This easy, cheesy tortellini bake is an upgrade from your standard baked tortellini recipe. It makes for the perfect, effortless vegetarian dinner on a busy weeknight and your whole family will be sure to love this!
My tortellini bake is one of those recipes you whip up when you want an easy meal with minimal effort. Dump everything but the tortellini and spinach into a baking dish for a simple weeknight meal. With fresh herbs, a generous amount of spinach, tangy Boursin cheese, and tender tortellini, this dish is bursting with vibrant flavor that works for any season!
Looking for hearty pasta recipes? Try my gluten-free Beef and Zucchini Lasagna, this meal prep-friendly High Protein Sage & Butternut Squash Pasta, and the super quick
No Mayo Pasta Salad.
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Ingredients
- Boursin cheese – This French cheese has a rich, creamy texture. Once it melts, the smooth consistency acts as a binder for the other ingredients. I use the garlic and herb flavor because it complements everything else.
- Baby tomatoes – Add juicy tomatoes for a sweet, tangy burst of fresh flavor.
- Garlic – Crushed garlic adds an aromatic layer of savory flavor to the dish, making it even more mouthwatering.
- High-quality olive oil – Drizzle this over the ingredients so they caramelize as they bake.
- Salt and pepper – Add to taste (I use about ½ teaspoon of each).
- Fresh chives – This adds a light onion flavor without overpowering the other elements of the dish.
- Fresh basil – This contributes sweet, slightly peppery notes. It also adds a distinct brightness to the bake.
- Package of tortellini – Use your favorite tortellini. I use cheese tortellini to keep this meal vegetarian.
- Fresh spinach – After baking the mixture, throw in some spinach for extra nutrients and color.
How to Make Tortellini Bake
Preheat the oven to 400°F and set the rack to the middle position. Place the Boursin in the center of your ceramic baking pan. Then add your baby tomatoes followed by your crushed garlic.Drizzle olive oil and season with salt and pepper to taste. Add your fresh chives and basil (alternatively, you can wait to add your fresh herbs until after you are done cooking).
Then bake at 400°F for 30-35 minutes.
When your tomatoes and Boursin are almost done baking, prepare your tortellini according to the instructions on the packaging.
Once you’ve finished baking your tomatoes and Boursin, use a meat masher or fork to break the tomatoes and Boursin apart.
Add in your fresh spinach and mix until everything is well combined. Then add in your drained and cooked tortellini.
Mix again until the tortellini is covered in Boursin and everything is well combined. Finally, enjoy!
Hint: To prep efficiently, boil the tortellini while the mixture bakes. I use refrigerated cheese tortellini, Buitoni brand that takes just 5 minutes.
Hint: Add chicken sausage or rotisserie chicken to this dish to add some additional protein to the dish and to make it more balanced. Serve with a side salad for some additional fiber and nutrients!
Substitutions
- Cheese – Don’t have Boursin cheese? You can use cream cheese or feta as substitutes. If you want a less tangy flavor profile, swap it for parmesan or mozzarella cheese. Be mindful that certain cheeses (i.e., parmesan) aren’t technically vegetarian.
- Tortellini– Feel free to substitute your tortellini for ravioli or for your favorite pasta.
- Gluten-Free– Use gluten-free pasta or tortellini of choice to make this dish gluten-free.
- Dairy-Free– Use dairy-free boursin to make this dish dairy-free.
This dish is vegetarian as is.
Variations
- Tortellini – I use cheese-filled refrigerated tortellini (with ricotta and parmesan) but you can use whatever variety you prefer (chicken, sausage, and mushroom are the first to come to mind). If you use frozen tortellini, add another 2 minutes to the cooking time. You can also substitute tortellini for any pasta of your choice. Choose chickpea and quinoa pastas for additional fiber and protein!
- Sauce – Instead of fresh tomatoes, you can use marinara sauce.
- Vegetables – Feel free to add more vegetables to add some more fiber to your meal. Mushrooms and zucchini would taste great in this dish!
- Protein – Add some grilled or sautéed shrimp, chicken, or salmon for some additional protein and to make this dish more filling and balanced.
Equipment
Prepare your tortellini bake in a ceramic baking dish for the best results. The dish evenly distributes heat and retains moisture.
Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I make a small commission if you choose to purchase through qualifying links.
What to Serve with Tortellini Bake
Serve this pasta dish with a side salad for some additional fiber and nutrients!
Storage
Once the baked tortellini dish has cooled to room temperature, store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. I don’t recommend freezing this recipe because the texture of the cheese and cooked pasta becomes altered in the freezer.
To reheat, warm individual servings in the microwave. For longer storage, reheat over medium-low heat until warmed through.
Top tip
Place the Boursin cheese at the center when layering the ingredients in the baking dish. Then distribute the tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper, chives, and basil evenly throughout the dish. This ensures each bite is flavorful.
