Creamy Garlic Parmesan Tortellini Chicken (Print Version)
Juicy chicken and cheese tortellini in a garlicky Parmesan cream with tender broccoli, a comforting weeknight dinner.
# What You Need:
→ Meats
01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 14 oz), cut into bite-sized pieces
→ Pasta
02 - 18 oz refrigerated cheese tortellini
→ Vegetables
03 - 2 cups broccoli florets (about 7 oz)
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
→ Dairy
05 - 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
06 - 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving
07 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
→ Pantry
08 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
09 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
10 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional
→ Garnish
11 - Fresh parsley, chopped, optional
# Directions:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook tortellini according to package directions, adding broccoli florets for the final 2 minutes. Drain and set aside.
02 - Season chicken pieces with salt and black pepper.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 5 to 6 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside.
04 - In the same skillet, add unsalted butter. Sauté minced garlic for 1 minute until aromatic.
05 - Lower heat to medium. Pour in heavy cream, stirring to combine. Simmer gently, then add Parmesan cheese and stir until melted and sauce thickens, about 2 to 3 minutes.
06 - Add cooked tortellini, broccoli, and chicken to the skillet. Toss to evenly coat in the creamy sauce. Stir in crushed red pepper flakes if desired.
07 - Taste and season with additional salt and black pepper if needed.
08 - Serve hot, topped with extra Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley if preferred.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The store-bought tortellini turns this into a weeknight magic trick with almost no effort.
- This creamy sauce somehow manages to taste like you spent hours standing and stirring, but everything comes together in under an hour.
02 -
- Once, I let the sauce boil too vigorously and ended up with a grainy texture—gentle simmer is key for creaminess.
- Add broccoli no sooner than the last two minutes or it will lose its snap and fade in color.
03 -
- Searing the chicken in batches helps avoid overcrowding and ensures golden, juicy bites.
- A microplane for Parmesan gives the smoothest melt and the most flavor—worth the tiny bit of extra effort.