Marry Me Chicken Tortellini

Marry Me Chicken Tortellini combines tender chicken, cheesy tortellini, sun-dried tomatoes, and a creamy Parmesan sauce in one cozy skillet meal. I like this version when I want something comforting but don’t want to make a separate sauce and pasta dish.

The tortellini makes the meal feel a little different from regular chicken pasta. Since the pasta is already filled with cheese, it adds another layer of richness while soaking up the creamy sauce around it.

I usually brown the chicken before adding the sauce. Those golden pieces give the dish a much better flavor, and the browned bits left in the skillet become part of the sauce.

Then everything comes together with garlic, cream, Parmesan, and sun-dried tomatoes. It is the kind of dinner that looks impressive on the table but is actually pretty straightforward to make.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

This recipe gives you a complete meal in one skillet. You have protein from the chicken, cheesy tortellini for the pasta, and a creamy sauce that brings everything together.

The sun-dried tomatoes add sweet and tangy flavor that keeps the cream sauce from tasting too heavy. Parmesan adds a salty, nutty taste, while garlic gives the sauce a savory base.

Cheese tortellini is also a great shortcut because you don’t have to prepare a complicated pasta dish from scratch. Fresh or refrigerated tortellini works especially well because it cooks quickly.

You can keep the dish mild or add red pepper flakes if you like a little heat.

Ingredients for Marry Me Chicken Tortellini

For the Chicken

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts: Two chicken breasts give you plenty of bite-sized pieces without making the dish overly heavy. Cut them into small, even pieces so they cook quickly and are easy to eat with the tortellini.
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning: This adds a simple mix of dried herbs to the chicken and gives it a savory flavor that works naturally with the Parmesan and tomato sauce.
1/2 teaspoon salt: Salt seasons the chicken and brings out its natural flavor. You don’t need too much because the Parmesan and broth will add more seasoning later.
1/4 teaspoon black pepper: Black pepper adds mild warmth and helps balance the rich creamy sauce.
1 tablespoon olive oil: Olive oil helps brown the chicken and creates flavorful browned bits in the skillet. Those bits will add extra flavor to the sauce.

For the Creamy Sauce

2 cloves garlic, minced: Garlic provides the savory foundation of the sauce. Cooking it briefly in the same skillet after the chicken lets it pick up the flavors left behind in the pan.
1/2 cup chicken broth: Chicken broth adds savory flavor and gives the sauce enough liquid to come together. It also helps loosen the browned pieces from the bottom of the skillet.
1/2 cup heavy cream: Heavy cream gives the sauce its smooth, rich texture and helps coat the tortellini without making the sauce watery.
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese: Parmesan adds salty, nutty flavor and helps thicken the sauce as it melts. Freshly grated Parmesan usually blends into the sauce most smoothly.
1/3 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes: These provide concentrated tomato flavor along with a little sweetness and tang. Chop them into smaller pieces so their flavor spreads through the sauce.
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning: This adds another layer of herb flavor to the sauce and connects it with the seasoning on the chicken.
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes: These are optional and add a gentle spicy kick. Leave them out if you prefer a mild sauce.

For the Tortellini

9 ounces refrigerated cheese tortellini: Cheese tortellini makes the dish hearty and adds another creamy, cheesy element. Refrigerated tortellini cooks quickly and works well with the sauce because its filled center adds flavor to every bite.
1/4 cup reserved tortellini cooking water: The starchy cooking water can loosen the sauce if it becomes too thick. You may not need all of it, but keeping a little nearby gives you more control over the final consistency.

For Finishing

2 tablespoons fresh basil: Fresh basil adds a bright herbal flavor that cuts through the richness of the sauce. It is optional but makes the finished dish taste fresher.

How to Make Marry Me Chicken Tortellini

Prepare the chicken: Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels and cut them into small, even bite-sized pieces. Season the chicken with salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning, making sure each piece gets a light coating of seasoning.
Cook the tortellini: Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the tortellini according to the package directions. Fresh tortellini usually cooks quickly, so keep an eye on it and avoid overcooking it. Before draining, reserve about 1/4 cup of the cooking water, then drain the tortellini and set it aside.
Brown the chicken: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken in a single layer and cook for about 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pieces are golden on the outside and cooked through. If the skillet is crowded, cook the chicken in batches so it has enough room to brown properly. Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate.
Cook the garlic: Reduce the skillet heat to medium and add the minced garlic. Stir for about 30 seconds, allowing it to become fragrant without letting it turn dark. The garlic will pick up some of the flavorful bits left from the chicken.
Add the chicken broth: Pour the chicken broth into the skillet and scrape the bottom with a wooden spoon or spatula. Work the browned pieces into the broth because they add a lot of flavor to the finished sauce. Let the broth simmer for about 1 to 2 minutes.
Make the creamy sauce: Add the heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes if using. Stir everything together and let the sauce gently simmer for about 3 to 5 minutes. The Parmesan should melt and the sauce should become slightly thicker.
Return the chicken: Add the cooked chicken back to the skillet and stir it into the creamy sauce. Let it simmer for another 1 to 2 minutes so the chicken gets coated with the sauce and warms through.
Add the tortellini: Gently add the cooked tortellini to the skillet and toss it with the chicken and sauce. Stir carefully because tortellini can tear if handled too roughly. Continue cooking for about 1 to 2 minutes so the pasta can absorb some of the sauce.
Adjust the sauce: If the sauce is too thick, add the reserved tortellini cooking water one tablespoon at a time while gently stirring. The starch in the water helps loosen the sauce while keeping it creamy and helps the sauce cling to the tortellini.
Taste and season: Taste the finished dish and add a little more salt, pepper, or red pepper flakes if needed. Since Parmesan and chicken broth can already be salty, add additional salt gradually.
Finish with basil: Turn off the heat and sprinkle fresh basil over the top. Let the tortellini sit for about a minute before serving so the sauce can settle and coat the pasta nicely.
Serve warm: Spoon the chicken tortellini into bowls and add a little extra Parmesan or basil if you like. Make sure each serving gets plenty of chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, and creamy sauce.

What to Serve Marry Me Chicken Tortellini With

This dish is already rich and filling, so I usually keep the side dishes simple. A crisp green salad with a light dressing gives you something fresh to balance the creamy tortellini.

Roasted broccoli, asparagus, or green beans are also good choices. The vegetables add color and a little freshness without competing with the creamy Parmesan sauce.

If you want bread on the table, go with a simple crusty loaf or garlic bread. The extra sauce makes it almost impossible not to reach for a piece of bread to clean out the bowl.

How to Store and Reheat Marry Me Chicken Tortellini

Store leftover Marry Me Chicken Tortellini in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days. Let it cool before refrigerating, and keep the pasta covered with as much sauce as possible so it doesn’t dry out.

For the best results, reheat it gently in a skillet over low to medium heat. Add a small splash of chicken broth, milk, or cream and stir carefully as it warms. This helps loosen the sauce because the tortellini will absorb some of it while sitting in the refrigerator.

You can also microwave individual portions in short intervals, stirring carefully between each one. Avoid overheating the tortellini because the pasta can become soft and the creamy sauce can separate.

If the sauce looks thick after refrigeration, a little broth or cream will bring back the smooth, creamy texture.