This easy skillet Tortellini Alfredo is a quick dish perfect for a busy weeknight meal! It combines your favorite frozen cheese tortellini cooked in a rich, creamy, homemade alfredo sauce! So yummy -- everyone will love it, and even better, the entire meal is ready in just 25 minutes!
Everyone loves the creamy, cheese flavor of Alfredo sauce! It takes just minutes to make the homemade sauce and combine it with frozen cheese tortellini! This partially from-scratch dinner that always leaves my family full and happy. I think yours will enjoy it too!
This delicious vegetarian version was inspired by our Chicken Tortellini Alfredo recipe and you should try it too!
For more easy pasta dinner recipes, try our One-Pot Chicken Parmesan, Chicken Tetrazzini, Alfredo Chicken Lasagna, and Tuscan Sausage Pasta next!
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Why You'll Love This Skillet Tortellini Alfredo Recipe
- So Quick! This dish cooks on the stove in about 25 minutes from start to finish! If you need an easy dish the whole family will love and won't keep you in the kitchen for hours, this is it!
- Simple Ingredients. Using pre-made frozen tortellini along with a few other basic ingredients makes this dish easy on the wallet and easy to make.
- Classic Comfort Food. With rich cheesy flavors, this pasta dish is one to leave everyone full and happy at the end of the meal.
Ingredients
- Cheese tortellini: I find frozen tortellini so simple and reliable. I can buy it ahead of time and keep it in the freezer until I'm ready to use it. You can also make fresh or use refrigerated tortellini too!
- Unsalted butter: I highly recommend using unsalted butter for more control over the flavor. You will get some saltiness from the parmesan as well and you don't want it too salty. You can always a bit of salt at the end if it needs it.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic really works best in this recipe for the best flavor. We will be adding in some garlic powder towards the end of cooking to intensify the flavor.
- Heavy cream: For creamiest sauce, use heavy cream. For a lighter sauce you can use half and half but it won't be as thick and creamy.
- Seasoning: Besides garlic powder, you will need black pepper and onion powder to add more flavor to the creamy sauce.
- Parmesan cheese: Buy a block of good-quality parmesan cheese and grate it yourself. It will taste better and melt more smoothly. If you're using pre-shredded parmesan cheese, make sure it is finely grated so it melts easier.
See the recipe card at the end of the post for exact quantities and full ingredient list.
Flavor Variations
- Swap the Cheese Tortellini: This tortellini Alfredo recipe works with any type of frozen tortellini! Try it with chicken, sausage, and spinach, just to name a few!
- Add Some Meat: Add some cooked Italian sausage or shredded rotisserie chicken to make the dish a bit heartier.
- Make It Spicy. Add a pinch or two of red pepper flakes to give the sauce a spicy kick.
- Try Some Veggies. Add some blanched broccoli, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, or kale.
- Baked Tortellini Alfredo. Transfer the tortellini and Alfredo sauce to a baking dish, top with some Italian breadcrumbs, and bake in a 350° F oven until bubbly.
How to Make Tortellini with Alfredo Sauce
- Step 1: Cook the pasta. Cook the tortellini according to the package directions for al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Step 2: Make the sauce. Cook the garlic in butter until fragrant. Then, add the heavy cream slowly to the pot and whisk continuously.
- Step 3: Season. When the sauce begins to bubble, slowly whisk in the parmesan cheese and spices. Continue to whisk until the sauce is smooth.
- Step 4: Finish the dish. Simmer the sauce until thickened and then stir in the tortellini. Enjoy!
Hint: Continuous Whisking!
It's important to whisk the sauce for cheese tortellini Alfredo continuously to prevent sticking and create the best texture.
Storage
- Leftovers: If you're lucky enough to have cheese Alfredo tortellini leftovers, refrigerate them for up to 4 days in an airtight container. I don't recommend freezing the dish, as sauces made with heavy cream will break when defrosted.
- Reheat: Place the leftovers in a saucepan with a bit of milk or cream. Heat over medium-low until heated through, stirring occasionally. You can also reheat individual portions in the microwave. Heat it in small increments and stir frequently in order to avoid the sauce overheating and breaking.
Serving Suggestions
This delicious dish can be served as a main course with bread and salad or as a side along with your favorite protein option.
As a main dish, we love it with a simple salad. Choose from our strawberry spinach salad, cucumber tomato salad, or creamy cucumber salad! Don't forget to make a batch of sheet pan breadsticks so you can scoop up all the yummy sauce in the bottom of your bowl.
It makes a satisfying side dish for simple recipes like our air fryer chicken breasts, skillet chicken thighs, or this savory smoked meatloaf.
If serving for company, start things off with some French bread pizza to whet their appetite!
Expert Tips
- Don't Overcook the Tortellini. Cook the tortellini to al dente and no further. If the tortellini is too soft, it could break apart when mixed into the sauce, or simply not have a great texture to eat.
- Whisk the Sauce. Make sure to whisk constantly so the sauce is smooth and thick.
- Use the Right Pot. A large skillet or Dutch oven allows for cooking the entire dish with plenty of room for whisking and mixing.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! Like tortellini, it's a stuffed variety of Italian pasta but just a bit larger in size.
Yes, it's perfectly normal for tortellini to float in the water as it cooks. The air trapped inside from the stuffing process expands as it heats, causing it to float. In most cases, the tortellini will start to float when they are done. So this is your sign to check them to see if they're ready.
Most commonly this happens because the heat used for cooking the Alfredo sauce was too high. It may also happen when there's too much fat or too much liquid in the mixture. Be sure to measure accurately to avoid this and to keep the heat low enough to prevent breaking.
More Easy Pasta Recipes
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Easy Alfredo Tortellini
Equipment
Ingredients
- 20 ounces package cheese tortellini fresh or frozen
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 3 tsp garlic minced
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups parmesan cheese finely shredded
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Heat butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and brown for 30 seconds.
- Slowly start to whisk in heavy cream. Whisk continuously until the sauce is well combined.
- When the sauce bubbles, slowly whisk in the parmesan cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Whisk continuously until the sauce is smooth. Then, reduce the heat to low and simmer the Alfredo sauce for 2-3 minutes or until it begins to thicken.
- Add cooked tortellini to the Alfredo sauce. Mix until well combined and coated in the Alfredo sauce.
- Garnish with shredded Parmesan cheese and parsley before serving, and enjoy!
Notes
- Don't Overcook the Tortellini. Cook the tortellini to al dente and no further. If the tortellini is too soft, it could break apart when mixed into the sauce, or simply not have a great texture to eat.
- Whisk the Sauce. Make sure to whisk constantly so the sauce is smooth and thick.
- Use the Right Pot. A large skillet or Dutch oven allows for cooking the entire dish with plenty of room for whisking and mixing.
Nutrition
*All nutrition information provided is automatically calculated and is an estimate and will vary based on ingredients, brands, and changes in cooking methods listed in the recipe. If you need exact numbers on your ingredients, I would recommend calculating them with your prefered nutrition calculator.
Elisa
This is the best tortellini Alfredo recipe I have found that is easy and delicious,,I like to add a tsp of chili flakes for a little kick 😋
Ryan Allen
Love the addition of chili flakes it sounds amazing!