Tuscan Cheese Tortellini
Servings 6 servings
Calories 482kcal
Ingredients
- 20 ounce package refrigerated three cheese tortellini
- 1 medium onion diced
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 3 large cloves garlic minced
- 1 Tbsp dry Italian seasoning
- 1 1/2 tsp garlic salt or plain salt
- 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 1/2 cups half and half (or heavy cream or heavy whipping cream)
- 4 oz chive and onion cream cheese softened
- 1 8 oz jar julienned sundried tomatoes rinsed
- 1 5 oz bag spinach leaves
- grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil for garnishing
Instructions
- Cook the cheese tortellini in salted boiling water per the package instructions. (About 5-7 minutes) Drain well.
- Sauce: Meanwhile, in a 12-inch skillet cook the diced onion over medium-high heat in 2 Tbsp of olive oil for 2 minutes or just until softened and beginning to brown.
- To the skillet add the garlic, Italian seasoning, garlic salt, red pepper flakes and black pepper. Stir together, cooking for 1 minute.
- To the skillet add the sundried tomatoes. Stir to combine. Add the half and half and cream cheese. Cook over medium heat until the cream cheese has melted. Let simmer and gently bubble for 5 minutes.
- Add the cheese tortellini and spinach to the skillet. Mix together over medium heat cooking for 3 minutes or just until the spinach has wilted and the tortellini is coated evenly with the creamy sauce.
- Serve immediately topped with grated Parmesan cheese and garnished with basil.
Notes
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- Protein: You could add 1 pound of cooked and crumbled Italian sausage. Use spicy sausage or mild sausage, go with your personal preference.
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- Cream: You can use half and half, heavy cream or heavy whipping cream for the sauce. Each one has a different amount of fat and will lend a slightly different texture. All three are delicious!
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- Olive Oil: You could use butter in place of olive oil to cook the diced onion and garlic. You could also use vegetable oil.
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- Garlic Salt: You can use plain table salt and garlic powder in place of garlic salt.
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- Spinach: You could swap out the spinach and use kale. Each one cooks differently, so adapt the cooking time accordingly cooking until the kale has wilted.
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- Bacon: You could add crispy cooked bacon or pancetta to the tortellini.
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- Herbs: You can garnish the top with chopped parsley or chives in place of basil.
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- Pasta: You can make this recipe using chicken tortellini, tri-color tortellini or another flavor of tortellini that you enjoy.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 482kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 1062mg | Potassium: 193mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 477IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 265mg | Iron: 3mg