cheese tortellini in garlic basil sauce
Whip up this easy and delicious Cheese Tortellini in garlic butter sauce in 15 minutes or less, perfect as a hot party appetizer or comforting weeknight meal (double the batch, it’ll disappear fast!), using refrigerated or frozen cheese tortellini for ultimate convenience.
HOW DO YOU COOK CHEESE TORTELLINI?
1.Bring 4 quarts of water (or broth) to a boil for each pound of tortellini. Add salt if desired; I like 1 tablespoon salt if I’m using water, but not if I’m using broth.
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2.Add tortellini and cook until they float to the surface and reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
- 2 to 3 minutes for refrigerated tortellini
- 3 to 5 minutes for frozen tortellini
- 10 to 11 minutes for dried tortellini
3.Gently drain the tortellini and either follow the remaining recipe steps or serve immediately.
While I usually use low-sodium chicken broth and unsalted butter, this recipe fell a bit flat when I tested it with those ingredients.
In this case, I don’t recommend the low-sodium options, but if that’s what you have, feel free to add a little salt to the finished dish until it tastes perfect.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TORTELLINI AND A TORTELLONI?
Though sharing the same basic shape, tortellini are daintier at around 2 grams each, while tortelloni boast a larger size, typically weighing in at 5 grams.
While cheese and vegetable fillings reign supreme for both tortellini and tortelloni, tortellini can also boast a savory meat filling, which is less common for tortelloni.
Tortellini, because of their small size, could easily be served in a soup or other broth-based dish. Tortelloni, however, are typically served only in a sauce.
CAN YOU COOK TORTELLINI FROM FROZEN?
Yes,For each pound of tortellini, simply bring 4 quarts of water with 1 tablespoon of salt to a boil, add the unthawed tortellini and cook until they float (usually 3-5 minutes), ensuring they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit in the coldest spot.
WHAT IS THE MAIN DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RAVIOLI AND TORTELLINI?
While ravioli come in both square and circular shapes, they’re all formed by encasing a filling between two pressed sheets of dough.
Unlike ravioli’s two-sheet construction, tortellini resemble dumplings with a hat-shaped dough wrapping.
HOW LONG CAN YOU KEEP COOKED CHEESE TORTELLINI?
Like most cooked pasta, this recipe is best enjoyed within 3-4 days in the fridge (and the leftovers are delicious!).
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cheese tortellini in garlic basil sauce
- Total Time: 15 minutes
Description
Whip up this easy and delicious Cheese Tortellini in garlic butter sauce in 15 minutes or less, perfect as a hot party appetizer or comforting weeknight meal (double the batch, it’ll disappear fast!), using refrigerated or frozen cheese tortellini for ultimate convenience.
Ingredients
- 32 ounces chicken broth or vegetable broth, divided
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 (16 ounce) package frozen cheese tortellini (see notes)
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese for garnish
- Fresh basil for garnish, optional
Instructions
- In a large pot, bring 2 1/2 cups broth to a boil, add cheese tortellini, and cook until they float to the top of the water, about 3 minutes, ensuring the internal temperature of a tortellini reaches 165ºF. Drain completely.
- Meanwhile, whisk together the remaining 1 1/2 cups broth with cornstarch; in a large non-stick skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat until foaming, then stir in garlic and basil and cook for 2 minutes.
- Add the broth-cornstarch mixture to the skillet, bring to a boil, and simmer until thickened, about 2 minutes longer; then, add the cooked tortellini and toss to coat.
- Pour the mixture into a serving dish and garnish with Parmesan cheese and parsley, if desired. (We can remove “if desired” from the second sentence and put it at the end for smoother flow).
Notes
- For a vegetarian twist, simply substitute vegetable broth for the chicken broth.
- Refrigerated tortellini cook faster; they’ll float in 2 to 3 minutes. Dried tortellini will take longer; follow the package instructions (usually around 10 to 11 minutes).
- This recipe yields 8 servings (2 ounces and 275 calories per serving) as an appetizer or first course; keep warm in a slow cooker for a buffet-style serving.
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Main Course, Side Dish
- Cuisine: American, Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 servings
- Calories: 551 kcal
Keywords: italian, pasta, tortellini
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