Panera Chicken Tortellini Alfredo Recipe is a deliciously rich and creamy dish that you’re sure to love. Pasta has a special place for many people and is much loved on dinner plates. This copycat recipe brings back the nostalgia of the once loved menu item that could be found at Panera for a time. It’s no longer offered in the restaurant, but now you can enjoy it at home using this recipe.
Tortellini Alfredo Copycat Panera Recipe
For this recipe you’ll want to buy already prepared cheese filled tortellini, cook the chicken or buy some already prepared, and we’ll show you how to make the rest.
Chicken Tortellini Alfredo
Chicken Tortellini Alfredo is a quick and easy meal that comes together rapidly when time is limited. The combination of cheese and heavy cream is deliciously creamy.
Make It A Meal
This copycat recipe makes a great meal. Panera Chicken Tortellini Alfredo recipe is great served as just noodles and sauce. We like to add chicken for extra flavor and great protein. And you might like to add broccoli on the side or right in the dish itself. Pair it with the perfect salad. The people around our table think it makes a great meal.
A Few Recipe Notes:
Below are a few recipe notes to assist you with successful recipe preparation.
1. This recipe is a rich dish. It includes butter, half and half and cheeses that make it absolutely delicious, but it is also very filling.
2. I sometimes like to use garlic powder rather than mincing my own garlic cloves for this recipe. The reason that garlic powder works well is because it dissolves right into the sauce.
3. There might be a temptation to substitute low fat milk or another product for the heavy cream. But we recommend against doing this unless you’re someone who knows how to thicken sauce recipes using other ingredients. The cream not only lends to the flavor but it also plays a part in making the sauce thick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some questions that are asked frequently about this recipe.
What Do I Do With Leftovers?
Leftover Panera Chicken Tortellini Alfredo Recipe can be kept in the refrigerator or freezer and used at a later date. You can store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Keep in an airtight container in the freezer for up to three months.
How Do I Reheat Chicken Tortellini?
Chicken tortellini can be reheated in the microwave for 2 minutes. Or you can reheat in a saucepan on the stovetop until warmed through.
What Kind of Chicken Should I Use?
You can use whatever kind of precooked chicken you like. Picking up a rotisserie chicken provides a simple solution. We also like to use frozen, pre-cooked grilled chicken from Aldi. You can cook up some chicken breast in the oven or crockpot as well. If you like white meat or dark meat, either one works well for this recipe. This recipe assumes that your meat is pre-cooked.
Can I Freeze Panera Chicken Tortellini Alfredo Recipe?
Yes, you can freeze already prepared Chicken Tortellini Alfredo. Just place it in an airtight container or zipped freezer bag and keep it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Please note when noodles are frozen and re-heated they sometimes are more mushy than when they’re served fresh.
How Long Does Panera Chicken Tortellini Alfredo Recipe Last?
It lasts for up to three days in the refrigerator and up to three months in the freezer, if stored in an airtight container.
How Do I Store Panera Chicken Tortellini Alfredo Recipe?
You will want to store it in an airtight container or zipped storage bag to maintain freshness.
How Long Does It Take to Make Tortellini Alfredo?
It only takes about 15 minutes to make Tortellini Alfredo. This estimated time frame is assuming that your chicken is already prepared. You will need to boil the water for the tortellini, make the sauce, and then assemble it all together. It’s quite a quick and easy meal for a busy schedule.
How To Make Oven Baked Tortellini Alfredo at Panera or Olive Garden?
Panera’s recipe that was once served on their menu was not an oven baked Tortellini Alfredo recipe. However, the Olive Garden version is. To make this recipe oven baked, prepare it as directed and then add it to a 350F degree oven and bake for 15 minutes. This will give great flavor to the dish and help the sauce to meld more effectively.
How To Make Tortellini Alfredo with Chicken and Veggies?
Our recipe calls for chicken, but what about veggies? Vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots can be the perfect addition to this dish. In the grocery store freezer section, the vegetable mix called California Blend incorporates all three of these vegetables. Be sure to steam the vegetables until they’re tender before adding them to the dish. Or serve them on the side.
How Many Calories Are In Panera Copycat Chicken Tortellini Alfredo?
Our recipe estimates that there are 744 calories in the 5 servings provided by this recipe. This, however, is an estimate and will vary according to the brands used and the ingredients used in your dish.
Recipe: How To Make It
Panera Chicken Tortellini Alfredo Recipe is made with a package of pre-made cheese tortellini and a homemade deliciously creamy Alfredo sauce. It tastes just like the real deal. Here’s how to make it.
Ingredients
½ cup butter
1 ½ cups half and half
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups Italian cheese blend
16. oz. cheese tortellini
1 cup fully cooked chicken
salt and pepper to taste
parsley as a garnish
Step-by-Step Directions
1. Melt butter in a large saucepan on medium high heat.
2. In the meantime, boil tortellini according to package instructions. Reserve pasta water for sauce.
3. Add half and half to butter and whisk until it is fully incorporated. If too thick, add a bit of reserved pasta water.
4. Add garlic, salt and pepper to taste.
5. Bring sauce to a simmer and add Italian cheese blend. Stir until cheese is fully incorporated.
6. Combine sauce with fully cooked tortellini and chicken. Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Here are the estimated nutrition facts for this recipe.
Calories 744, Total Fat 47.5g, Saturated Fat 25.5g, cholesterol 150mg, sodium 906mg, carbohydrates 53.4g, protein 27.2g, vitamin D 13mg, calcium 334mg, iron 1mg, potassium 133mg. Please keep in mind that these are estimates and are not exact.
Love Alfredo Sauce? Try these:
The following are some recipe variations that include Alfredo sauce.
Easy Garlic Alfredo Tortellini
Garlic can be the perfect ingredient to incorporate into your pasta dish. It is something that our brain naturally pairs with pasta because so many Italian dishes include garlic. You can use fresh garlic cloves and mince them. Or store-bought minced garlic might be preferred. Dry garlic or garlic salt is loved by some since it dissolves easily into the ingredients.
Bring back the Panera Chicken Tortellini Alfredo
If your someone who grew to love the Panera Chicken Tortellini Alfredo, you likely miss having it available in the restaurant. In my research on the web, I noticed that there are several who have voiced this on social media and otherwise. They absolutely loved this dish and it was what kept them returning to Panera on many occasions. If that’s you, you’ll be happy to have this copycat recipe so that you can continue to enjoy it.
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Panera Chicken Tortellini Alfredo Recipe Copycat
Equipment
- saucepan
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter
- 1½ cups half and half
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups Italian cheese blend
- 16 oz cheese tortellini
- 1 cup fully cooked chicken
- salt and pepper to taste
- parsley as a garnish
Instructions
- Melt butter in a large saucepan on medium high heat.
- In the meantime, boil tortellini according to package instructions. Reserve pasta water for sauce.
- Add half and half to butter and whisk until it is fully incorporated. If too thick, add a bit of reserved pasta water.
- Add garlic, salt and pepper to taste.
- Bring sauce to a simmer and add Italian cheese blend. Stir until cheese is fully incorporated.
- Combine sauce with fully cooked tortellini and chicken. Serve and enjoy!
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