Description
A rich and creamy Garlic Parmesan Tortellini recipe featuring tender tortellini pasta tossed in a luscious homemade garlic Parmesan sauce. Perfect for a comforting and flavorful meal ready in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 – 20 oz package Fresh Tortellini or 2 – 9 oz packages
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup nonfat milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan Cheese
Instructions
- Cook Tortellini: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the fresh tortellini according to package directions until tender. Drain and set aside.
- Melt Butter and Sauté Garlic: In a sauté pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, stirring frequently to avoid burning and to release the garlic’s aroma.
- Create Roux: Add the all-purpose flour to the melted butter and garlic mixture. Cook, stirring constantly, for about 2 minutes until the mixture turns golden and toasts slightly, which helps remove the raw flour taste.
- Add Milk and Cream: Whisk in the nonfat milk and heavy cream gradually, continuing to stir the mixture to combine smoothly. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the sauce starts to thicken and coats the back of a spoon.
- Incorporate Parmesan Cheese: Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Keep stirring until the cheese has completely melted into the sauce. Adjust consistency by adding more milk or cheese if needed.
- Season the Sauce: Taste the sauce and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to your preference.
- Toss Tortellini: Add the drained tortellini to the sauce and gently toss until each piece is evenly coated with the creamy garlic Parmesan sauce.
- Serve and Garnish: Divide the coated tortellini into serving bowls. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley for a pop of color and freshness. Serve immediately while hot.
Notes
- If the sauce isn’t thick enough, stir in a couple ounces of cream cheese into the warm sauce until melted for extra creaminess.
- Adding a couple tablespoons of reserved pasta cooking water can help thicken the sauce due to the starch content. Simmer gently after adding.
- To thicken the sauce further, whisk 1 teaspoon of cornstarch with 2 teaspoons of water, add to the sauce, and simmer until desired thickness is achieved.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approximately 1 cup cooked pasta with sauce)
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 340 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg
