Pesto Chicken Tortellini and Veggies - healthy, easy Mediterranean-style dinner. Sliced boneless, skinless chicken thighs are cooked with sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil. Then, cooked chicken is combined with asparagus, cherry tomatoes, tortellini, and basil pesto!
Pesto chicken tortellini:
- Quick and healthy recipe. This recipe uses 2 of my favorite ingredients: basil pesto and tortellini - and you can buy both in most grocery stores. Which makes this recipe a healthy choice for a quick weeknight dinner. Especially when you don't have that much time to cook. Just buy some tortellini and basil pesto (plus chicken and veggies) in the store, and make this pesto chicken tortellini with veggies in 30 minutes!
- Packed with veggies. This easy chicken dish has lots of colorful vegetables: red and yellow grape tomatoes, asparagus, and sun-dried tomatoes.
- Well-balanced meal. This chicken tortellini recipe has veggies, healthy oils (olive oil and basil pesto), protein (chicken), and a moderate amount of carbs (tortellini). A good balance of various ingredients.
- Mediterranean-style recipe. Everything is generously smothered with basil pesto and olive oil, and this recipe has lots of vegetables - perfect for the Mediterranean diet.
How to make chicken tortellini with veggies:
1) Add 1 pound of sliced skinless and boneless chicken thighs (seasoned with salt), 2 tablespoons olive oil, and ¼ cup of sun-dried tomatoes to a large skillet.
2) Cook on medium heat for 5-10 minutes, until the chicken is completely cooked through.
3) Remove the cooked chicken and sun-dried tomatoes from the skillet, leaving the oil in.
4) Add 1 pound of asparagus (ends trimmed), seasoned with salt, ¼ cup of sun-dried tomatoes to the same skillet.
5) Cook on medium heat for 5-10 minutes until the asparagus is cooked through.
6) Cook 1 cup tortellini according to the package instructions, drain.
7) In the same skillet combine cooked chicken, cooked asparagus, cooked tortellini, and halved cherry tomatoes.
8) Mix everything with ¼ cup of basil pesto on low-medium heat until the chicken is reheated, 1 or 2 minutes.
Other chicken tortellini recipes:
Pesto Chicken Tortellini and Veggies
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 lb chicken thighs boneless and skinless, sliced into strips
- salt
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes drained of oil, chopped
- 1 lb asparagus ends trimmed, cut in half
- ¼ cup basil pesto or use more
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes yellow and red, halved
- 1 cup tortellini uncooked
Instructions
- In a large skillet heat 2 tablespoons olive oil on medium heat.
- Add sliced chicken thighs (seasoned with salt), ¼ cup of chopped sun-dried tomatoes and cook everything on medium heat for 5-10 minutes, turning chicken slices over a couple of times, until the chicken is completely cooked through.
- Remove the chicken and the sun-dried from the skillet, leaving the oil in.
- Add asparagus (ends trimmed), seasoned generously with salt, and ¼ cup of sun-dried tomatoes to the same skillet.
- Cook on medium heat for 5-10 minutes until the asparagus is cooked through. Remove the asparagus to a serving plate.
- Cook tortellini according to the package instructions, drain.
- Add cooked chicken back to the skillet. Add basil pesto. Stir to coat and cook on low-medium heat until the chicken is reheated, 1 or 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Add cooked tortellini and halved cherry tomatoes to the skillet with the chicken. Stir to combine. Add more pesto if desired.
- Season with more salt if needed.
- Add chicken, cherry tomatoes and tortellini to the serving plate with asparagus.
- Want to make basil pesto from scratch? Here is a super flavorful and creamy 20-Minute Homemade Basil Pesto Recipe.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer:
The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Onie
What so you serve as a side? This is new to me.
Julia
Serve a simple salad such as this simple spinach salad or this arugula salad with pine nuts.
Laurie
I’ve made this several times to rave reviews. Can you advise how to make it gluten free?
Julia
Laurie, use store-bought frozen gluten-free ravioli. There are so many varieties in the grocery stores these days! I've tried so many!
My favorite is store-bought gluten-free ravioli made with almond flour - Cappello's brand - spinach and cheese stuffed ravioli. They hold up really well!
Of course, there are plenty of other types of gluten-free ravioli options available in the grocery stores these days.
Josie
So good! I used chicken breast instead of thighs and did not use any tomatoes. My two kids and husband loved it!
Julia
Josie, I am so glad this recipe was a success!
Natalie
What could I substitute the pesto with? I’m not a pesto fan but everything else looks delicious!
Julia
If you prefer not to use pesto, use small amounts of olive oil and Italian seasoning to sear the chicken. Then, maybe add extra olive oil + extra Italian seasoning to coat tomatoes and asparagus.
Kasey
My new favorite dinner recipe! I could eat this for days straight. This recipe was so flavorful!
Julia
Kasey, I am so glad you liked this recipe! Thank you for stopping by and sharing such a positive comment!
Schylar Miller
Tortellini and pesto together!! It can’t get any better. I love everything about this recipe and it’s in our meal rotation now.
Julia
I am so happy you've enjoyed this recipe! Thank you for stopping by and sharing a positive review! 🙂
Katie
I used chicken breasts because it’s what I had on hand and left out the sun dried tomatoes because I’m not a fan but this was a huge hit in my house. My 7 and 3 year old ate every bite and hubby (who swears he doesn’t like pesto) ate a 2nd helping.
Julia
Katie, I am so glad your family enjoyed this recipe! Thank you for such a positive comment - I really appreciate it!
Shannon
So delicious and easy to make!
Julia
Shannon, I am glad you liked it! 🙂
Karen Jones
Fast and delicious. Will do again and again. I subbed green beans since the family does not care for asparagus. Still fabulous.
Renee Angil
Fast, amazing flavor! I followed the recipe to a T.
Char
This was easy and delish! Whole fam loved it.
Trish
Substituted chicken breasts for thighs, because it was what I had in the house. This was amazing! Fast to make and oh so delicious! Will be making again. Everyone loved it.
Aluce
Made this for dinner tonight. Change the recipe some. Make chicken tender on the grill instead of chicken in the pan. Used sugar peas instead of asparagus (had them in frig). Otherwise followed recipe. Was delicious with a glass of savigonon Blanc. Will definitely make again & try shrimp instead of chicken. Can’t wait for the fresh summer veggies to try this.
Judith
Julia...help...some of your older recipes do not include a pin. I have hundreds of recipes on pintrest but can't figure out how to put on yours. I absolutely love your recipes and follow them on Facebook.
Judith
Trisha
This was amazing! Definitely a make again meal! I was worried my kids wouldn’t eat it but they loved it and went back for seconds!!
Autumn Carruthers
I love getting my hands on easy healthy dinners with veggies! This was amazing! Made it tonight.
Cheryl M
Huge hit with the husband and kids. Thank you so much for sharing!