Description
A quick and easy 20-minute weeknight dinner featuring seared chicken, cheese tortellini, and a creamy pesto sauce, all cooked in a single skillet for minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large chicken breasts, sliced into bite-sized pieces (600g)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup chicken broth (low-sodium)
- 1 cup jarred pesto
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 package (14-16 oz / 400-450g) fresh cheese tortellini
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Slice chicken breasts into 1-inch cubes and season generously with salt and pepper. Mince garlic and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken pieces in a single layer for 2-3 minutes until golden brown, then flip and cook for another 2 minutes until done. Remove chicken and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add minced garlic to the pan and sauté for 30-60 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in chicken broth and scrape up browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Simmer for 1 minute.
- Stir in pesto and heavy cream until smooth. Add uncooked tortellini and stir to coat. Cover and simmer on medium-low for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender.
- Remove from heat. Stir in cooked chicken and fresh spinach. The residual heat will wilt the spinach.
- Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and stir until melted. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed. Serve immediately.
Notes
Do not overcook the tortellini as it cooks quickly. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of water or broth. For a lighter option, swap heavy cream for half-and-half. This recipe is not recommended for freezing as the cream sauce may separate.
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 850
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 60
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 35
Keywords: one pan dinner, creamy pesto chicken, tortellini recipe, 20 minute meals, weeknight dinner, easy pasta, chicken tortellini