Make your entire meal in just 15 minutes! These cheese Tortellini in delicious creamy tomato sauce is a quick and easy dinner recipe that will be perfect for a busy night!
There is nothing better than making an entire dinner in just 15 minutes. It should be easy to prep, quick, and using just a few ingredients. These delicious cheese tortellini are made in a luscious creamy tomato sauce with wilted spinach and seasoned with aromatic spices.
This recipe will be perfect for a busy weeknight dinner. While the tortellini are cooking, you can make the sauce, then put it all together and the meal is done! It can’t get any easier!
If you like quick and easy recipe you might also like my Baked Cheese Tortellini, Hawaiian Chicken, Taco Skillet, Orzo Salad Recipe, Chicken Cobb Salad, Easy Lemon Chicken Recipe, and Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry Recipe.
Why you will like this recipe
- Quick and Easy to Make. The whole dish comes together in 15-20 minutes.
- Lots of flavors. There is a good flavor combination of cheese and spinach, tomatoes and creaminess, and good seasoning.
- Comforting. There is nothing better for me than a bowl of pasta, cheese, and creamy sauce.
What are Tortellini
Tortellini are mini raviolis, usually filled with cheese, meat, or vegetables. You can usually find them in the refrigerated section in a grocery store.
How to Cook Tortellini
They can be cooked pretty much like pasta in a pot of boiling water. Depending on the brand, the cooking time can be slightly different, so always read the instructions before cooking them. Mine take only 3 minutes to cook.
How to make it
In a large pot, boil water and cook tortellini according to the package instructions. Then drain and set aside.
While it’s cooking, preheat a large skillet over medium heat. Add 2 tbsp butter, 3 tbsp all-purpose flour, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, and ¼ tsp red pepper flakes. Stir for about 30 seconds.
Then add 1 ½ cups milk and ½ cup heavy cream. Stir and cook until it starts to simmer.
Add crushed tomatoes, stir and cook for about 5 minutes until simmers. Taste and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Add 2 cups spinach and cook for a couple of minutes until it starts to wilt. Stir is ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese.
Add cooked tortellini and stir.
Tips for best results
- The whole meal comes together very quickly, so it’s important to have all your ingredients prepped.
- Always read the cooking instructions for your tortellini. Different brands might have slightly different cooking time. You don’t want to over cook them, because they will be too mushy and will fall apart.
- Don’t skip the seasoning and red pepper flakes. They add a lot of flavor to the dish.
- I prefer to use canned crushed tomatoes, but you also can use tomato sauce and diced tomatoes.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any leftovers, transfer then to an air-tight container and refrigerate for up to 2 days. You can reheat it in the microwave or on the stove. I like to add 1-2 tablespoons of water while reheating to loosen up the sauce.
This dish is good on its own. You can also serve it with some salad and bread.
Salad Ideas. Farro Salad Recipe, BLT Pasta Salad, Roasted Beet Salad.
Bread Ideas. Sandwich Bread Recipe, Potato Rolls Recipe, Easy Dinner Rolls.
Tortellini in Tomato Sauce
Ingredients
- 16 ounces cheese tortellini
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 ½ cups milk
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 15 ounces crushed tomatoes
- 2 cups baby spinach
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated
Instructions
- In a large pot, boil water and cook tortellini according to the package instructions. Then drain and set aside.
- While it’s cooking, preheat a large skillet over medium heat. Add 2 tbsp butter, 3 tbsp all-purpose flour, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, and ¼ tsp red pepper flakes. Stir for about 30 seconds.
- Then add 1 ½ cups milk and ½ cup heavy cream. Stir and cook until it starts to simmer.
- Add crushed tomatoes, stir and cook for about 5 minutes until simmers. Taste and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add 2 cups spinach and cook for a couple of minutes until it starts to wilt. Stir is ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese.
- Add cooked tortellini and stir.
Notes
- The whole meal comes together very quickly, so it’s important to have all your ingredients prepped.
- Always read the cooking instructions for your tortellini. Different brands might have slightly different cooking time. You don’t want to over cook them, because they will be too mushy and will fall apart.
- Don’t skip the seasoning and red pepper flakes. They add a lot of flavor to the dish.
- I prefer to use canned crushed tomatoes, but you also can use tomato sauce and diced tomatoes.
- If you have any leftovers, transfer then to an air-tight container and refrigerate for up to 2 days. You can reheat it in the microwave or on the stove. I like to add 1-2 tablespoons of water while reheating to loosen up the sauce.
Hi can I add chicken to this recipe? Will it affect how creamy the sauce is- like do I need to add more ingredients for the sauce? Not sure if the pasta will soak up all the sauce
Hi Hanna! Yes, you can add some pre-cooked chicken to this dish, but it will absorb some extra sauce.
I added some nicely seasoned shrimp. It was a very nice meal!! Thank you!
Thank you so much, Jennifer! Shrimp is always a good addition to any meal 😉
Thank you for this simple yet great recipe. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner.
Thank you so much, Susan! Glad you liked it 😉
Delicious. Made this last minute dinner for me and my boyfriend. It was easy and quick. Definitely saving this one!
Thank you so much, Kennedy! I’m so happy you and your boyfriend loved this recipe!