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Enjoy this Creamy Tomato Basil Tortellini pasta that cooks in one skillet in under 30 minutes!
Skillet meals are the best! They help make weeknight meals easy with quick prep and clean up.
This easy creamy tortellini pasta cooks in one pan in a homemade cream sauce with spinach and tomatoes. Yes, everything including the pasta cooks in one pan.
This recipe consistently receives five star reviews. You can read the reviews below, but here is what Erin has to say about it:
“This has become a family favorite! I double all the ingredients except the basil to feed my family. I make this often.”
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- The entire meal cooks in one pan.
- This tortellini pasta dish is made with simple easy-to-find ingredients.
- It’s an easy weeknight meal that also tastes great as leftovers.
- Kids and adults love this recipe!
Ingredients You Need
This creamy tortellini with spinach and tomatoes comes together with easy-to-find ingredients.
- Diced Tomatoes: These tomatoes serve as the base for the homemade cream sauce. You can substitute the tomatoes with tomato puree, if desired, but you won’t have any chunks of tomatoes.
- Heavy Cream: This helps to thicken up the cream sauce and add additional creamy texture and flavor.
- Baby Spinach: You can substitute with baby kale, if desired.
- Fresh Basil: Adds even more fresh flavor. You can substitute, but the dish will not be as flavorful.
- Parmesan Cheese: Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for the best flavor.
- Tortellini: Fresh tortellini is preferred for this recipe. If you use frozen tortellini, cook the pasta for 1-2 additional minutes.
- Vegetable Broth: You can substitute with chicken broth.
- Garlic and Oregano: Adds additional fresh flavor. If you don’t have oregano, you can substitute with Italian seasoning.
How to Make Creamy Tomato Basil Tortellini
The entire recipe comes together in one pot in under 30 minutes. Just a few simple steps creates a cheesy and delicious meal!
- Puree some of the tomatoes: Add 14 ounces of diced tomatoes to a food processor and process until smooth.
- Prepare the cream sauce: In a medium skillet over medium heat, add the pureed tomatoes, garlic and heavy cream. Bring the mixture to a boil and stir. Reduce the heat to a low simmer and stir until slightly thickened.
- Cook the pasta: Increase the heat to medium, then add the fresh spinach, basil, Parmesan cheese, oregano, tortellini and remaining tomatoes (including liquid) to the skillet. Stir until the spinach is wilted. Add the vegetable broth and press the tortellini below the liquid (if needed, add a bit more cream or broth.) Cook until the tortellini is warmed through, about 5 to 8 minutes.
- Serve and enjoy: You can sprinkle with additional Parmesan cheese and more basil, if desired.
Recipe Tips
- Make is cheesier: If you love cheese, you can add additional Parmesan cheese to make this creamy tortellini even cheesier.
- Add protein: Serve the creamy tortellini with cooked chicken breast or cooked Italian sausage. for an extra hearty meal.
- Add more vegetables: If you want more veggies, you can add some sliced mushrooms or chopped broccoli during step 3. I recommend sautéing the veggies in a skillet before adding to the tortellini.
- Double the ingredients to feed a crowd. You can easily double the ingredients and cook in a large skillet to serve more.
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To freeze, allow the tortellini to cool completely, then store in a freezer safe container for up to 2 months.
30 Minute Skillet Dinners
- Creamy Tuscan Garlic Chicken
- Italian Chicken and Potatoes
- Cream Cheese Pasta
- Spinach and Ricotta Pasta
- Pasta with Peas and Bacon
Did you make this Creamy Tomato Basil Tortellini? Leave a recipe rating and review below.
Creamy Tomato Basil Tortellini Skillet
Ingredients
- 1 (20 ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups fresh baby spinach
- 1/2 cup fresh basil
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 9 ounces refrigerated cheese tortellini
- 1/2 cup vegetable broth
Instructions
- Puree some of the tomatoes (14 oz) in a food processor until smooth.
- In a medium skillet over medium heat, add pureed tomatoes, garlic and heavy cream. Bring to a boil and stir. Reduce heat to low simmer and stir until slightly thickened.
- Increase heat to medium. Add spinach, basil, Parmesan cheese, oregano, tortellini and remaining tomatoes (including liquid) to the skillet. Stir until spinach is wilted. Add vegetable broth and press the tortellini below the liquid (if needed added a bit more cream or broth). Cook until the tortellini is warmed through, about 5 to 8 minutes.
- Sprinkle with additional Parmesan cheese and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Not sure if I’m allowed to rate twice. I made this again last night. This time I added a thinly sliced, Italian spice rubbed roasted tri-tip (about 11 ounces) to the pasta. Also, I used a spinach/cheese ravioli instead of tortellini because my market didn’t have their usual refrigerated tortellini for some weird reason. So, those are the things I changed from my first time cooking this.
Just as good as the first time. Maybe even better. Doesn’t matter what type of filled pasta chosen or the protein chosen. It’s your sauce that makes the dish. Perfecto.
Plus – for comment readers who read before they cook, as I do – I used a 14.5 ounce can of diced tomatoes instead of 20 ounce because that’s what’s available in store (unless you want to jump to 28 ounces). I found that to be perfect size. The whole thing easily fed a family of three.
Hi, Diana! Yes, you can definitely come back and rate it again. We really appreciate your comments and suggestions. I’m so glad you are easily able to adapt to fit your needs. Thank you so much!
I asked my husband for Italian sausage, the kind you squeeze out, but he came home with Aidell’s chicken sausage which did not suit the meal I intended. So the sausage was sitting in the fridge for a week. I looked through my bookmarked recipes and this seemed a perfect match. It was. Delicious. Thank you for recipe.
I’m so glad to hear this recipe was a great addition to your dinner. Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review!
This has become a family favorite! I double all the ingredients except the basil and use half of the sam’s club/BJ’s pack of tortellini (so 24 oz) to feed my family. I make this often!
Looks delicious! Can I substitute heavy cream with half and half?
Yes, you can substitute the heavy cream with half and half. Enjoy!
If you don’t have a food processor can you substitute a sauce for the tomatoes and mix with heavy cream or no?
Yes, that should work fine. Enjoy!
LOVE THIS RECIPE <3 <3 <3 <3 Everyone who tastes this dish raves about it, even my 2 year old asks for "more mami" 🙂
I’m so glad to hear you love this, Karen! Thanks so much for your feedback!
This recipe was excellent but I did two thirds of it for two of us and that was not enough for either one of us and I am a small eater.
Hi, Patti! Thanks so much for your feedback. I’m so glad you loved it!
Love this recipe!