My friend, Kerri, made this for me awhile back. It is a recipe from Southern Living. I have adapted it just a bit. I loved it so much at her house.
I memorized what was in it so I could search the internet for the recipe. This is such an easy and delicious dish. I like to make it on nights I don’t have a lot of time to cook, but still want my family to have a homemade meal. It takes about fifteen minutes to make start to finish.
I added just a few things.
As I do. But if you want to follow the original recipe, just click the link above. I like it both ways.
Ingredients
20 oz. package of tortellini (I use Costco’s 24 oz. package and I use the whole thing)
1 16 oz. jar of Alfredo sauce with sun dried tomatoes (I believe Classico is the only brand that makes this)
1/4 cup white wine
1 14.5 oz. can drained petite diced tomatoes
1 clove minced garlic (I use one packet from the frozen pack)
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil (I use one packet from the frozen pack)
1 pinch of dried red pepper flakes (1/8 tsp.)
3 Tbsp. Olive oil
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
Optional:
2 cooked diced chicken breasts
1 Tbsp. Red pepper spread
First, boil water in large pot. Add tortellini and 1 Tablespoon of olive oil to the boiling water and cook pasta according to directions on package. Before draining, carefully reserve 1/3 cup water.
In a large skillet, heat remaining 2 Tbsp. of olive oil over medium low . Sauté garlic for one minute (if you are using red pepper spread add this with the garlic).
Add Alfredo sauce to skillet.
Add wine to empty Alfredo sauce jar. Gently shake. Pour wine into skillet.
Add tomatoes and basil to skillet. Let mixture simmer five minutes.
Add chicken with the tomatoes and basil if you are using this.
Add drained tortellini. Mix in pepper flakes, reserved water, and parmesan cheese.
Stir.
Heat for one minute. Turn off heat.
Serve up this easy meal. And enjoy!
Thanks Kerri for making me this. It was so good! My family absolutely loves it.
That looks really nice and has made me quite hungry despite just eating a few hours ago. Thanks for sharing it!
Thank you Stephen! I love that recipe. I am glad it looked good to you. I have no clue as to what I will be making for dinner tonight. I had chocolate cake for lunch so it has to be something healthy.
I hope you are doing well! Have a terrific week!
Jenni
Jenni, this looks incredible! I’m such a sucker for filled pasta like tortellini, ravioli, etc. I have such a difficult time controlling myself when I have that type of food in front of me! Thanks for sharing this, as I think it will become a fast favorite in our household when I give it a whirl.
I loved using that brand of frozen basil, but they recently stopped carrying it in any of our local stores. 🙁 I feel like every time I buy fresh basil, it ends up wilting before I get around to using it. I hope they restock it soon!
Casey – the same thing happens to us with fresh basil. Now, I put a post-it note on it that says “Eat This With Everything”. It’s been working. yay! I get weirdly upset when I have to throw out bad basil. bad bananas, or even worse – a bad avocado. lol
That tortellini looks so yummy, Jenni!
Haha I love that idea, Cynthia! And I totally get your weirdly emotional reaction to having to throw away fresh produce; it’s expensive to have to toss it!
Thanks Cynthia! Wow! You are so much more on top of it than me! I can never find anything in my refrigerator. Let alone a note! I need to be more organized! That is a great idea you have!
Let me know if you ever try it! Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Jenni
Thanks Casey! Do you have a Trader Joe’s near you? I find mine there. Those frozen packs of anything are what save me. In fact, I have an onion on my counter right now that I am getting ready to chop up and freeze so I have chopped onion always on hand. It is such a time saver. And fresh herbs are SO expensive! And I always have to throw them away. Such a bummer!
Have a lovely week!
Jenni