Chicken Tortellini features cheese-filled tortellini, chicken, and broccoli, all tossed in a cheesy sauce and baked until bubbly. This casserole is comforting and flavorful.
Chicken Tortellini can be made ahead and is perfect for sharing with family or friends. Serve it with a simple Fruit Salad and Dinner Rolls.
The Best Chicken Tortellini
There’s not much better comfort food than cheese and pasta (or mashed potatoes!).
This dish is quick and easy, using rotisserie chicken—already cooked, tender, and flavorful—and frozen tortellini that doesn’t need thawing or pre-baking.
Plus, you can skip cooking the broccoli separately; just chop it small enough, and it will bake perfectly. I love shortcuts that work, and this casserole turns out great every time!
Ingredients
- Broccoli: Chop into small pieces so it cooks well without pre-cooking.
- Rotisserie Chicken: Use rotisserie or leftover grilled chicken.
- Frozen Cheese-Filled Tortellini: Use frozen tortellini directly from the package; no thawing needed.
- Unsalted Butter: Use unsalted to control the saltiness.
- Flour: Whisk constantly when adding liquid to prevent lumps.
- Milk: Any fat percentage works; I like 1% for balance.
- Chicken Broth: Use low-sodium broth to keep salt levels down.
- Sharp Cheddar Cheese: Grate your own cheese for better melting and taste.
- Parmesan Cheese: Save some for the top to create a tasty crust.
- Sour Cream: Adds creaminess and tang to the sauce.
- Seasonings: Adjust amounts to fit your preference.
- Panko Breadcrumbs: Toast in butter until golden for the best flavor and crunch.
How To Make Chicken Tortellini
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Mix: In a baking dish, combine broccoli, rotisserie chicken, and frozen tortellini.
- Make Sauce: Melt butter, whisk in flour, add milk and broth. Stir in cheeses and seasonings.
- Combine: Pour sauce over the tortellini mixture and stir. Top with Parmesan.
- Bake: Cover with foil and bake. Add panko mixed with melted butter, then bake.
Variations
- Chicken Tortellini with pesto: This is my favorite Pesto Tortellini recipe.
- Switch up veggies: Instead of broccoli, try frozen peas or chopped fresh baby spinach.
- Lighter sauce: Use fat-free sour cream and 1% milk for a cheese sauce with less fat.
- Chicken Tortellini marinara: Try this recipe and swap out the sausage for chopped rotisserie chicken.
- Salad: Check out this Greek Pasta Salad and add some chopped rotisserie chicken.
- Cheesy Chicken Tortellini soup: Here’s my favorite Chicken Tortellini Soup
Storage
Leftovers?
Preparing Ahead: Assemble the casserole (save the panko topping) and refrigerate for up to 2 days. When ready, let it sit at room temp while preheating to 375°F. Add panko, cover with foil, and bake for 45-50 minutes until bubbly.
Reheating: Cover leftovers with foil and bake at 375°F for 30 minutes, or microwave individual servings.
Freezing: Assemble up to the panko step, cool, then wrap tightly. Freeze for up to 3 months.
What To Serve With Chicken Tortellini
- A big garden salad (try this Olive Garden Salad or Italian Salad) goes great with this.
- Dinner rolls, garlic bread, or crusty bread are great for dipping in the creamy sauce.
- If you’d like more veggies, these Roasted Vegetables make a good side.
Chicken Tortellini Quick Tips
- Use only 1 pound (16 ounces) of tortellini; more will leave the sauce insufficient to coat everything.
- I recommend frozen tortellini, as fresh tends to absorb too much liquid.
- Freshly grated cheese melts better into the cream sauce. Pre-shredded cheese doesn’t melt as well and lacks freshness.
More Comfort Food Favorites
- Quinoa Enchilada Bake
- One Skillet Cheesy Taco Pasta
- Chicken Divan
- Cheese Stuffed Meatballs
- One Skillet Chicken Enchilada Pasta
Chicken Tortellini
Chicken Tortellini combines delicious cheese-filled tortellini pasta, tender bites of chicken, and fresh broccoli, tossed in a cheesy sauce and baked until hot and bubbly. This easy casserole is comforting, flavorful, and satisfying.
