This one pot chicken tortellini alfredo recipe is beyond easy to make! If you’re using fresh tortellini, it comes together in just one pot in under 30 minutes.
What is Chicken Tortellini Alfredo
Chicken Tortellini Alfredo is a creamy, dreamy, and utterly effortless dish that wraps you in a warm embrace of comfort with every bite.
Imagine tender, juicy chicken and pillowy fresh tortellini, all swirled together in a rich, velvety Alfredo sauce that's just the right kind of indulgent.
This dish is a marvel of convenience and flavor, coming together in a single pot in under 30 minutes, making it the perfect go-to for those nights when you want something scrumptiously satisfying without the fuss.
It's like a culinary cuddle, offering the ultimate comfort food experience that's not just quick and easy, but also irresistibly delicious.
Whether you're whipping it up for a cozy family dinner or treating yourself to a solo feast, Chicken Tortellini Alfredo is sure to delight your taste buds and soothe your soul.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Fresh Cheese Tortellini - I recommend fresh for this recipe becuase it only needs a few minutes to cook. I haven't tested it with frozen but you might need to add more liquid if
- Salted Butter - If you're using unsalted butter, just add a pinch of salt. You could also use olive oil although I recommend butter over oil!
- Shallot - If you don't have shallot, you could use garlic or evenly finely diced onion.
- Italian Seasoning - If you don't have Italian seasoning, you could either leave it out of add a dash of dried rosemary, garlic powder and basil... or just leave it out.
- Heavy Cream - Heavy cream is ideal because it just adds a little more creaminess to the dish. If you don't have it, you could use regular milk - it just won't be that thick and luscious.
- Whole Milk - You could use another milk fat % but whole milk yields the best results.
- Cream Cheese - This adds just a slight tang and creaminess factor that makes this dish so delicious. If you don't have cream cheese, you could add a squeeze of lemon juice at the end.
- Parmigiano Cheese - Any hard aged Italian cheese will work in place of Parmigiano. Try pecorino, asiago or even piave.
- Rotisserie Chicken - Not a fan of rotisserie chicken? Leave it out OR just use pre-shredded chicken, or pan fry two chicken breasts and then chop 'em up.
- Kosher Salt - Kosher salt and table salt are not the same. If you're not using kosher salt, bring the salt down because table salt is much saltier.
How to make it
I love how easy it is to make this chicken tortellini alfredo in one pot! It seriously comes together in no time and the results are to die for!
You'll start the recipe out by bringing a heavy bottomed pan (like a braiser) to medium heat.
Then add your butter, minced shallot and Italian seasoning and cook for 2-3 minutes.
Now add the heavy cream and milk.
Once it starts to simmer again, add the cream cheese and stir it in until melted.
Once the cream cheese is melted, add in the uncooked tortellini and the chicken and stir.
Put the lid on and cook for 3-5 minutes or until the tortellini are tender and floating.
Take the lid off and simmer the pasta until the sauce is not so liquidity.
Stir in ¼ cup of parmesan at a time (1 cup total) and stir until melted.
Season with salt and pepper to taste and enjoy!
Oh, and I always keep a little bit of parm on the table for serving.
What goes with Chicken Tortellini Alfredo
This easy dish goes well with so many things!
If I were making it for dinner, I would probably start out with a big salad like this caprese pasta salad, this Kale Apple Slaw with Maple Dijon Vinaigrette or this Fried Prosciutto, Strawberry and Burrata Salad with Basil Vinaigrette.
If you want more easy, one pot dishes, try these:
- One Pot Meatball Stroganoff
- One Pot Brown Butter Orzo with Butternut Squash
- Viral Tiktok One Pot Lemon Pasta
- One Pot Cheesy Orzo With Broccoli
- Viral One-Pot French Onion Pasta Recipe
Frequently asked questions
What to serve with tortellini alfredo?
Pair your luscious Tortellini Alfredo with a bright, zesty garden salad like the ones I linked above! Or you could do a crispy, garlicky bread to add a delightful crunch and freshness.
How do you make alfredo more interesting?
To give your Alfredo sauce an extra oomph of excitement, whisk in a squeeze of lemon juice, a dash of nutmeg or a sprinkle of cayenne for a subtle, intriguing twist, or fold in some sun-dried tomatoes or sautéed mushrooms for a burst of flavor that's like a surprise party in every creamy, dreamy spoonful! It's all about adding those playful, unexpected notes that make each bite a delicious adventure in taste.
How do you know when tortellini is done?
Your tortellini is ready to enchant your palate when it puffs up with pride, floating to the top of the boiling water like little culinary buoys, signaling it's perfectly cooked, tender, and ready to dance in whatever sauce or flavor fiesta you've got planned.
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Recipe
Chicken Tortellini Alfredo
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoon Salted Butter
- 1 small Shallot minced
- ½ teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- 1 cup Heavy Cream
- 2.5 cups Whole Milk
- 4 oz Cream Cheese room temp is best
- 1 cup Parmesan grated plus more for serving
- 20 oz Fresh Cheese Tortellini (about 5 cups)
- 1 cup Rotisserie Chicken shredded or roughly chopped
- Kosher Salt & Pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a heavy bottomed braising pan over medium heat, add butter, minced shallot and Italian seasoning and cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Add heavy cream and milk and stir. Once it returns to a simmer, stir in the cream cheese until melted.
- Add in the uncooked tortellinis and chicken and a pinch of salt and stir. Cover the pot with a lid and drop the heat to a simmer for 2-5 minutes or until the tortellini are cooked through and tender.
- Stir in ¼ cup of parmesan at a time (1 cup total) until the whole thing is creamy and smooth.
- **If the sauce still looks loose, simply leave the lid off and cook the pasta for a few more - OR - if it looks dry, slowly stir in ½ cup more of milk.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste before serving.
