• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Meet Kelly
  • Browse All Recipes
  • Contact

The Anthony Kitchen logo

  • Recipe Index
  • Dinner Ideas
  • Dessert
  • Entertaining
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Contact
  • Stay in touch...

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home · Recipes · Pasta · Tortellini Alfredo

    September 29, 2021

    Tortellini Alfredo

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Image for PInterest
    Image for PInterest

    Ready yourselves for one of the most legit pasta dishes your dinner table has ever seen! We're whipping up an irresistibly cheesy Tortellini Alfredo that comes equipped with a creamy, garlicky homemade Alfredo sauce. Serve it with a side of toasty garlic bread and watch the family swoon!

      Tortellini Alfredo on a white plate with garlic bread on the side.

    The sauce you're about to make comes together in a mere 10 minutes, and it straight-up beats the pants off of anything store-bought. Consider this Tortellini Alfredo your quick fix dinnertime rescue for busy weeknights when you want something homemade on the table, but need it done in a jiff!

    Looking for more awesome pasta recipes to try? Bookmark our super cheesy Shells and Cheese in your internet browser for next time!

    Tortellini Alfredo in a sauce pan sprinkled with chopped parsley.

    WHAT MAKES THIS THE BEST TORTELLINI ALFREDO RECIPE!

    Many other Tortellini Alfredo recipes out there call for casserole dishes, 30 minutes of bake time, and a cream cheese base...but why? This is an entirely unnecessary (and elongated) process. In fact, you can have this dinner ready, from stovetop to table, in less than 20 minutes.

    And, we've got nothing against cream cheese around these parts, but this isn't the way to go if you're looking to serve up a restaurant-quality Alfredo dish at home.

    No, this sauce comes together entirely from scratch, and the best part is, it's still insanely easy to make. The sauce starts with a roux -- a scary word but a mixture that's seriously easy to make. It really just means you're going to mix butter and flour on the stovetop.

    Beginning the Alfredo with a roux helps the sauce to stay together, unbroken, even when reheated! A win-win for the pasta lovers.

    Close up of tortellini Alfredo in a sauce pan sprinkle with parsley.

    HOW TO MAKE TORTELLINI ALFREDO

    1. Cook the tortellini.
    2. Saute garlic and sprinkle with flour.
    3. Add the dairy and simmer.
    4. Stir in Parmesan and seasoning.
    5. Add tortellini and serve!

    Love a good tortellini dish? Be sure to check out our Chicken Tortellini Soup as well!

    1. COOK THE TORTELLINI

    Tortellini Alfredo comes together extremely fast, so get that water boiling right off the bat! It will be the most time-consuming part of the entire recipe. How's that for good news?!

    Once your water is boiling, add the pasta and cook the tortellini according to package directions.

    Three cheese tortellini in a colander.

    WHAT TYPE OF TORTELLINI DO I BUY?

    I prefer to use refrigerated, three-cheese tortellini for this recipe. But you can use just about any type of stuffed tortellini you like! If you're wondering where to find fresh tortellini, it is typically packaged near gourmet deli items in your grocery store. My go-to brand is Buitoni.

    2. SAUTE GARLIC AND SPRINKLE IN FLOUR

    While the water is boiling and/or the pasta is cooking, you can whip up that quick and easy homemade sauce for your Tortellini Alfredo!

    Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Do not allow the butter to brown. If you'd prefer to use olive oil instead of butter, feel free to do so.

    Fresh chopped garlic being sautéed in a sauce pan on the stove top.
    Butter, flour, and fresh chopped garlic in a sauce pan cooking on the stove top.

    As soon as the butter has melted you'll add the garlic, and sauté for about one minute, just until it has become fragrant. Then you will sprinkle in the flour, and whisk the flour and butter together until the flour no longer looks dry.

    3. ADD THE DAIRY AND SIMMER

    Add the half and half to the pan one big splash at a time, whisking well after each and every addition. This little "splash hack" is how you make an incredibly smooth sauce! If you prefer a thicker, richer sauce, use heavy cream in the place of half and half.

    Half and half being drizzled in to a Ru in a sauce pan on the stove top.
    Alfredo sauce being whisked together on the stove top.
    Milk been drizzled into a roux.

    Once the mixture begins to resemble pudding, you can stream in the remaining half and half and milk, whisking constantly.

    Allow the mixture to simmer for about 5 minutes, just until it has slightly thickened, and take care to stir occasionally.

    4. ADD PARMESAN AND SEASONING

    Parmesan being poured into a milk mixture in a sauce pan on the stove top.

    Then, you will add in all of the grated Parmesan cheese followed by the kosher salt and pepper. Stir until the cheese has melted and the sauce is looking perfectly smooth. Then you can add in your pasta and your Tortellini Alfredo is ready!

    Love this recipe? Try our Shrimp Alfredo next!

    Tortellini Alfredo in a sauce pan sprinkled with parsley.

    A NOTE ABOUT PASTA WATER

    If your Alfredo sauce is ready well before your noodles, you might find the sauce has thickened. This is why I recommend reserving a cup or so of pasta water once the tortellini has finished cooking. This way, if you'd like your sauce just a bit thinner, you can simply add a tablespoon or two of pasta water at a time until it reaches the consistency you'd like.