Frequently Asked Questions
For most tortellini recipes (like this tortellini bake), it’s best to boil the pasta before adding them to a sauce, soup, or salad. This initial boil softens the pasta, ensuring it’s fully cooked and tender before it’s added to your dish.
While you can cook tortellini in sauce instead of water, it lengthens the cooking time. The most effective way to cook refrigerated or fresh tortellini is in salted water for 2-3 minutes until al dente.
The biggest difference between the two stuffed pastas is their shapes. Ravioli tends to have a delicate, square shape whereas tortellini is more sturdy, with a ring shape. When it comes to filling, ravioli is more likely to contain veggies and cheese while tortellini typically contains meat.
More Pasta Recipes
Looking for some more recipes? Try these:
Jump to: Recipe
Tortellini Bake with Boursin & Tomato
Equipment
- 9×13 ceramic baking dish
- Medium pot
Ingredients
- 1 (5.2 oz) Boursin cheese garlic and herb
- 1 8-10 ounce Container Cherry tomatoes
- 2-3 cloves Fresh Garlic crushed or minced
- 1 Tablespoon High quality olive oil drizzled
- Salt and Pepper, to taste I used about ½ teaspoon of salt and ½ teaspoon pepper
- 2 Tablespoons Fresh chives
- 1 Cup Fresh basil
- 1 20 ounce (Family Sized Package) Tortellini of your choice I used Buitoni 3 Cheese Tortellini
- 2 Large Handfuls Fresh spinach
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 F and set rack to middle position. Place the Boursin in the center of your ceramic baking pan. Add your baby tomatoes followed by your crushed garlic. Drizzle your olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add the fresh chives and basil (alternatively, you can add the fresh herbs after baking). Bake at 400 F for 30-35 minutes.
- When your tomatoes and Boursin are almost done baking, prepare your tortellini according to the instructions on the packaging.
- After you have finished baking your tomatoes and Boursin, use a meat masher or fork to break the tomatoes and Boursin apart. Add in your fresh spinach and mix until everything is well combined. Add in your drained and cooked tortellini. Mix again until the tortellini is covered in Boursin and everything is well combined! Enjoy!
- Hint: To prep efficiently, boil the tortellini while the mixture bakes. I use refrigerated cheese tortellini, Buitoni brand that takes just 5 minutes.
- Hint: Add chicken sausage or rotisserie chicken to this dish to add some additional protein to the dish and to make it more balanced. Serve with a side salad for some additional fiber and nutrients!
Notes
Nutrition
FOOD SAFETY
- Don’t leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods.
- Never leave cooking food unattended.
- Use oils with high smoking points to avoid harmful compounds.
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove.
Amanda says
This turned out so good! It’s now part of our family dinner rotation! We are obsessed! Thank you!
Lauren says
This was delicious! It’s added to our weekly rotation now for busy sports nights!!
Jill H says
This was A-Mazing! So flavorful & definitely “2nd helping worthy”. At the end, I added a little shredded parm and put back in warm oven to melt it. Next time, I’m gonna try mushroom tortellini and bake mushrooms with it. I can’t wait to try more of your recipes.
christina.klapper says
Soooo glad you loved it Jill!!!!! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review! Mushrooms would be amazing!
Holly says
I love to cook but sometimes it’s nice to just go “quick and easy”. This was that! Absolutely fantastic. Thank you for a quick, easy, meatless Monday meal.
Ashley says
So easy! It’s beautiful, fast, and delicious.
christina.klapper says
So glad you loved it!!!!!
Caroline E says
I have a kid who is averse to whole tomatoes, would it kill the dish to blend the tomato/garlic/boursin after baking?
christina.klapper says
That’s a great idea!!! Wouldn’t kill it at all!
Amanda says
Such a yummy and easy weeknight dinner! We added Italian sausage as well, so good!
Becky Weatherford says
I’ve made this recipe probably 4 times in a month because we love!!!! The whole family. I even double it! So easy. To me it tastes like something you’d eat at an Italian restaurant. Creamy and so tasty.
Julia Joiner says
Love this recipe!!! Super easy to make and hardly any dishes to wash! Perfect for a busy night. And it tastes amazing!!! The whole family loves it! So much flavor
Ariel W. says
This recipe was so fun and easy to make! I love it, it’s so good! Definitely will be a staple for dinner times in my house 😊👏🏾👏🏾
Loran says
So quick and easy, my toddler DEVOURED it. Made me feel good he was getting some veggies in while also eating a delicious meal.
Joanne says
I would like to make this dish. The recipe doesn’t state how many ounces of Boursin cheese to use.
christina.klapper says
Hi Joanne,
I am so sorry for the delayed response. The boursin comes in 5.2 oz. I have updated the recipe card to prevent any further confusion! I hope that helps and I hope you love it!
