Baked Tortellini with Chicken
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This Baked Tortellini with Chicken recipe is the ultimate weeknight dinner. It is easy to make ahead of time and bake when you’re ready to eat!
This baked tortellini is not your typical casserole
I love a one pan meal, but I am not always a fan of casseroles. I need them to have tons of flavor.
This baked chicken tortellini is a full meal in one with a good balance of carbs, fats and protein. It’s the kind of meal that will have everyone in the family asking for seconds.
It is also a fantastic freezer meal! Bring a pre-made baked tortellini to a friend, instruct them to pop it in the freezer and then bake it whenever they need a quick and easy meal.
Kitchen tools
- Cutting board and sharp knife
- Measuring spoons and measuring cups
- Whisk and mixing spoon
- Large skillet
- Casserole dish
Serving Suggestions
This is a delicious meal all on its own, but you might want to serve it with side salad or some extra veggies.
Some of my favorite things to serve with this baked tortellini are:
Ingredients
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Olive oil
- Salt, garlic powder, oregano, basil, and crushed red pepper
- Tortellini
- Marinara sauce
- Ricotta cheese
- Aged balsamic vinegar
- Mozzarella cheese
Ingredient substitutions
Feel free to use any kind of pasta sauce that you like for this dish. I like to use marinara sauce, but you could use a tomato basil sauce or even an arrabiata sauce for some spice.
If you want to use a different type of ravioli, I recommend using a spinach and cheese ravioli. It will compliment the rest of the ingredients nicely.
Feel free to replace the cooked and cubed chicken with ground beef, ground turkey or a plant based alternative like lentils.
How to make baked tortellini with Chicken
Step 1: Preheat the oven and Prepare chicken
To begin, preheat oven to 350F. Then, slice chicken breasts in half longways so you are left with 2 thinner filets for each breast.
Mix salt, garlic powder, oregano, dried basil, and crushed red pepper. Season chicken on both sides with the seasoning mixture.
Next, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When oil is warm, sear chicken breasts for about 3 minutes on each side or until they are lightly browned.
Remove from the pan and place on a cutting board to cool slightly then cut into bite sized cubes.
Step 2: Mix ingredients in casserole dish
Then, whisk together pasta sauce, ricotta cheese and aged balsamic vinegar. Place tortellini and cubed chicken in a casserole dish.
Pour sauce over top and toss to mix thoroughly. Spread an even layer of shredded mozzarella cheese over top.
Step 3: Bake tortellini in oven
Finally, cover the casserole dish with tinfoil and place in the oven to bake at 350F for 30 minutes.
Remove the tinfoil and increase heat to 450F. Continue baking for just a few minutes until the cheese on top is browned and bubbling.
Storage and reheating
Allow the baked tortellini to cool completely and then transfer to an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Reheat in the oven at 325F until warmed through or in the microwave. You can top it with extra shredded mozzarella when you reheat it.
can i make this ahead of time?
Yes! It is very easy to prepare this chicken tortellini recipe ahead of time and then bake it when you are ready.
Just sear the chicken and mix the ingredients in a baking dish. Top with mozzarella cheese and cover with foil. Place in the fridge or freezer until you are ready to bake and then follow baking instructions.
To freeze this tortellini casserole prepare it in a freezer safe baking dish. Then cover tightly with 2 layers of foil. Bake from frozen covered for 1 hour at 350F then uncover to brown the cheese on top.
Check out these other comforting pasta recipes
- Easy Baked Gnocchi Recipe
- Mushroom Alfredo Pasta
- Sun Dried Tomato and Turkey One Pot Pasta
- Cherry Tomato Pasta with Chicken
You can find the full recipe below. If you make this recipe, please rate and review it in the comments, or share it with me on Instagram!
Baked Tortellini with Chicken
Baked tortellini with chicken is the perfect weeknight dinner!
Ingredients
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp dried basil
- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 20oz refrigerated cheese tortellini
- 28oz jar of pasta sauce
- 1 cup full fat ricotta cheese
- 1 tbsp aged balsamic vinegar
- 1 and 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F
- Slice chicken breasts in half longways so you are left with 2 thinner filets for each breast. Mix salt, garlic powder, oregano, dried basil, and crushed red pepper. Season chicken on both sides with the seasoning mixture.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When oil is warm, sear chicken breasts for about 3 minutes on each side or until they are lightly browned.
- Remove from the pan and place on a cutting board to cool slightly then cut into bite sized cubes.
- Whisk together pasta sauce, ricotta cheese and aged balsamic vinegar. Place tortellini and cubed chicken in a casserole dish. Pour sauce over top and toss to mix thoroughly.
- Spread shredded mozzarella cheese over top. Cover with tinfoil and place in the oven to bake at 350F for 30 minutes. Remove the tinfoil and increase heat to 450F. Continue baking for just a few minutes until the cheese on top is browned and bubbling.
** To prepare ahead of time: Just sear the chicken and mix the ingredients in a baking dish. Top with mozzarella cheese and cover with foil. Place in the fridge or freezer until you are ready to bake and then follow baking instructions.
Notes
- To freeze this tortellini casserole prepare it in a freezer safe baking dish. Then cover tightly with 2 layers of foil. Bake from frozen covered for 1 hour at 350F then uncover to brown the cheese on top.
- You can use any type of tortellini you like, but it should be uncooked and refrigerated. I like cheese tortellini best, but you could also use spinach tortellini
Melody says
Hi Madeline! I’m really excited to make this dish for an upcoming dinner party! What size pan do I need to use? 9X13? I read through the recipe twice, but didn’t see a pan size listed. Thanks in advance!
Madeline says
I used one thats about 11×11 so that can work or 9×13! They kind of equal out to the same sq inches.
Melody says
Awesome, thank you so much!
Katie says
This was so good and so easy! Great recipe 🙂
★★★★★
Jessie says
Made this for meal prep this week and it was truly the easiest thing ever! Super hearty and delicious!
Are there any substitutions that might work for the ricotta? Thank you!
★★★★★
Madeline says
So glad to hear! Cottage cheese could work. It has a similar flavor profile.
Margaret Scavotto Nusbickel says
Another super easy recipe that’s also a crowd pleaser
★★★★★
Madeline says
Thanks, Margaret!
Susan says
I made this tonight for dinner and it was so yummy and flavorful. Easy to prepare but took an hour to bake instead of 30 minutes. Well worth the wait! There were 2nd and 3rd helpings so it was a big hit! Definitely will make this again.
★★★★★
Madeline says
Baking times may vary depending on ovens – thanks for that feedback. It sounds like it was a great hit – love to hear that!