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Caesar Chicken Tortellini

Caesar Chicken Tortellini

The ultimate comfort food, this Caesar Chicken Tortellini is creamy, cheesy, and easy to prepare. Ideal for weeknight dinners, this dish brings together tender chicken, quality tortellini, and a rich sauce that will satisfy your cravings. Make it tonight!
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 590

Ingredients
  

  • 2-3 pieces boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil For marinating and cooking
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 package quality cheese tortellini 20 oz.
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil Divided for various parts of the recipe
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 2-4 cloves garlic Minced
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon Asian fish sauce
  • 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley Dried
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil Dried
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano Dried
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes Dried
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 oz. cream cheese Softened
  • 3 cups cubed French baguette bread Approx. 1/2-1” cubes
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil For croutons
  • 2 tablespoons finely grated Parmesan For topping croutons
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder For croutons
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt For croutons
  • 1 bunch fresh parsley For garnish

Equipment

  • Wooden Spoon
  • Whisk
  • Oven
  • Grater
  • Skillet
  • Chef's Knife
  • Saucepan
  • Baking Sheet

Method
 

  1. Add all chicken marinade ingredients (except chicken) to a large freezer bag or bowl and whisk to combine. Add chicken, toss to evenly coat. Refrigerate at room temperature for 30 minutes or refrigerate up to 4 hours.
  2. Cook pasta al dente according to package directions in salted water. Remove 1 cup pasta water before draining.
  3. Preheat oven to 400F degrees F. Whisk together olive oil, Parmesan, garlic powder and salt in a medium bowl. Add cubed bread and gently toss until evenly coated. Spread bread in an even layer on a baking sheet and bake for approximately 10 minutes or until golden.
  4. Meanwhile, heat one tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Remove chicken from marinade and dab off excess then add to hot skillet and cook, undisturbed, for 3-5 minutes, or until nicely browned on one side.
  5. Turn chicken over, cover, and reduce heat to medium. Cook for approximately 5-7 more minutes (depending on thickness of chicken), or until chicken is cooked through. Remove to a cutting board and let rest 5 minutes before chopping or slicing.
  6. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Add garlic and sauté 30 seconds. Sprinkle in flour and cook while stirring for 2 minutes (it will be thick).
  7. Turn heat to low then slowly whisk in milk, followed by lemon juice, Dijon, Worcestershire sauce, fish sauce, chicken bouillon and all seasonings.
  8. Increase heat to medium high and bring the sauce to a simmer until slightly thickened, stirring constantly.
  9. Reduce heat to low and stir in cream cheese until melted followed by Parmesan cheese until melted.
  10. Stir in tortellini and chicken until well coated and heated through, adding additional reserved pasta water a little at a time if needed to reach desired consistency.
  11. Taste and season with additional salt, pepper and/or lemon juice to taste. Garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese, crouton and fresh parsley if desired.

Notes

  • Tip 1: May substitute 2 ½ cups chopped rotisserie chicken breasts.
  • Tip 2: Croutons can be prepared days in advance and stored in an airtight container.