Marry Me Tortellini Pasta

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marry me tortellini

Let this Marry Me Tortellini Pasta be the reason you make another recipe with Marry Me Sauce! Marry Me Sauce – virally known from Marry Me Chicken recipes – is way more versatile than we give it credit for. And the best part is, it is one of the easiest dishes to whip together in just about 15 minutes!

This one-pan Marry Me Tortellini starts with a creamy, tangy sauce. With just a handful of ingredients, the cheesy tomato sauce comes together very quickly. Heavy cream and parmesan cheese add richness to the sauce, and sun-dried tomatoes and herbs add tanginess and warmth. After the sauce comes together, cheesy tortellini pasta noodles are tossed into the rich, tomato-based sauce. The result is a truly restaurant-worthy pasta dinner!

Keep this recipe in your back pocket for the next busy weeknight, last-minute date night, or whenever you’re craving something warm and cozy that isn’t complicated. Serve it as the main dish with a simple salad or garlic bread or serve alongside a protein entree like shrimp, steak or chicken. 

marry me tortellini

Why You’ll Love This Marry Me Tortellini Pasta 

  • It’s so cozy! The warm, creamy sauce mixed with the blend of herbs and tangy sun-dried tomatoes creates an unbelievably comforting combination. And when paired with the cheesy pasta, it’s an ultimate comfort meal.
  • Super quick and easy to make! This pasta dish can be whipped up in just about 15 minutes, so the next time you need a dinner that will impress with minimal effort, keep this recipe on hand!
  • It feels special! Although it’s so simple, the flavor and beautiful color of the sauce transform normal pasta into something that you will crave.

Ingredients You’ll Need

  • Unsalted butter
  • Tomato paste
  • Red pepper flakes
  • Fresh garlic
  • Fresh oregano
  • Fresh thyme
  • All-purpose flour
  • Heavy cream
  • Chicken broth or chicken stock
  • Grated parmesan
  • Sun-dried tomatoes
  • Pasta water
  • Cheese Tortellini 

How to Make Marry Me Tortellini Pasta, Step by Step

Step 1. Heat the pasta water and cook the tortellini.

Start by filling a large pot with water for cooking the pasta. Generously salt the water and let it come to a boil.

Cook the cheese tortellini according to the package instructions. The pasta shouldn’t take long to cook. Once the pasta floats to the top, it should be ready. Once the pasta is done, scoop out the pasta or strain the water from the pot. Make sure to reserve 1 cup of pasta water before discarding the rest. Set the pasta to the side until the Marry Me sauce is done cooking.

Tip: We use cheese tortellini in the pasta dish, but you can swap cheese tortellini with any tortellini or ravioli. Almost any stuffed pasta will pair well with this sauce.

marry me tortellini

Step 2. Make Marry Me Sauce in a skillet over the stovetop. 

This sauce comes together so easily! It’s just a matter of pouring, stirring, and heating. Start by heating a large skillet over medium heat. Add butter, minced garlic, tomato paste, and red pepper flakes to the pan. This will help create the savory tomato base of the sauce. The tomato paste adds a concentrated tomato flavor while the garlic adds some savory depth. 

Sauté the garlic mixture for a couple of minutes until fragrant. Stir in 1 tablespoon of flour – this will serve as a thickener for the sauce – fresh oregano, and thyme before pouring in the wet ingredients. 

Lastly, stir in heavy cream, chicken broth, shredded parmesan cheese, and chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Let the sauce simmer over medium heat for a couple of minutes to let the flavor develop. 

Step 3. Stir in the cheesy pasta and top with shredded Parmesan and herbs! 

If the sauce becomes too thick, stir in a couple of tablespoons of reserved pasta water until it reaches the desired consistency. Add the tortellini to the sauce and toss to evenly coat. 

Finish the dish with some extra shredded Parmesan cheese and herbs on top! 

marry me tortellini

Tips for Making Marry Me Tortellini Sauce

  • Generously salt the pasta water. Salting the water will add flavor to the pasta. We recommend adding 2 tbsp for every 4 quarts of water. Well-seasoned pasta creates a more flavorful salad from the very first bite.
  • Let the tomato paste cook with the butter and garlic. This tomato-garlic mixture is the base of the sauce. Make sure to let the mixture simmer in the pan for several minutes to allow the flavor to deepen and to remove the raw tomato paste taste.
  • Thin out the sauce with pasta water. We recommend reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water to add back into the sauce if it appears to be getting too thick and heavy. The pasta water will also help the sauce cling to the pasta. 
  • Cook tortellini until just tender. Follow the instructions on the package and add the pasta to the sauce before serving. If you overcook the tortellini, it will become too mushy and will lose its shape.

Recipe FAQ

You can, but follow the package instructions for cooking the pasta. You may need to adjust the cooking time. 

Of course! Cheese tortellini is especially good with the creamy sauce, but spinach or chicken tortellini would be delicious too! 

You can also substitute tortellini for stuffed ravioli. Cheese, fish or meat varieties would pair well with the Marry Me Sauce. 

Let the sauce simmer for a few extra minutes before adding the tortellini. The parmesan will also help thicken the sauce.

We recommend reserving some salty pasta water to thin out the sauce. You can also use chicken broth. Add a tablespoon or two at a time until the sauce reaches your preferred consistency. 


How to Store Leftover Marry Me Tortellini

Store the leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave and add a small splash of cream or broth to loosen the sauce.

marry me tortellini

More cozy dinners to try next:

marry me tortellini
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marry me tortellini

Marry Me Tortellini Pasta


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  • Author: McKenzie Hicks
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 4–6 servings 1x

Description

This easy Marry Me tortellini comes together in just 15 minutes with a handful of simple ingredients for a creamy, flavorful weeknight pasta dinner. It’s the perfect quick and cozy meal when you want something delicious without the fuss.


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 4 tbsp butter
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1 tsp fresh oregano
  • 2 tsp fresh thyme
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 3/4 cup chicken broth
  • 1/3 cup grated parmesan
  • 1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes, roughly chopped
  • 1/2 cup pasta water
  • 1 lb cheese tortellini pasta

Instructions

  1. Fill a large pot with water and generously salt the water as it heats up. Cook tortellini according to package instructions.
  2. While the tortellini is cooking, make the sauce. In a skillet over medium-high heat, add tomato paste, butter, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Stir until fragrant. Add 1 tbsp flour and stir for 1-2 minutes. Add fresh oregano and thyme and stir until fragrant. Whisk in heavy cream, chicken broth, and parmesan, stirring until the cheese is melted. Lastly, add sun-dried tomatoes and let the sauce simmer for a couple of minutes.
  3.  Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water and drain the tortellini. Immediately add the pasta to the sauce and add in some pasta water if the sauce appears dry or needs a bit of thinning.
  4. Sprinkle with some freshly shredded parmesan and enjoy.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes

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