Description
Creamy marry me chicken tortellini promises romance on a plate with parmesan-kissed pasta and tender chicken. Romantic Italian-inspired flavors make this dish perfect for date nights or special celebrations.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 boneless chicken breasts (6.5 oz each, cut into bite-sized pieces)
- 21 oz fresh cheese tortellini
- 1 cup 35% cooking cream
- 1 cup unsalted chicken broth
- 2 tbsps extra-virgin olive oil (plus additional as needed)
- 3 cloves garlic (finely minced)
- ½ cup sundried tomatoes (roughly chopped)
- 2 cups fresh spinach (washed and roughly chopped)
- ¼ cup fresh basil (washed and roughly chopped)
- ¼ cup passata
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tbsps cornstarch
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp sweet paprika
- ¼ tsp red chili flakes
- ¼ tsp coarse sea salt (for chicken seasoning)
- ¼ tsp coarse sea salt (for sauce)
Instructions
- Craft a savory seasoning blend by mixing cornstarch, paprika, and salt in a small bowl until thoroughly combined.
- Coat chicken pieces with the prepared seasoning, ensuring each morsel is evenly dusted.
- Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium temperature for 2 minutes, creating an ideal cooking surface.
- Sauté seasoned chicken, stirring periodically, until internal temperature reaches 165°F, approximately 8-10 minutes. Transfer cooked chicken to a separate plate.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and quickly toast minced garlic until aromatic, about 30 seconds, avoiding burning.
- Elevate pan temperature to medium and deglaze with chicken broth, scraping accumulated flavor fragments from pan bottom.
- Simultaneously, boil a pot of water and cook tortellini according to package instructions until perfectly al dente. Drain and reserve.
- Introduce tomato paste, passata, cooking cream, sundried tomatoes, oregano, salt, and chili flakes to the garlic-infused pan. Blend ingredients thoroughly and bring to a vigorous boil.
- Reduce heat, allowing sauce to gently simmer for 5-8 minutes, stirring intermittently to prevent scorching.
- Reintegrate cooked chicken into the sauce, ensuring complete and uniform coating.
- Carefully fold tortellini into the pan, gently mixing to envelop pasta with rich sauce.
- Conclude by folding chopped spinach and basil into the dish, wilting greens and harmonizing final flavor profile.
Notes
- Customize the heat level by adjusting chili flakes for those who prefer milder or spicier flavors.
- Choose low-fat cream or coconut milk for a lighter, diet-friendly version of the sauce.
- Pat chicken dry before seasoning to ensure a crispy, golden-brown exterior during sautéing.
- Use fresh tortellini from the refrigerated section for a more authentic, restaurant-quality taste and texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 630 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 380 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 42 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg