This Creamy Tomato and Spinach Tortellini pasta recipe is made in less than 30 minutes and perfect for a quick and easy weeknight meal. The recipe includes cheese tortellini in a creamy homemade pink sauce with spinach, basil, and fresh parmesan cheese.
The only way dinner happens most nights is by taking advantage of my stock-pile of tried and true 30 minute meals. I rely on meals I can make really fast, with ingredients I have on hand, and something that my kids will eat without complaining. Creamy Tomato Spinach Tortellini fits the bill and is one of our family favorites!
How to make Creamy Tomato Spinach Tortellini:
Start by cooking the tortellini.
I prefer the refrigerated brand of tortellini best, because it’s the freshest. I typically buy the butoni brand. Cook the tortellini according to package instructions, in a pot of boiling water until tender. You will notice they will float to the top of the pot as they cook.
Feel free to use any kind of filled tortellini in this recipe, like chicken or cheese.
Then, make the a simple sauce in your sauce pan. Melt butter and add some flour. Add garlic and onion powder for flavor, and stir in milk and cream. Cook until the sauce simmer and thickens slightly.
Add diced or fresh tomatoes, spinach, basil and oregano. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasonings if it needs it. more flavor.
Add the parmesan cheese and cooked tortellini. Fresh shredded parmesan cheese will taste better and melt smoother than the pre-shredded packaged parmesan, but either will work. Give the pasta a gently toss to coat everything in the sauce.
Serve warm and enjoy!
MORE EASY 30-MINUTE MEALS:
- Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
- Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Wraps
- Italian Grilled Cheese Sandwich
- Korean Ground Beef Bowls
- Creamy Chicken and Asparagus Pasta
- One Pan Creamy Lemon Chicken Tortellini
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Recipe
Creamy Tomato and Spinach Tortellini
Ingredients
- 20 ounces refrigerator cheese tortellini s
- 2 Tablespoons butter , salted or unsalted
- 3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3 cloves garlic , minced
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 15 ounce can petite diced tomatoes*
- 1 1/2 cups baby spinach leaves , chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves , chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese , plus more for serving
- crushed red pepper flakes , for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Cook tortellini according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- In a large saucepan over medium heat, add butter and cook until melted. Whisk in flour. Add garlic and and onion powder and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds.
- Slowly pour in milk and cream, whisking as you pour and stirring until smooth.
- Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture begins to simmer.
- Add diced tomatoes, spinach, basil and oregano. Taste and season with salt and pepper or add more seasonings if desired.
- Add parmesan cheese and stir until melted.
- Remove from heat. Stir in cooked tortellini.
- Serve warm with extra parmesan sprinkled on top, and crushed red pepper, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
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Have you tried this recipe?!
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*I originally shared this recipe in September 2014. Updated April 2018.
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Turned out amazing and tasted good too
This was excellent! My pickiest child said “why don’t you make this more often”!
Thanks Lauren 👍🏼😊 this LOOKS SOOO YUMMY 😋❗️All Your Recipes ARE 👏🏼👏🏼👍🏼♥️ thank You FOR SHARING 👍🏼♥️G-d♥️Bless
My family loves this recipe! My super picky toddler even loves it!
Enjoyed this dinner last night. It was very good. Hubby called it mild. Kiddo enjoyed it as well. We will make it again!
I was looking for a different take on one of my budget go-tos of spinach and tortellini.
This. Was. Awesome!
Its creamy but not too rich. I tossed in some really small zucchini cause I had it.
Will 100% make again. I have never reviewed a recipe before but this one is keeper! P
Thank you for the recipe, I got it off of your weekly meal plan. I make it every couple of weeks now and it always ends up gone.
It’s a great way to use up my ripe tomatoes.
Delicious! Super quick and easy. Will share and repeat!
This has become a staple in my house. So yummy! And one of my 2 year Olds favorites.
Quick, easy and delicious! I added more spices than what the recipe called for, but only what was on already on the list (because that’s all it needed for my family’s taste). Next time, I’ll add chicken (not because it needs anything, but because I think it would work so well in this dish for extra protein).
Thank you so much for putting time and effort into this resource. This helps keep me sane!
Absolutely delicious. Huge hit with the family
WOW !!! This is my first recipe from your blog and what a winner!!! My whole family loved this. Thank you for a delicious, easy, economical, fast clean-up recipe.
