Marry Me Tortellini Pasta

Marry me tortellini prepared in pan with garnish.

5 from 1 vote

Marry Me Tortellini Pasta is the creamy pasta recipe you didn’t know you needed. This easy dinner features five cheese tortellini tossed in a garlic-scented tomato cream sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, fresh spinach, and basil. In under 30 minutes, you’ll have a family-friendly dish perfect for busy weeknights or casual entertaining.

Prep Time10

Cook Time15

Total Time25

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Italian

Servings:

Calories: 618kcal

Author: Jami Powell

Equipment

Large pot for boiling tortellini
Deep skillet or sauté pan
Wooden spoon or spatula
Colander for draining pasta

Ingredients

1 ½ pounds five cheese tortellini fresh or refrigerated
2 tablespoons butter
3-4 garlic cloves minced
½ cup sundried tomatoes in oil chopped
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes adjust to taste
1 ¼ cups heavy cream
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese plus extra for topping
2 cups fresh baby spinach
¼ cup fresh basil torn or thinly sliced
salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the tortellini according to the package instructions, then drain and set aside. Reserve about ½ cup pasta water.
In a large skillet over medium heat, add butter. Sauté the garlic for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Stir in the chopped sundried tomatoes and cook for 1–2 minutes to add flavor.
Add the Italian seasoning and crushed red pepper. Stir in tomato paste and let it cook for 1 minute. Pour in the heavy cream and bring to a low simmer, stirring often.
Stir in the Parmesan and let it melt into the sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Fold in the fresh spinach and let it wilt.
Add the cooked tortellini and toss gently to coat in the sauce. Add pasta water a splash at a time if the sauce is too thick. Finish with fresh basil and an extra sprinkle of Parmesan.

Video

Notes

Storage Store leftover marry me tortellini in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Freeze This dish is not ideal for freezing due to the dairy.

Reheat: Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave with a splash of cream or water.

Substitutions

Tortellini: Use frozen tortellini (just boil slightly longer) or swap for ravioli.
Heavy Cream: Substitute with half-and-half or a dairy-free alternative, though it will be less rich.
Spinach: Swap with kale, arugula, or skip if you're out of greens.

Adjustments Cooking time may need to be adjusted based on the geography of the area (high vs. low elevation), cookware (stoneware vs traditional bakeware), and outdoor temperature if grilling.

Nutrition information is only an estimate

Nutrition