Make this creamy chicken tortellini skillet in one pan for a fast dinner with easy cleanup and restaurant-quality flavor.
If you’re looking for a creamy, flavorful, one-pan dinner that’s both comforting and quick, this Chicken Tortellini Skillet Dinner checks every box. It’s loaded with juicy pan-seared chicken, tender cheese tortellini, and a rich, tomato-cream sauce—all made in just 20 minutes.
Chicken has always been a winner for dinner in my family. Recently, my boys have discovered cheesy tortellini and love it! Tyler has even learned how to cook it all on his own. It makes an easy meal as-is, but adding a few more ingredients brings this tortellini dish to another level. Now, this feels like a full meal.
I love easy recipes for a perfect weeknight dinner and this delicious meal can be made in less than 30 minutes. The part is that it’s made with only two pans for easy cleanup. All of the ingredients can be found at our local grocery store. I like to purchase the large chicken breasts and bring them home, filet them, and store them in glass jars in the freezer. Then, when we want to make a meal, we take a jar out a couple of days ahead of time to let the chicken thaw in the refrigerator. This is the most cost-efficient way to get boneless skinless chicken breast here, and we can control how much is thawed at one time.
For the tortellini, I purchase creamy cheese tortellini. To get two cups, you’ll need an 8 oz bag. If you can’t find that size, go bigger and make sure to seal the remaining tortellini and keep it in the freezer to use later.
If you’re feeling adventurous and have more time, try making homemade pasta sauce to add to this recipe.
Why You’ll Love This Chicken Tortellini
- One-pan cleanup: Less mess, more flavor.
- Ready in 30 minutes: Perfect for busy weeknights.
- Easy to customize: Add spinach, bacon, or lighten it up!
- Romantic enough for date night—but hearty enough for the whole family.
Substitutions & Variations
- Vegetarian Option: Omit chicken and add sautéed mushrooms or roasted chickpeas.
- Gluten-Free: Use GF tortellini and a gluten-free thickener if needed.
- Add-ins: Crumbled bacon, chopped artichokes, or lemon zest for brightness.
Serving Suggestions
Pair this dish with a fresh Caesar salad or garlic bread for a full meal. It’s rich and filling on its own, but works beautifully with light sides.
Chicken Tortellini Skillet FAQ
Yes, but decrease simmer time slightly. Add a bit of broth to prevent drying.
Let it simmer uncovered for a few extra minutes, or stir in a tablespoon of grated cheese.
Absolutely! This is a great make-ahead meal. Just reheat gently and stir in a little broth or cream before serving.
Tips for a Delicious Meal
- Don’t skip searing the chicken—it’s key for flavor.
- Taste and adjust seasoning at the end.
- For a pop of color and freshness, garnish you chicken tortellini pasta with sauce with fresh basil or parsley.
Chicken Tortellini Skillet Step by Step
Ingredients
- 2 cups cheese tortellini, frozen
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb chicken breast, boneless, skinless, cut into cubes
- 1 cup spaghetti sauce
- 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
Preparation
Prepare the tortellini according to the package directions.
Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat then add the chicken and cook for about 10 minutes, until cooked through and golden brown.
Add the cooked, drained tortellini to the skillet.
Stir the spaghetti sauce into the chicken and tortellini.
Reduce the heat to low and sprinkle with the mozzarella cheese.
Cover and cook for 3-5 minutes, until the cheese melts.
Garnish with 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese if desired.
Chicken Tortellini Skillet Leftovers
Storage: Remaining chicken tortellini can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheating: The best way to reheat chicken tortellini is in a saucepan over medium heat. If there isn’t enough of its own sauce, you can add a bit more pasta sauce or water to thin it out.
Freezing: This pasta recipe, as with most pasta recipes, will freeze well. Store it in a freezer container and freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating in a saucepan. If you do this, you’ll need extra sauce as the pasta will absorb some of it while freezing.
Recipe
Originally Published On: July 24, 2023
Last Updated On: August 6, 2025
Chicken Tortellini Skillet
Ingredients
- 2 cups cheese tortellini (frozen)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb chicken breast (boneless, skinless, cut into cubes)
- 1 cup spaghetti sauce
- 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese (shredded)
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- Prepare the tortellini according to the package directions
- Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat then add the chicken and cook for about 10 minutes, until cooked through and golden brown
- Add the cooked, drained tortellini to the skillet
- Stir the spaghetti sauce into the chicken and tortellini
- Reduce the heat to low and sprinkle with the mozzarella cheese
- Cover and cook for 3-5 minutes, until the cheese melts
- Garnish with 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese if desired
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.
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Chicken Pasta Recipes
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Looks yummy. I’m not the type to do much cooking, but I might give it a try with this. Thanks
I haven’t had tortellini in such a long time. I didn’t know you could get a frozen one. The recipe sounds great, not only does it sound like it’s full of flavour but the addition of the other items to the tortellini make it more filling and adds so much more yummy flavour. I need to see if I can make it at home as we’d all love this dish.
This both looks and sounds amazing, love the addition of the chicken. Looks like a dish my family would love, I will try this out.
I can tell from this blog post that you have a great love for chicken and enjoy finding easy and delicious recipes for your family. It’s wonderful that your boys have discovered and fallen in love with cheesy tortellini. By adding a few more ingredients, you have elevated this tortellini dish to another level, making it feel like a full meal.
Ooohhhh…these must be nice! Chicken and pasta sauce in one sentence sounds a tongue-biting plan! I must try out this recipe.
This is a taste of home that everyone wants. Dinner on the table in no time with this easy and delish recipe!
It is nice to have some hearty meal ideas like this – easy to make, and very filling – great for those busy weeknights.
Love Tortellini and this is a simple, easy dish that everyone would love, thanks a lot for sharing this and I would love to make this some day at home!
I completely agree with you! Chicken has always been a staple in my family, but cheesy tortellini is a game-changer. It’s great to hear that your boys enjoy it so much and that Tyler has even learned how to cook it on his own. Adding a few more ingredients to the dish can bring it to another level, and it’s perfect for a delicious and easy weeknight dinner. I appreciate your tips on purchasing and storing chicken breasts; it’s always helpful to know how to save some money and make meal prep easier. Thanks for sharing!
What a great recipe! Another new recipe to my taste buds and it looks so good and easy to prepare. Perfect for dinner, yum! Thanks for sharing this recipe as I haven’t tried like this before.
Wow! I would really love to try this awesome recipe it look so good!
Oh I would love to try this! We are so bored with food lately and I know this is something my kids would eat.
The Chicken Tortellini Skillet Dinner with Pasta Sauce was an absolute delight! The flavors were perfectly balanced, and the dish was incredibly easy to prepare. A definite winner for a quick and delicious weeknight meal. Can’t wait to try more of your recipes!
The food looks so delicious, it makes me hungry. I would love to try it too
I absolutely loved this Chicken Tortellini Skillet Dinner with Pasta Sauce recipe! It was not only delicious but also incredibly quick and easy to make. The tender tortellini paired perfectly with the pan-fried chicken, and the pasta sauce added a rich and flavorful touch. The best part was that it required minimal cleanup, thanks to using only two pans. This recipe is definitely going into my regular rotation for quick and tasty meals! 🍝🍗😋
I stopped eating pasta for my health but this look so yummy. Love your recipes and instructions posts. They are easy to follow and helpful. Thank you for sharing!