The best simple dinner that you can whip up in about 30 minutes. Comfort food at it’s tastiest, tortellini made with homemade pesto and Alfredo sauce.
PESTO ALFREDO TORTELLINI
This is the best, quick and easy comfort dinner I’ve made in a while and I’ve been craving more since taking the last bite. I’m staying strong right now but I’m afraid I’ll cave very soon.
We’re all moved in to the new house now. Boy, did I underestimate the sheer amount of time that a move takes and just how much stuff we had packed in our little apartment. Last time we moved, we were 17 and 23 and we were moving to our little 2 bedroom apartment. We had next to nothing to move. All we had in our bedroom was a bed (mattress on a metal frame), an old, refurbished dresser and a TV. We had a couch and a hand-me-down coffee table in a living room.
It’s so fun to reminisce about everything we had and didn’t have when we were just dating, while looking around at our first house with our son, after 12 years of being together. And while we are looking around and reminiscing, we are starving after the full day of unpacking. Quick and easy dinner like this delightful Pesto Alfredo Tortellini is just what we needed.
HOW TO MAKE EASY CREAMY PESTO ALFREDO TORTELLINI
Cook tortellini in boiling salted water according to the package instructions, drain, and set aside.
Alfredo Sauce:
In a small sauce pot, melt butter over medium heat and add pressed garlic. Saute until fragrant (just a few seconds) and slowly add heavy cream WHILE whisking. Heat through on medium heat, keep stirring slowly.
Add sour cream, Parmesan cheeses, salt and pepper. Keep cooking on medium-low heat for about 5-7 minutes, stirring often, until all smooth.
To Make Tortellini:
In the pot where you cooked the tortellini, add pesto and mix well. Add Alfredo sauce and Mozzarella cheese. Mix well and serve with some fresh grated Parmesan cheese on top.
More Delicious Pasta Recipes:
Creamy Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta Casserole
Bacon Asparagus Pasta Carbonara
Extra Cheesy Lemon Asparagus Pasta Skillet
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Pesto Alfredo Tortellini
Ingredients
- 20 oz refrigerated three cheese tortellini
- Salt
- 1/3 cup prepared homemade pesto
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 2 large clove of garlic
- 1 1/4 cups heavy whipping cream
- ½ cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup dry Parmesan cheese
- 2 Tbsp sour cream
- Salt and fresh cracked black pepper
- 1/2 cup Mozzarella cheese
- More fresh grated Parmesan for topping
Instructions
- Cook tortellini in a large pot with some salted water, according to the package. Drain and set aside.
- In a small sauce pot, melt butter over medium heat and add pressed garlic.
- Saute until fragrant (just a few seconds) and slowly add heavy cream WHILE whisking. Heat through on medium heat, keep stirring slowly.
- Add sour cream, Parmesan cheeses, salt and pepper. Keep cooking on medium-low heat for about 5-7 minutes, stirring often, until all smooth.
- In the pot where you cooked the tortellini, add pesto and mix well.
- Add Alfredo sauce and Mozzarella cheese. Mix well and serve.
- Top each plate with some fresh grated Parmesan cheese.
- (You can always served this dish with grilled chicken on top or a nice seared steak.)
Video
Nutrition
Originally published on Will Cook For Smiles on January 29, 2016. Updated May 10, 2020.
Trudi says
Can I use 1/2 & 1/2 instead of heavy cream?
LyubaB says
Yes, you can but it won’t be as thick.
Chrissy says
Would this be a good crockpot for a potluck lunch.
Kari says
I made this for my hubby last night but with Fettucini and grilled chicken. 🙂 The only changes I made were I used granulated garlic ‘cause I didn’t have any fresh and I didn’t add the mozzarella because the Alfredo was so beautiful, I didn’t think it needed it.
Thank you for posting!
LyubaB says
Hi Kari,
I am so glad you liked it!
Rachel says
Do you think this recipe can hold for 2-3 days. I want to make for holiday party a head of time.
Or do you think I should make the sauce and keep the sauce and tortellini separate till ready to serve??
lyuba says
Hi Rachel!
I’m sorry for the late response.
Alfredo is not really the sauce that hold up well to reheating, it tends to separate. Tortellini only takes a few minutes to cook and I would recommend making the sauce fresh. It would be frustrating reheating the sauce and have the oils separate on you.
Happy holidays!
Jegal says
Super tasty, next time I’m going to try it with some diced fresh tomatoes for some acidity and a grilled chicken breast.
pragati says
I love every word in that title. So I just had to click on this. Creamy and green..I am so drooling! 🙂
lyuba says
awe, thank you so much, Pragati! 🙂 Hope you’ll give it a try!
Marisa Franca @ All Our Way says
You had me at pesto. And you had me at Alfredo. And then you also had me at tortellini!! My heart and soul are yours — at the very least your recipe!! Gorgeous shots — do you have a problem with you and the lens falling right into the creamy pasta??? 🙂 Have a great day!!
lyuba says
Well, I guess I got your attention all around 😉
Lol, since it’s a prime lens, I’m not as close as it looks.
Thank you, Marisa!
Liz says
Yummy – thank you and have a good weekend
lyuba says
Thank you, Liz!! 🙂
Carole from Carole's Chatter says
Hi there, this would be a super contribution to Food on Friday: Cheese over at Carole’s Chatter. Please do bring it over. Cheers
lyuba says
Thank you, Caroline! I’ll stop by to check it out