I love this recipe so much!! I added shallots and mushrooms that I sauteed on the side to add with the spinach and tomatoes <3 made it a few times now
As beautiful as it is delicious! Company worthy! My husband the meat lover didn’t even notice there wasn’t any meat and he didn’t care when I told him! ❤️
Delicious! I have tried 7 of your dinner recipes now and every one has been a hit.
Kids loved it! Surprisingly with the green stuff in it haha
Can I use frozen spinach instead of fresh? How much shredded frozen spinach?
You can really add however much you like–Id start with about 1/2 cup.
This was really good. Pleasantly surprised! 🙂
Turned out so yummy! Will be making this one again. Thanks for the recipe.
A favorite of mine! Instead of cream, I use evaporated milk. Can’t taste a difference. Yummy!
Dang Lauren! This tastes like something you would eat in an Italian restaurant, except probably way healthier. I could not believe, with only 3 tbsp of flour, how creamy and smooth it turned out. I tried this to use up some spinach I had and it is definitely delish. Your website is my go to place for ideas and I am rarely disappointed. Thanks so much (and my husband thanks you profusely also).
Turned out great. Easy meal to whip together after a long day at work. Thanks so much!
Very yummy and super quick and easy. I used some spinach I had frozen a couple weeks ago and it was delicious. Will definitely make this again! Might add some mushrooms or bacon next time.
This recipe takes like 10 minutes and is sooooo good.
So so good! Made it exactly as the recipe stated. I’ve never been disappointed by a recipe from Lauren!
Yummy, quick and easy. The only drawback is that 2 of my family members cannot have that much milk.
Try using chicken stock and just finish the sauce off with a small amount of heavy cream to give it the creaminess. I do this to cut back on dairy.
Honestly, Being a 19 year old stuck in university. Your dishes are the perfect thing to get me through the days.
This was absolutely delicious! Quick and easy! I added shrimp and it really worked. Thank you for sharing. This will be my go to pasta dish!
A family favorite! We have made this several times in the past couple of weeks. My kids are always asking for this, which is a true sign of a a keeper. Thank you for sharing!
Made this for dinner tonight and added ground Italian sausage to it. It was awesome! Will definitely make this again. Thank you for sharing this great recipe!
That sounds delicious! I’m so happy you liked it, thanks for commenting!
This is delicious! I made it without cream and had to use lactose free milk. Turned out so well! Great recipe!
I love pasta recipes. This one looks amazing. The more important thing is the time–30 minutes preparation time makes this recipe further attractive.
Thanks Stella! It’s delicious and EASY! 🙂
Made this for dinner and finally everyone was happy!! My super picky 1 year old ate two (baby-sized) helpings and even got caught licking her plate afterwards! haha! Thank you so much for an easy but delicious recipe. I will definitely be making this again…and again!
That makes me so happy! Thanks for sharing!
Hi Lauren,
This recipe is really great, fast flavorful, and from scratch! My husband and 19 year old son really enjoy it. “Sneaking” in veggies is a bonus. I’ve made it per recipe but used dried basil. Leftovers are yummy as well. Thank you for posting. I look forward to exploring your website for more inspiration.
This recipe looks great but can you tell me where I’d find the recipe? There is no link?
Hi Laurie, I’m so sorry, my site is having technical problems with the recipe card when viewed on a desktop or tablet device. You will be able to see the recipe if you pull it up on your mobile phone. I’m trying to resolve the problem ASAP. Sorry for the inconvenience!
This is A-mazing…my new go to pasta. Thanks Lauren!!!
Thanks Kim! I’m glad you liked it!
WOW !!! Thank you for the recipe! I added in gluten free chicken sausage and my husband and I loved it…. Plus my house smells awesome!
Thanks Caitlin–I love your substitution! Sounds yummy!
What a gorgeous dish! I’ll be trying it out very soon! Pinned!
This looks so scrumptious. I can’t wait to give it a try!
Found this on Pinterest while looking for something to do with the bag of tortellini in my freezer & this was AWESOME! Thanks! Will definitely be following (and trying) more of your recipes 🙂
Thanks Tiffany! So glad you liked it!
Laur, this was great! We made it for dinner tonight and loved it! Thanks for the recipe!
You’re comment made my day 🙂 Glad you guys liked it!
This looks yummy.
I love tortellini this recipe looks simply and delicious, Pinned!
I love filled pasta. This looks divine.
This looks so yummy Lauren! Pasta is my weakness! Pinned!
Oh my. This looks perfect! We love pasta dishes. And tortellinis are pretty much my favorite. Yum! Pinned.