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pasta

Three Cheese Tortellini

January 22, 2020 by Cody

Easy, budget friendly, and filling, this tortellini with homemade sauce will likely have you returning for seconds…….or thirds. And, kids love it!!

Easy, budget friendly, and filling, this tortellini with homemade sauce will likely have you returning for seconds…….or thirds. And, kids love it!!

Three Cheese Tortellini

My family loves pizza and pasta!  Three Cheese Tortellini is an easy pasta recipe that helps break away from the typical spaghetti nights. If your spread thin and short on time, using your favorite jar of sauce will have you a quick dinner in minutes.

What Sauce Goes with Three Cheese Tortellini?

There are two types of sauce that pair well with three cheese tortellini.  The first is a tomato based, red sauce.  That is what we’re using in this easy pasta recipe.  The second type is alfredo sauce! For a delicious Three Cheese Tortellini Alfredo Sauce, click here.  You can’t go wrong with either.

Now, for a quick dinner recipe, there’s nothing wrong with using store-bought sauce from a jar.  It’s hard to beat homemade sauce, though!

Easy, budget friendly, and filling, this tortellini with homemade sauce will likely have your returning for seconds…….or thirds. And, kids love it!!

How to Make the Best Homemade Tomato Sauce for Three Cheese Tortellini

Add fire roasted tomatoes, a quartered onion, minced garlic, and garlic seasoned salt, and olive oil to a pot and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to medium low, add fresh basil, and let simmer for approximately 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Be careful to not disperse the basil when stirring. To help avoid this, you can tie the basil stems together using butcher’s twine.

Remove the pot from heat, take the bundle of basil out, and dump the sauce into a blender/food processor. Blend until it reaches your desired consistency.  I typically land somewhere between chunky and smooth.  Return to pot and add 1-2 basil leaves and 3-4 halved garlic cloves.  The chunks of garlic are a welcomed burst of flavor hidden within the tortellini. Allow to simmer on low for 10-15 minutes before serving.

Easy, budget friendly, and filling, this tortellini with homemade sauce will likely have you returning for seconds…….or thirds. And, kids love it!!

Tips for the Best Tortellini Alfredo

Add Chicken.  Turn this easy meal into Chicken Tortellini by adding some chopped grilled chicken breasts or some pulled chicken from your Air Fryer Whole Chicken.  You can even use a rotisserie chicken from the store to keep it super simple.

Use Fresh Ingredients.  As with most simple and delicious recipes, fresh ingredients are best.  You’ll notice that the homemade sauce calls for fresh basil and fresh garlic cloves but don’t let it stop there.  Sprinkle some fresh parmesan over the top of the pasta and garnish with some fresh chopped Italian herbs.

Other Pasta Recipes

Three Cheese Tortellini Alfredo

Slow Cooker Pasta Fagioli

One Pan Shrimp Pasta

Three Cheese Tortellini

Easy, budget friendly, and filling, this tortellini with homemade sauce will likely have your returning for seconds…….or thirds. And, kids love it!!

Easy, budget friendly, and filling, this three cheese tortellini with homemade sauce will likely have you returning for seconds…….or thirds. And, kids love it!!

Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 Bag of Three Cheese Tortellini
  • 2 cans of fire roasted tomatoes
  • 1 onion quartered
  • 3-4 garlic cloves
  • 1 stem of basil (with the leaves on)
  • 1/2 tsp minced garlic
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • Fresh grated parmesan cheese to taste

Instructions

The Sauce:

Add 2 cans of fire roasted tomatoes, 1 onion (quartered), 1/2 tsp of minced garlic, 1 tbsp of garlic seasoned salt, and 1 tbsp of olive oil to a pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low, add basil (saving 1-2 leaves), and let simmer for approximately 20 minutes, stirring occasionally (be careful to not disperse the basil when stirring). Remove the pot from heat, take the basil out of the pot, and dump the sauce into a blender/food processor.. Blend until it reaches your desired consistency. I typically land somewhere between chunky and smooth. Return to pot and add 1-2 basil leaves and 3-4 halved garlic cloves. The chunks of garlic are a welcomed burst of flavor hidden within the tortellini. Allow to simmer on low for 10-15 minutes before serving.

The Pasta:

Bring 4-6 quarts of water to a boil and cook the pasta per the instructions on bag.  The Barilla Tortellini says to cook for 10-11, but I tend to push it a couple minutes longer to reach my liking.

Drain pasta

Add the sauce. If you don't want to mess with making your own sauce, add your favorite store-bought, red pasta sauce. My number one for this dish is Mezzetta Whole Garlic and Sweet Basil. Newman’s Own Tomato & Basil is a good one, too.

Stir gently.

Serve in a bowl and cover with the desired amount of grated parmesan cheese.