    A close-up shot of tortellini Alfredo sprinkled with parsley.

    CAN I ADD VEGGIES OR MEAT TO TORTELLINI ALFREDO?

    If you'd like to add a little more sustenance to your Tortellini Alfredo, there are plenty of delicious routes to go!

    Throw in some steamed broccoli, wilted spinach, or pan-seared mushrooms to get your veggie count in for the day.

    If you're thinking more along the lines of a protein-type addition, you can go wrong with sliced chicken breasts or blackened shrimp.

    And, if you're looking for the best of both worlds when it comes to adding both protein and veggies to your Tortellini Alfredo, steamed peas and diced ham most definitely does the trick!

    6 MORE PASTA RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE

    • Cajun Chicken Alfredo
    • Steak Pasta
    • Quick Pasta Pomodoro
    • Chicken Primavera
    • Stuffed Shells with Meat and Cheese
    • Turkey Pasta Casserole

    • Cajun Chicken Alfredo Pasta in a cast iron pan.

      Cajun Chicken Alfredo Pasta

    • And overhead shot of steak pasta in a braiser dish with strips of steak lining the center.

      Steak Pasta Recipe

    • Penne pasta with a creamy tomato sauce dripping down the noodles.

      Quick Pomodoro Sauce Recipe

    • Sliced chicken sitting on top of pasta primavera in a bowl.

      Chicken Primavera Pasta Recipe

    • Stuffed Shells With Meat and Cheese Recipe

    • turkey casserole

      Turkey Casserole

    5 from 2 votes
    Tortellini Alfredo in a sauce pan sprinkled with parsley.
    Print
    Tortellini Alfredo
    Prep Time
    5 mins
    Cook Time
    10 mins
    Total Time
    15 mins
     

    This easy, cheesy Tortellini Alfredo comes equipped with a creamy, garlicky 10-minute Alfredo sauce. It’s the perfect, quick-fix pasta dinner for busy weeknights. It's homemade perfection, yet it only takes 20 minutes to make!

    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Italian
    Keyword: Tortellini Alfredo
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 690 kcal
    Author: Kelly Anthony
    Ingredients
    • 1 (20-ounce) package fresh, refrigerated tortellini (such as Buitoni)
    • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
    • 4 cloves garlic, minced
    • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
    • 1 ½ cup half and half
    • 1 ½ cup whole milk
    • 1 ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan, plus extra for serving (if desired)
    • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    Instructions
    1. Cook the tortellini according to package directions and set aside. Save 1 cup of the pasta water just in case you'd like to thin out the sauce at the end.

    2. In a large saute pan over medium-low heat, melt the butter and add garlic. Saute for 1-2 minutes. Sprinkle flour over the garlic and stir until coated.

    3. Increase heat to medium and begin to add the cream a splash at a time, stirring after each addition. Once all of the half and half has been incorporated, stream in the milk, whisking all the while, and simmer 5 minutes. Stir occasionally until slightly thickened.

    4. Add the Parmesan, salt, and pepper, and stir once more.

    5. Add the tortellini to the alfredo sauce, stir to coat, and serve!

    Nutrition Facts
    Tortellini Alfredo
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 690 Calories from Fat 387
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 43g66%
    Saturated Fat 24g150%
    Trans Fat 1g
    Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
    Monounsaturated Fat 10g
    Cholesterol 156mg52%
    Sodium 1230mg53%
    Potassium 169mg5%
    Carbohydrates 49g16%
    Fiber 4g17%
    Sugar 6g7%
    Protein 27g54%
    Vitamin A 1307IU26%
    Vitamin C 1mg1%
    Calcium 524mg52%
    Iron 3mg17%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    Image for PInterest

    « Apple Cinnamon Bread
    Air Fryer Pizzas »
    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Yummly

    Looking for more recipes?

    Be sure to check out the recipe index where you can browse recipes by meal type and category!

    Check Out the Recipe Index

    Primary Sidebar

    I’m Kelly Anthony — a baker, home chef, and mom with a passion for food and an adoration for entertaining.

    Comfort food is my specialty, and it is truly my pleasure to share these recipes with you. If you’d like to get to know me a little better, click here.

    Trending recipes

    • A close up of two Beef Ribs, stacked. The outer layer is blackened but the middle is a little pink.
      Beef Ribs Recipe
    • A close up of a wooden spoon scooping some Homemade Baked Beans out of the pot. The beans are in a thick, brown sauce.
      Homemade Baked Beans
    • A big, glass mixing bowl full of Italian Pasta Salad sits on a white work surface. It is vibrant and full of color.
      Italian Pasta Salad
    • An overhead view of Smoked Pork Chops on a sheet pan. They are crispy around the edges.
      Smoked Pork Chops
    • An overhead shot of the chicken salad that has been mixed in a clear glass bowl being held by two hands.
      Chicken Salad with Grapes
    • A close up shot of a clear glass bowl filled with spaghetti salad.
      Spaghetti Salad

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign up for weekly recipes
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

    Contact

    • Work with me
    • Contact