- This quick dinner is on the table in just 35 minutes.
- The double dose of tomatoes, both sun-dried and fresh, brings a burst of inflammation-fighting antioxidants.
- Everything cooks in one skillet for minimal cleanup.
Our Marry Me Tortellini is going to become your favorite way to spruce up store-bought pasta. Delicious cheese-filled tortellini enters the “marry me” world with all of the flavors you love—chewy, antioxidant-rich sun-dried tomatoes, tender spinach and a creamy tomato sauce spiked with aromatic shallots and garlic. We added bright green peas for extra protein, a pop of color and subtle sweetness, and finished it off with fresh basil and Parmigiano-Reggiano for umami. Keep reading for our expert tips on technique, ingredient substitutions and more.
Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen
These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too!
- To enhance the flavor and texture of refrigerated tortellini, cook it in a mixture of vegetable broth and water.
- For added protein, consider incorporating chicken into the dish. If you enjoy some heat, feel free to add red pepper flakes.
- While plain cheese tortellini works exceptionally well, you can also use other flavors, such as spinach-and-cheese or sausage.
- For a different twist, try adding mushrooms to the sauce while cooking the tomatoes and shallots. Additionally, you might consider including oregano along with the basil.
Nutrition Notes
- Cheese-filled tortellini is the star of this recipe and, because of the cheese filling, it’s a source of protein. This can help keep you full, while the carbohydrates from the pasta are excellent for energy production.
- Sun-dried tomatoes and cherry tomatoes are a double whammy in terms of nutrition. The sun-dried tomatoes are a source of a powerful antioxidant called lycopene. Fresh cherry tomatoes are a source of vitamin C, which can help boost your immune function.
- Green peas are considered a starchy vegetable, but don’t let that stop you from keeping a bag of these in your freezer. They are packed at peak freshness, so that helps to maintain their nutritional value. They are a source of fiber for gut health, potassium for maintaining healthy blood pressure, and protein to build and maintain muscle mass.
- Spinach wilts beautifully into this dish, and because of that, you can pack a lot of spinach into a serving. Spinach is high in folate, a B vitamin that is essential for preventing neural tube defects during pregnancy, and is also important for maintaining good heart health.
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Ward, Prop Stylist: Pheobe Hausser, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf.