Notes

Add some chopped grilled chicken tenders!

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

  • Newman's Own Tomato & Basil Pasta Sauce
    Newman's Own Tomato & Basil Pasta Sauce
  • Mezzetta Marinara Whole Garlic and Sweet Basil
    Mezzetta Marinara Whole Garlic and Sweet Basil

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 271Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 35mgSodium: 521mgCarbohydrates: 41gFiber: 2gSugar: 3gProtein: 12g
© Cody
Category: Main Dish

Filed Under: Main Dish Tagged With: chicken tortellini, easy pasta recipe, garlic, homemade sauce, pasta, red sauce, sweet basil, three cheese tortellini, tortellini

Chicken Penne Arrabbiata

September 22, 2019 by Cody

For those who like some spice in their pasta, this Chicken Penne Arrabbiata won’t disappoint.
For those who like some spice in their pasta, this Chicken Penne Arrabbiata won’t disappoint.

Ok say it with me, “ahh ree va der chee” . Haha, moving on! Now that I’ve envisioned everyone reading this and sounding like Aldo Raine on Inglorious Basterds, here’s how to say it. Literally meaning angry, arrabbiata is just spicy enough to have you hot-headed before you reach the meal’s end. This particular version can be ready in under an hour with rather minimal effort (because we’re not making the sauce from scratch).

Chicken Penne Arrabbiata

Chicken Penne Arrabbiata
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Additional Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 lbs chicken tenders, chopped
  • 16 oz penne pasta
  • ½ tsp seasoned salt
  • ¼ Italian herb blend
  • 1/8 tsp black pepper
  • 1/8 tsp crushed red pepper
  • 1/8 cup Parmesan cheese
  • 24 oz Arrabbiata Sauce
  • Salt (optional)

Instructions

    Pre-heat oven to 400 (set on roast)

Bring water to a boil over medium-high heat.  Add 1 tbsp olive oil and a punch of salt (optional) – “Did I say pinch or punch?” – Al Pacino, Donnie Brasco

Add penne and return to a boil.

Cook uncovered for approximately 10 minutes, or per instructions.

While the water is reaching a boil, wash your chicken, pat dry, and chop into small chunks or your preferred size.

Season your chicken with seasoned salt, herbs, and pepper and place in skillet over medium-high heat, cooking for 10-12 minutes or until done.  If you time it right, your chicken and penne should be done around the same time.

Drain pasta.

Add chicken and penne to roasting pan, top with Arrabbiata sauce, stir and cover.

Place in oven for approximately 30 minutes.

Remove from oven, top with parmesan and cover.

Let sit long enough for cheese to melt (5 min) and serve.



Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 691Total Fat: 33gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 23gCholesterol: 74mgSodium: 1950mgCarbohydrates: 63gFiber: 5gSugar: 7gProtein: 35g
© Cody

Filed Under: Chicken, Main Dish Tagged With: chicken, pasta, penne, spicy, spicy sauce

Double Meat Rustic Spaghetti

September 9, 2019 by Cody

With beef, ground Italian sausage, and a few other fresh ingredients, this Double Meat Rustic Spaghetti is an easy way to have your family and friends smiling around the table in about 40 minutes. 

With beef, ground Italian sausage, and a few other fresh ingredients, this Double Meat Rustic Spaghetti is an easy way to have your family and friends smiling around the table in about 40 minutes. 

 

I was in a spaghetti funk for quite a while.  Mainly, I contributed it to the amount of spaghetti UGRs with canned green beans we consumed while overseas.  I had similar issues with canned/pouched tuna and beef jerky for a bit, too.  I think it just put me in a stage of burnout that I still haven’t fully gotten out of years later.  The standard meat, sauce, and noodles would take me right back to the unwelcome strange aftertaste and mild heartburn burps that I just didn’t care to relive. 

My wife is a pastaholic and pizza addict, so I had to figure something out.  Happy wife, happy life, right? After a handful of “I’m just not a spaghetti fan anymore” nights, I found it! I remade the recipe for the family (extended too) and it was a hit.  I’ve stuck with this Double Meat Rustic Spaghetti recipe ever since.  

What is Double Meat Rustic Spaghetti?

Exactly as it sounds, the base of this delicious pasta dish is two types of meat.  We use a lean ground beef (85/15 or 90/10 work great) and an all pork Italian Sausage.  Doing this really amps up the flavor and makes for a more well-rounded sauce.  To give it the rustic vibe, simply add chopped vegetables to the sauce. 

With beef, ground Italian sausage, and a few other fresh ingredients, this Double Meat Rustic Spaghetti is an easy way to have your family and friends smiling around the table in about 40 minutes. 

