Creamy Pesto Tortellini Skillet (Printer-Friendly)

Tender tortellini and rotisserie chicken in a rich pesto cream sauce, ready in 25 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta & Protein

01 - 1 (20 oz) package shelf-stable cheese tortellini
02 - 2 cups rotisserie chicken, shredded (skin and bones removed)

→ Sauce

03 - 1 cup heavy cream
04 - 1/2 cup basil pesto (store-bought or homemade)
05 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
06 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
07 - 1/4 teaspoon salt (or to taste)

→ Vegetables & Garnish

08 - 2 cups baby spinach
09 - 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved (optional)
10 - Fresh basil leaves, for garnish (optional)

# How To Make:

01 - Bring a large skillet or sauté pan of salted water to a boil. Add tortellini and cook according to package instructions, usually 3–4 minutes. Drain and set aside.
02 - In the same skillet, pour in the heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Stir in pesto and Parmesan until smooth and slightly thickened, about 2 minutes.
03 - Add the shredded rotisserie chicken and cooked tortellini to the skillet. Stir to coat evenly with the sauce.
04 - Fold in baby spinach and cherry tomatoes (if using). Cook for 1–2 minutes, until spinach is wilted and the sauce is creamy and bubbling.
05 - Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Serve hot, garnished with fresh basil leaves and extra Parmesan if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The sauce comes together in about two minutes but tastes like it simmered for hours
  • Using rotisserie chicken means you skip the tedious step of cooking protein from scratch
  • Everything happens in one pan, so you spend less time washing dishes and more time eating
02 -
  • The sauce thickens quickly off heat, so remove from flame as soon as it coats the back of a spoon
  • Reserve a splash of pasta water before draining in case you need to loosen the sauce later
  • Salt levels vary depending on your pesto brand, always taste before adding extra salt
03 -
  • Homemade pesto transforms this into something absolutely next level
  • Grate your own Parmesan instead of using pre shredded for better melting
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