Description
A creamy, romantic pasta dish featuring tender chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, and cheese tortellini in a rich sauce.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup lower-sodium chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup finely chopped shallot
- 1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
- 2 (8 ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded to 1 inch thickness
- 4 slices beef bacon or turkey bacon, chopped
- 1 (20 ounce) package refrigerated cheese tortellini
- 1/2 cup pre-grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for garnish
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 4 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- Fresh basil leaves, torn
- 3/4 cup drained julienne-cut sundried tomatoes in oil with herbs
Instructions
- Fill a large saucepan with salted water and bring to a boil. Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped beef bacon; cook until rendered and crispy, about 8 minutes. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon to a paper towel-lined plate, reserving 3 tablespoons of drippings in the pan.
- Season chicken with pepper and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cook in the skillet with bacon drippings over medium-high heat until browned and cooked through (165°F), about 5-6 minutes per side. Remove chicken and let rest for 10 minutes before chopping into bite-size pieces.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add sun-dried tomatoes and shallot; cook until softened, about 2 minutes. Stir in garlic, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper, and remaining salt; cook 30 seconds. Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute.
- Deglaze the pan with chicken broth, scraping up browned bits. Stir in heavy cream and simmer until slightly thickened, 3-5 minutes.
- Boil tortellini until they float, about 3-5 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain.
- Add tortellini, chopped chicken, crispy beef bacon, and Parmesan cheese to the sauce. Toss to coat, adding reserved pasta water if needed to adjust consistency. Garnish with basil and extra Parmesan.
Notes
This recipe traditionally uses pork bacon, but I’ve substituted beef bacon for equally delicious results.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Resting Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 45 min
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/3 cups
- Calories: 744
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 1380mg
- Fat: 37g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: -
- Trans Fat: -
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 49g
- Cholesterol: 180mg
Keywords: Marry Me Chicken Tortellini, creamy pasta dinner, romantic date night meal, easy chicken pasta