Description
This Pesto Tortellini recipe is a quick and delicious Italian-inspired dish featuring cheese tortellini tossed with fresh baby spinach and flavorful basil pesto, finished with freshly grated parmesan cheese. Perfect for a comforting and easy meal ready in just 13 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Vegetables
- 20 ounces refrigerated cheese tortellini
- 4 ounces baby spinach
Sauce and Seasoning
- ¾ cup basil pesto
- salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
- 1 ounce parmesan cheese, freshly grated
Instructions
- Boil Pasta: In a large stock pot, bring salted water to a rolling boil. Add the refrigerated cheese tortellini and cook according to package directions until al dente, typically about 7 to 8 minutes.
- Add Spinach: During the last 30 seconds of cooking, stir in the baby spinach to the boiling water with the pasta until it is wilted and evenly incorporated.
- Drain Pasta and Spinach: Remove the pot from heat, then strain the tortellini and spinach into a colander to drain the water.
- Toss with Pesto: Return the drained pasta and spinach to the pot. Add the basil pesto and toss well until all the tortellini is evenly coated with the sauce.
- Season: Taste the pasta and add salt and pepper as needed, keeping in mind that pesto may already contain salt.
- Serve: Portion the pesto tortellini into serving bowls, sprinkle freshly grated parmesan cheese on top, and serve warm for best flavor.
Notes
- Pasta variations: You can substitute tortellini with any other flavor of refrigerated, frozen, or dried tortellini or ravioli for versatility.
- Pesto quantity: ¾ cup of pesto typically weighs about 6 to 7 ounces, so adjust accordingly if making from scratch.
- Cheese tip: Use freshly grated parmesan cheese as pre-grated options often have anti-clumping agents that affect texture and melting quality.
- Storage: Leftovers keep well for 3 or more days in a sealed container in the refrigerator and reheat nicely. Additionally, this dish can be enjoyed cold if preferred.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
