Skillet spinach tortellini with sun dried tomatoes is a one pot dinner that you’re going to love on busy nights. With a creamy lemon sauce, fresh spinach, and frozen tortellini, this dinner is healthy, easy, and delicious.
You’re going to love this creamy tomato spinach tortellini. With the sundried tomatoes in a creamy tortellini sauce, it’s going to feel like a restaurant quality meal, conveniently made at home. Add a side of salad and breadsticks and watch everyone ask for seconds on the spinach tortellini.
About This One Pot Spinach Tortellini
This easy tortellini recipe was inspired by the Tortellini Bake Recipe on Our Best Bites. But I wanted something much faster for those lazy days when I needed a quick dinner that would please everyone.
I love this dish and think that it’s perfect for a nice summer meal. I even think that it’d be good without the bacon if you wanted to omit that.
Can I Use Dried Tortellini?
Yes, you could. If you choose to use dried tortellini you may wish to cook it on the side until it’s al dente and then add it into this dish, following along as directed. This should keep the creamy sauce from cooking too long and remove some risk of the milk scalding or curdling. Just keep in mind that this will make dinner take longer.
Can I Use Frozen Spinach?
Yes. If you want to use frozen spinach, then I recommend thawing it out in warm water and then squeezing out the excess water so that you don’t accidentally water down the dish.
Skillet Spinach Tortellini with Sun Dried Tomatoes Ingredients
-2 TBSP bacon grease {or something healthier like olive oil, if you’d prefer!}
-3 cloves garlic, minced
-1/2 cup diced onion
-1 can of chicken broth {14.5 oz}
-1 cup milk, plus 2 TBSP milk, divided
-1 package frozen spinach or cheese tortellini {mine was 19 oz}
-2-3 cups fresh spinach, chopped {I used 2, but think it’d be great with 3}
-1/4 cup sun dried tomatoes {mine came from a jar packed in garlic olive oil}
-1 TBSP lemon juice
-2 tsp cornstarch
-1/4 cup Parmesan cheese {for topping}
-3-4 slices cooked and crumbled bacon
-salt & pepper, to taste
How to Make Skillet Spinach Tortellini with Sun Dried Tomatoes
Heat the bacon grease over medium heat in a large skillet. Once hot, add in the garlic and the onions. Stir and cook for about 2-3 minutes. Add in the chicken broth and add in 1 cup of milk. Heat the mixture until it’s just barely boiling.
Add in the frozen tortellini. Give it a quick stir and then place the lid on the skillet. Set the timer to 10 minutes. The pasta will heat and eventually come to a boil.
Meanwhile, give the spinach a few quick chops and then cut the sun dried tomatoes into smaller pieces. I just did both very quickly- it took about a minute total.
Assemble the remaining ingredients. Combine 2 TBSP milk and 2 teaspoons of cornstarch, and stir until smooth.
Once the timer goes off, remove the lid but keep the heat on medium. Add in the milk-cornstarch mixture, stirring to combine. Add in all of the remaining ingredients except for the Parmesan cheese.
The lemon juice might sound odd to you but it adds a nice pop of flavor that I really loved. Don’t leave it out!
Give the pasta a few stirs. After about a minute or two the spinach will be wilted and the sauce will thicken up.
Serve with Parmesan cheese on top.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp bacon grease or olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 1 14.5oz can chicken broth
- 1 cup 2 tbsp milk divided
- 1 pkg frozen spinach or cheese tortellini
- 2-3 cups fresh spinach chopped
- 1/4 cup sun dried tomatoes
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese {for topping}
- 3-4 slices cooked and crumbled bacon
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat bacon grease over medium heat in a large skillet. Once hot, add in garlic and onions, stirring and cooking 2-3 minutes. Add in chicken broth and 1 cup milk. Heat mixture until just barely boiling.
- Add in frozen tortellini. Give it a quick stir and place the lid on the skillet. Set timer to 10 minutes. Pasta will heat and eventually come to a boil.
- Meanwhile, give the spinach a few quick chops and cut the sun dried tomatoes into smaller pieces.
- Assemble remaining ingredients. Combine 2 TBSP milk and 2 teaspoons of cornstarch, stirring until smooth.
- Once timer goes off, remove the lid but keep the heat on medium. Add in milk-cornstarch mixture, stirring to combine. Add in all remaining ingredients except for Parmesan cheese.
- The lemon juice might sound odd to you but it adds a nice pop of flavor that I really loved. Don't leave it out!
- Give pasta a few stirs. After about a minute or two the spinach will be wilted and the sauce will thicken up.
- Serve with Parmesan cheese on top. ENJOY!
How Can I Make This Tortellini Recipe Vegetarian Friendly?
You can make it vegetarian friendly by simply omitting the bacon and using olive oil instead of bacon grease.
Should I Use Jarred Sun Dried Tomatoes or The Ones in Pouches?
You can use either! Personally, I used the ones in the jars, but feel free to use whichever ones you have on hand or that you can find. I always find that the wet jarred ones are easier to locate in the store.
If You Love Tortellini, You’ll Love These Italian Inspired Recipes!
- Crockpot Sausage Tortellini Soup
- Cheesy Italian Sausage Calzones
- Cheesy Baked Ravioli Lasagna
- Zesty Italian Chicken
- Pasta Caprese
- Creamy Baked Tortellini
- Creamy Lemon Pasta with Chicken
- Grilled Italian Chicken Pasta
- Skinny Alfredo Pasta
- Easy Tomato Basil Soup
- Creamy Chicken Bacon Tomato Pasta
- Baked Chicken Parmesan
- Slow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches
- Chicken Alfredo Soup
- Zuppa Toscana Italian Potato Sausage Soup
Cranberry Morning says
Looks great! I'm going with Tinkyada gluten-free pasta, but other than that, will keep this recipe as is. I'm always looking for new ideas for dinner.
Aimee says
oh my, this looks seriously divine! i love sundried tomatoes, i love pasta, so yum yum!
Elizabeth Waterson says
The lemon sounds lovely! Can't wait to try 🙂
Sarah says
This looks good!! This might be a stupid question… but where in the grocery store do I find sun-dried tomatoes? In the canned tomato aisle? I don't think I've ever bought them before…
Jessica Williams- UDD, Butter with a Side of Bread says
I found the jar of sun dried tomatoes with the condiments- right beside the vinegars, jarred roasted red peppers, capers and the like. I want to say they're on the same aisle as salad dressing. 🙂
Sarah says
Thanks!!
fromcalculustocupcakes says
This sounds wonderful. Thanks for sharing on Foodie Friends Friday.
themondaybox.com says
This looks delicious.Quick enough for week nights and special enough for company! Sounds like a winner to me. 🙂
Lacey says
I really enjoy this recipe, but I would like a printable version – is there a way to enable a one-page print version?