Tortellini with Chicken and Tomato Cream Sauce

I love Italian food.

I also love recipes for Italian food that seem like they would be so hard to make, but are actually very easy to throw together….like this one!

If you don’t like the little “kick” that comes from the crushed red pepper, you can make it without. Or add a little more if you want to bump up the spiciness a bit!

Like a lot of pasta dishes, this is fabulous as leftovers the next day! It is also a great recipe for frozen meals. I often bake part of it the day I make it, and put part of it in a greased foil pan, cover and freeze for a ready-made meal in a week or two!

Tortellini with, Tomato Cream Sauce, Chicken, Bacon and Spinach

This easy pasta dish can be on your table in 20 minutes!

Prep Time

5

Cook Time

15

Servings

servings

Ingredients

• 1 quart water
• 1 Tbsp salt
• 1 16 oz pkg frozen cheese tortellini
• 1 26 oz jar marinara sauce
• 1/3 C heavy cream or half and half
• 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 2 cups fresh spincach leaves chopped
• 5 slices bacon pre-cooked and crumbled, or 1/3 c bacon pieces
• 2 c diced chicken pre-cooked
• 1 c mozzarella cheese shredded

Prep Time 5 Cook Time 15 Servings servings Ingredients 1 quart water 1 Tbsp salt 1 16 oz pkg frozen cheese tortellini 1 26 oz jar marinara sauce 1/3 C heavy cream or half and half 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes 2 cups fresh spincach leaves chopped 5 slices bacon pre-cooked and crumbled, or 1/3 c bacon pieces 2 c diced chicken pre-cooked 1 c mozzarella cheese shredded

Instructions

1. In a large saucepan, bring 4 c water to a boil. Add salt and tortellini. Stir and cook for 3-4 minutes or until tortellini is at desired texture.
2. While tortellini is boiling, stir marinara sauce, cream and crushed red pepper flakes together in a large microwave-safe bowl or large (4 cup) glass measuring cup. Microwave, covered loosely for 2 minutes or until heated through and bubbling.
3. While sauce is in microwave, chop spinach and pre-cooked bacon. Dice chicken breasts.
4. When tortellini is to desired tenderness, remove and drain water.
5. Make individual servings by topping each serving of tortellini with spinach, sauce, chicken, bacon and cheese. Or stir everything but the cheese together and sprinkle the cheese on before serving. You can also return the pasta to the saucepan, stir in all ingredients but the cheese, then pour into a 9x13 dish (sprayed with cooking spray), top with cheese, place uncovered in the oven and broil for 2 minutes or until cheese has melted. Watch closely to make sure it does not burn!

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