delicious! I will definitely be pinning! Thanks for linking up to Tips & Tricks! Hope to see you again this week! 🙂
What kind of pesto sauce do you use?
I normally get my pesto sauce at Sam’s Club, but I’ve also purchased the one they have in the fresh pasta area in my grocery store (refrigerated section).
This looks delicious and so simple to make. I think this would be a great vegetarian dish too, without the chicken. Yum. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Maryann,
Just wanted to let you know I’ve made this now twice! It is super easy and really good. Thanks for the recipe!
That’s great Jessica… definitely one of my favorites (so easy) and my family too!
I have made this several times for my family and it is a huge hit. I actually have to double the recipe each time I make it. I was unable to find the pasta listed, but instead found frozen tortellini that works just fine. Thanks for the great idea!
So glad to hear your family loves it! It’s a big favorite in our home too!
This looks soooo good! I haven’t had breakfast but I want this for lunch! I found your recipe on Pinterest. Where I am a new follower. Happy Saturday!
Wow. My mouth is seriously watering right now, Maryann! This looks ahhhmazingly delicious! Pinned and thank you for sharing the recipe! Happy New Year! xo
I hope Costco has tortellini because I’m getting some today!! I put it on my list!!
Tortellini is my absolute all time favorite pasta! Looks amazing!
Kelly
That looks really good and perfect for a busy week nights supper – thanks and Pinned!!
Looks delish Maryann! I’m definitely making this one… I’ve already made my grocery list! :o)
Tania
This is making me SO hungry! Looks delish! Pinned!
This looks so good!
This Looks AMAZINGLY delicious, Maryann. I can’t wait to give this a try. Pinning 🙂
xoxo
Your recipe sounds amazing, Maryann! We buy Barilla Tortellini often but I’ve never done anything this creative with it .
Looks so yummy!
Oh yum … that sounds so good. I just pinned it! It sounds like a recipe the whole family would love.
Looks delicious!
I love this! My family is going to love this recipe.
That looks really good – I love the Barilla line of foods. Will add this to my menu!
Me too! The only ones I buy… you’ll love this recipe Gina!