Rebecca says
Hi! This is absolutely delicious. I eat this all the time at my sister’s house. I made it for the first time by myself tonight but I’m confused about the basil. It says to drizzle the oil after after the boursin, garlic, and tomatoes. But thus didn’t make sense bc I thought the basil would burn bc it was tossed on top (not in the oil). Am I supposed to also put oil on the basil? It’s delicious but I’d love some clarification about the basil 🙂 Thank you! I may have missed something in the directions
christina.klapper says
Hey Rebecca! I’m so glad to hear you love this dish! You can put the basil and chives on before you add the oil or after (it doesn’t really make a difference). Alternatively, you can also wait until you’re adding the spinach to add the basil and chives as well!
Dana says
Absolutely delicious. How much pasta would you recommend using for this recipe?
Lisa says
How many servings is this recipe for?
christina.klapper says
Hi Lisa! This recipe serves 6!
Karen Hebert says
Can this be made in advance? I have a dinner party that I will be attending and would like to make this ahead of time to bring and reheat there. Any suggestions?
Thank you,
Karen
christina.klapper says
Hi Karen,
Sorry for the delayed response! I have not made this ahead of time so I cannot confirm if it will work well or not. If it were me, I’d add all the ingredients into the baking dish and bake when ready to serve. You can boil the pasta ahead of time and quickly reheat in the microwave and then toss everything together right before you’re ready to serve!!!
Rachel says
If I want to substitute regular pasta, would it be a 16 oz box? Thanks!
christina.klapper says
Hi Rachel!
Great question, yes 16 oz should work perfectly! I hope you enjoy!
Amanda says
So easy and good, added Italian sausage!
Sally Jane Sachar says
Should I cut up the tomatoes? It doesn’t seem to say. Thank you!
christina.klapper says
You don’t have to if you’re using baby/cherry tomatoes. Just dump and go!
Iwona says
This is so delicious, one of my favourite quick family dinners recipe! Thank you 🙂
christina.klapper says
So glad you loved it Iwona!!!! Thank you so much for your review!
Tracy says
So easy and my kids even loved it. I used regular spaghetti noodles and added grilled chicken (garlic and wine marinated). I will make a double batch next time. Tonight we will have zero leftovers.
christina.klapper says
I’m so glad you and your family loved it Tracy!!!! Love the addition of grilled chicken!
Ashley says
Amazing! So good I would have thought I ordered it at Olive Garden. My son asked for seconds. I added rotisserie chicken but want to try it with the chicken sausage. We will for sure make this a regular family dinner!
Keira Longhorn says
This was great! I used dried spices instead of fresh (I used fresh baby spinach). Super tasty and easy!
T. Peña says
Second time making this. Love it. Glad I found your recipe!
christina.klapper says
I’m so glad you love it!!!!!
Amy says
This recipe slaps! Made it for my family after work today, and in under an hour (including the trip to the grocery store), I had dinner on the table. Quick, easy, and high-end delicious! This is going into my meal rotation!
christina.klapper says
I am so glad to hear you loved it Amy!!!! Means so much 🥹
Daizia Williams says
Yum! As a busy, full-time working, exclusively pumping mama to three kids, cooking had fallen by the wayside lately. After getting tired of fast food and seeing the number on the scale start to creep up I was wanting to eat more real food but felt at a loss for where to start. This recipe was so easy to make even while exhausted after a long work day, and tasted delicious! The whole family was going back for second and third helpings, and it was so great to have leftovers for lunch as well. Looking forward to continuing to try more recipes and eating more veggies and balanced meals! Thank you!
Victoria McLeaster says
This recipe is AWESOME! I added italian sausage and onions. I also doubled the cheese, and vegetables. Prep time was way more than 10 mins. Just washing the herbs and cutting them/destemming them was a 30 min chore, but worth it.
Rebekah Montes says
Omg, my family LOVES this recipe! I’ve made quite a few others from your website as well, and have become known as quite the culinary expert of my family. Ha. Thank you. <3
christina.klapper says
Wow what a huge compliment 🥹🥹🥹
Tiff says
This was phenomenal. Super easy and quick. Thank you for this. Can’t wait to take leftovers to work.
christina.klapper says
I am so glad you loved it Tiff!!!
Vicki says
Can you use a glass pan?
christina.klapper says
Hi vicki,
Yes you can. It just may impact how long you need to bake for. Keep an eye on it to make sure the tomatoes are soft!
Karen Henry says
OMG! This was SO delicious! I’ll definitely be making this one again. Leftovers were great too. I just warmed them up for a couple of minutes in the microwave & it was good to go. Loved every bite!!
christina.klapper says
I’m so happy you enjoyed it Karen!! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review!