Ingredients needed for Double Meat Rustic Spaghetti

  • Beef
  • Italian Sausage
  • Green & Red Bell Peppers
  • Onions
  • Garlic
  • 2 Jars of your favorite sauce
  • Spaghetti noodles
  • Olive oil
  • Salt and pepper

How to Make the Best Spaghetti

  • Place a deep skillet over medium-high heat and add 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil.  I also like to add a pinch of medium ground black pepper to the oil, but that is up to you. 
  • Chop the peppers, onions, and garlic and add to the skillet to sauté. While the vegetables are cooking, add a pot of water to the stovetop and bring to a boil.  
  • Once the onions have started to caramelize, remove the vegetables from the skillet and add both the beef and sausage.  Cook thoroughly before returning the vegetables to the skillet.  Mix well and reduce heat to low.  Pour in both jars of sauce and bring to a simmer.  Allow to simmer while the noodles cook. 
  • Place the noodles into the boiling water with a dollop of olive oil and couple pinches of salt.  Cook per the package instructions and drain.   
  • Ladle the sauce over a bed of noodles to serve.  Enjoy!

Tips for the Best Spaghetti

As with every recipe, quality ingredients matter.  For years, we have sourced our beef from local farmers.  I highly recommend you do the this too, if you are able.  The same applies to the pork in our freezer.  It was raised here by people we know.  I’ve also used Italian Sausage that was made from a hog from Florida that found its way to my freezer through memories with my friends and daughter.  If none of these are options for you, then pick a lean grass fed beef and an all pork sausage from the store. 

With beef, ground Italian sausage, and a few other fresh ingredients, this Double Meat Rustic Spaghetti is an easy way to have your family and friends smiling around the table in about 40 minutes. 

Now, I’ve used jars of sauce in this recipe to keep it simple.  But that does not mean it has to taste like pasty heartburn over wet noodles!!! Buy a quality sauce.  You can’t go wrong with brands like Botticelli or Bertolli. The same concept applies to noodles.  Chop some fresh vegetables to mix in with the meat and sauce.  It matters, trust me!! Let the meat, veggies, and sauce simmer for a bit to infuse all of the flavors before serving. 

Double Meat Rustic Spaghetti

With beef, ground Italian sausage, and a few other fresh ingredients, this Double Meat Rustic Spaghetti is an easy way to have your family and friends smiling around the table in about 40 minutes. 
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients

  • 16 oz spaghetti noodles
  • 1/2 red bell pepper
  • 1/2 green pepper
  • 1 sweet onion
  • 2-3 tsp minced garlic
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • ½ tsp seasoned salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper (optional)
  • 1 lbs. ground beef
  • 1 lbs. ground Italian sausage
  • 2 Jars of Spaghetti sauce
  • Parmesan (optional)

Instructions

  1. Bring 4 quarts of water to a boil over medium-high heat.
  2. Place 1 tbsp of olive oil in a deep skillet over medium-high heat (go ahead and add a couple twists of cracked black pepper if you’d like).
  3. Chop the peppers and onions. Then, add the peppers and let them sauté for about 6-8 minutes. About halfway through, add the onion. As the onion begins to caramelize, add the minced garlic. Allow the garlic to become fragrant and toast (not burn) for about 30-60 seconds before removing the vegetables aside to a bowl.
  4. Brown the beef and pork in the same skillet, being sure to scrape any tid bits from the bottom of the skillet. Cook thoroughly.
  5. Once the meat is browned thoroughly, return the vegetables to the skillet and mix well before pouring in the jars of sauce. Bring the sauce to a simmer and reduce to low. Stir occasionally.
  6. Add 1 tbsp of olive oil, a pinch of salt, and a box of spaghetti noodles to the boiling pot of water and cook per instructions (usually 10-12 minutes) and drain.
  7. Ladle the sauce over a bed of noodles and top with fresh Parmesan (optional).   

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 517Total Fat: 30gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 20gCholesterol: 83mgSodium: 961mgCarbohydrates: 32gFiber: 4gSugar: 9gProtein: 31g
© Cody

Other Pasta Recipes:

Three Cheese Tortellini

Spicy Sausage Black Bean Pasta

Chicken Penne Arrabbiata 

Filed Under: Beef, Main Dish Tagged With: beef, double meat, Italian sausage, onions, pasta, peppers, rustic cut, spaghetti, vegetables

Three Cheese Tortellini Alfredo

August 25, 2019 by Cody

Quick, easy, budget friendly, and filling, this 4-ingredient Three Cheese Tortellini Alfredo will likely have you returning for seconds…….or thirds. And kids love it!

Quick, easy, budget friendly, and filling, this meal will likely have your returning for seconds…….or thirds. And, kids love it!!