Equipment
- Baking pan 9 x 13-inch
Ingredients
- 2 cups broccoli chopped into very small pieces
- 2 cups cooked chicken like rotisserie, chopped into small pieces
- 1 pound cheese-filled tortellini 16 ounces, frozen, not fresh or dried
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup milk 1%, 2% or whole; I use 1%
- 1 cup chicken stock or chicken broth
- 1 cup freshly shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese divided
- 1/2 cup sour cream I use fat-free
- 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon powder
- 1-1/2 teaspoons Dijon-style mustard
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
- 1 teaspoon roasted garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon granulated onion
- Salt and pepper
Topping
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs next to breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Cut the broccoli into small pieces (no need to cook beforehand if you chop it small). Chop the chicken into small pieces. Add both to the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish. Add the frozen (not thawed and not cooked) tortellini on top. Toss everything to combine.
- Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a small pot over medium heat. Once melted, gradually add in flour, while whisking constantly, until a thick paste forms. Whisk for 1 minute to cook out the raw flour taste, then gradually add in 1/3 cup of the milk while whisking constantly. Gradually add 1/3 cup chicken stock while continuing to whisk. Add in another 1/3 cup milk, another 1/3 cup stock, remaining 1/3 cup milk, and remaining 1/3 cup stock. Whisk after each addition until completely smooth and sauce is thickened.
- Add sharp Cheddar and 1/2 cup Parmesan and whisk until completely smooth. Add sour cream and whisk again until smooth. Stir in the chicken bouillon powder, Dijon mustard, dried parsley, garlic powder, granulated onion, and salt and pepper to taste. (I add 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; add to taste preference—the Parmesan cheese adds a good amount of saltiness.)
- Pour the sauce over everything in the casserole dish and toss ingredients to coat evenly. Make sure the tortellini is covered with the sauce. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan over the casserole. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a saucepan over medium-high heat, melt the 2 tablespoons butter for the topping. Add the panko and toast, stirring constantly, until panko is light brown and toasted. After casserole has baked for 30 minutes, remove and sprinkle the topping evenly over the cheese. Bake, uncovered, for another 8–10 minutes or until warm and bubbly. Remove and serve hot.
Recipe Notes
Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or oven until warmed through. If the sauce thickens, stir in a splash of milk before reheating.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 739kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 48g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 177mg | Sodium: 1398mg | Potassium: 247mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 986IU | Vitamin C: 27mg | Calcium: 543mg | Iron: 3mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Delicious!
This recipe is definitely a keeper!
SO happy to hear this! 🙂
Can u use fridgerated tortellini???
I haven’t tested this recipe with refrigerated tortellini, sorry!
I made it tonight with refrigerator tortellini and it was perfect. I followed the recipe exactly and it tasted the same as when I’ve used frozen.
Amazing, it has just become a regular in our home
I am so happy to hear this! Thanks Jaynie! 🙂
10/10!! I accidentally put all the Parmesan into the sauce but it still turned out great thankfully. Fed 4 people and the pan was totally empty by the end.
Made this a few nights ago and it was delicious! Like an extra special mac and cheese.
I found this recipe when I was looking for something different for my husband who has pretty severe GERD. I was tired I grilled chicken and fish. This was just what we needed! It had so much flavor and so easy! Definitely going into our rotation ❤️
excellent recipe except i would not get rotisserie already cooked chicken. i cooked in my air fryer b4 baking drying it out too much. i imagine small cut up bits of uncooked chicken would be better also the sauce was cooked out with 40min baking. i would make a little more sauce and add it last 10 minutes.
I made this tonight and the flavors were on point but my tortellini was too hard. Any suggestions?
Did you use frozen tortellini? Or fresh?
How would you recommend adapting this recipe using fresh tortellini instead of frozen?
Thanks! 🙂
I have made it a few times with frozen. Tonight I only had fresh so I tried it. I didn’t change a thing and it turned out perfectly. I thought it might be mushy but it wasn’t at all.
I am so happy to hear this! Thanks Kay! 🙂
I made this delicious meal last night. All my family and I can say is “yummy!” My 3 year olds review: “This is the best supper I have ever had here (home)!”
I definitely recommend this one. Thank you!!
So happy to hear this was a hit 🙂 Thanks so much for your kind comment and reviews Jenny!
Going to give this a try tonight! Has anyone tried using pesto in as well?
I have a similar meal with pesto in it 🙂 https://www.chelseasmessyapron.com/pesto-chicken-tortellini/