Creamy Tomato Tortellini comes together in about 30 minutes and has an amazingly flavorful homemade tomato sauce that tops the cheesy tortellini along with a buttery Italian breadcrumb mixture!
Creamy Tomato Tortellini:
This dish has became an instant classic in our house within about 5 minutes of it being done! I knew I wanted the cheesy goodness of tortellini pasta, but I wasn’t sure what kind of toppings and sauce should go with it. So I walked into the pantry empty-handed and came out with an armful of ingredients that we usually have on hand. The result was a super flavorful tomato sauce using sun-dried tomatoes, tomato sauce, butter, diced onions and garlic. The seasoning has some of the usual suspects when it comes to delicious Italian flavor – basil, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Heavy cream and freshly grated Parmesan cheese give the sauce some rich creaminess! We didn’t use any meat in this recipe, but feel free to use a meat-filled tortellini, ground beef/sausage, or even Crockpot Shredded Chicken. If you’re wanting something creamy but not wanting a tomato based sauce, check out our Creamy Spinach Mushroom Tortellini Recipe!
The Breadcrumb Topping:
In my opinion, the breadcrumb topping on this dish adds a nice layer of crunchy texture to contrast with the softness of the tortellini! You’ll want to make the breadcrumbs first using the same skillet you’ll cook the pasta in because why dirty any extra dishes if you can avoid it? Toast them with melted butter, minced garlic, basil, and oregano. When they’re nice and toasty, remove them from the skillet and wipe it clean.
Notes and Tips:
- I used dried basil/oregano for this, and pre-minced garlic, and it tasted great! However feel free to use fresh seasonings and garlic to take the flavor up a notch.
- If you don’t have panko breadcrumbs, regular will work fine as well, or you can even use Italian breadcrumbs for a little extra flavor!
- I always find that freshly grated cheese melts and tastes better, but if you have to use shredded cheese out of a bag, this will still taste great!
- You can store leftovers in the fridge for 3-5 days, but I recommend keeping the pasta and sauce separated from the breadcrumb topping, so it doesn’t get soggy.
Enjoy!
~Nichole
Creamy Tomato Tortellini
Ingredients
For the Breadcrumbs:
- 2 Tablespoons Butter
- 1 Cup Panko Breadcrumbs
- 2 Cloves Garlic minced
- 1/2 Teaspoon Basil
- 1/2 ` Teaspoon Oregano
For the Tortellini:
- 7 Ounces Sun Dried Tomatoes drained
- 1 15 oz Can Tomato Sauce
- 2 Tablespoons Butter
- 1/2 Medium Onion finely diced
- 4 Cloves Garlic minced
- 1 Teaspoon Dried Basil
- 1 Teaspoon Dried Oregano
- 1 Pinch Red Pepper Flakes
- 1 Cup Chicken Broth
- 1/2 Teaspoon Balsamic Vinegar
- 20 Ounces Cheese Tortellini
- 1/2 Cup Heavy Cream
- 1/2 Cup Parmesan Cheese freshly grated
Instructions
For the Breadcrumbs:
- Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the panko, garlic, basil, oregano, and salt. Stir constantly for 3-4 minutes until breadcrumbs are toasted. Pour the crumbs into a bowl and wipe the skillet clean.
For the Pasta:
- Add the sundried tomatoes and tomato sauce to a blender or food processor. Cover and blend on high until smooth.
- Melt the butter in the same skillet used for the breadcrumbs. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally for 3-4 minutes until soft. Add in the garlic, basil, oregano, red pepper flakes and cook stirring constantly for one minute.
- Pour the tomato mixture, chicken broth, and balsamic vinegar into the pan and stir to combine. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the tortellini according to package directions, drain and set aside.
- Stir the heavy cream and parmesan into the tomato sauce, then stir in the cooked tortellini.
- Top with breadcrumbs as desired.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This was delicious, my kids and husband loved it. I served it with a side salad. Do you have any recommendations on type of meat that would go well with it? My husband likes to have a meat with his dinner.