Three Cheese Tortellini

My family loves pizza and pasta!  Three Cheese Tortellini Alfredo is an easy one pan meal that helps break away from the typical pasta nights with fettuccine, spaghetti, linguine, etc. If your spread thin and short on time, using your favorite jar of sauce will have you a quick dinner in under 20 minutes.

What Sauce Goes with Three Cheese Tortellini?

There are two types of sauce that pair well with three cheese tortellini.  The first is a tomato based, red sauce.  For a delicious Three Cheese Tortellini using red sauce, click here.  The second type is alfredo sauce! That is what we’re using in this easy pasta recipe.   

Now, for a quick pasta dinner recipe, there’s nothing wrong with using store-bought sauce from a jar.  It’s hard to beat homemade sauce, though!

4-Ingredient Three Cheese Tortellini Alfredo

This simple one pan Three Cheese Tortellini Alfredo can be ready in under 20 minutes and you only need the following:

  • Three Cheese Tortellini
  • Alfredo sauce
  • Fresh chopped spinach
  • Garlic & Onion Macadamia Nuts

How to Make Homemade Alfredo Sauce

One of the best things about homemade sauce is that you can put your own spin on it and emphasize your personal taste preferences. Adding a little garlic, Italian seasoning, black pepper, or even red pepper for the spicy alfredo lovers, can make a huge difference.  So, while the recipe below doesn’t require homemade, I’ll give you a quick run down on how to whip up your own and only add a handful of minutes to your time in the kitchen.

Drop 1/3 cup of butter into a saucepan.  While the butter melts, add a teaspoon of minced garlic and black pepper to taste.  I highly recommend using medium grown black pepper, here.  Once the garlic and pepper become fragrant (roughly 15-30 seconds), add one cup of heavy cream and let simmer for 2-3 minutes.  Then, whisk in 1 cup of parmesan cheese until melted and well blended. 

Quick, easy, budget friendly, and filling, this Three Cheese Tortellini Alfredo will likely have you returning for seconds…….or thirds. And kids love it!

Tips for the Best Tortellini Alfredo

Add Chicken.  Turn this easy meal into Chicken Tortellini Alfredo by adding some chopped grilled chicken breasts or some pulled chicken from your Air Fryer Whole Chicken.  You can even use a rotisserie chicken from the store to keep it super simple.

Don’t Skip the Nuts. Personally, I appreciate the texture that the macadamia nuts bring to this dish.  Getting a little bit of flavorful crunch every now and then is a welcomed surprise. 

Top with Fresh Ingredients.  Sprinkle some fresh parmesan over the top of the pasta and garnish with some fresh chopped Italian herbs and Garlic & Herb Macadamia nuts.  I know, we already have cheese in the pasta covered with a creamy cheese sauce but the fresh parm over the top matters, trust me! The fresh herbs amp up the flavor and texture.   

Other Easy Pasta Recipes

Three Cheese Tortellini 

15+ One Pan Pasta Recipes

Three Cheese Tortellini Alfredo

Quick, easy, budget friendly, and filling, this Three Cheese Tortellini Alfredo will likely have you returning for seconds…….or thirds. And kids love it!

Ingredients

  • 1 Bag of Three Cheese Tortellini
  • ½ cup of alfredo sauce
  • ½ cup chopped fresh spinach
  • 1/8 cup chopped Garlic & Onion Macadamia Nuts

Instructions

  1. Bring 4-6 quarts of water to a boil and cook the pasta per the instructions on bag. I tend to push it a minute or two longer than recommended times to reach my liking.
  2. While pasta is cooking. Chop the spinach (I cut the stems off and discard). Mash the nuts with the side of your chef blade and give them a chop to fine tune.
  3. Drain pasta and return to pot.
  4. Add spinach and nuts.
  5. Pour Alfredo sauce over the pasta and stir gently.
  6. (Optional) Sprinkle fresh chopped Italian herbs and fresh parmesan over the top before serving.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

  • Garlic & Onion Macadamia Nuts
    Garlic & Onion Macadamia Nuts
  • Alfredo Sauce
    Alfredo Sauce
  • Three Cheese Tortellini
    Three Cheese Tortellini

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 3 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 519Total Fat: 30gSaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 84mgSodium: 739mgCarbohydrates: 47gFiber: 3gSugar: 3gProtein: 17g
© Cody
Category: Main Dish

Filed Under: 30 Minutes or Less, Chicken, Main Dish Tagged With: Alfredo, cheese, chicken, Chicken tortellini alfredo, Italian, pasta, spinach, three cheese tortellini alfredo, tortellini

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Meet Cody


Hi! I’m Cody and thank you for visiting Wayfinder’s Galley!! I’m a family man, okay exerciser, wanderer, adventurer, and thrill seeker.
And guess what improves all those things……. FOOD!! Read More…

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