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This bacon Alfredo tortellini recipe has a tangy cream cheese sauce with crispy bacon and parmesan! It’s fast, easy, and makes a fabulous main course or side dish.
If you can’t get enough Alfredo sauce, try my Chicken Alfredo Lasagna Roll Ups or Easy Shrimp Alfredo next.
Why you’ll love it
Alfredo sauce is simple to make, but my favorite way to take it to the next level is with the slight tanginess of cream cheese. Add in bacon, and this cream cheese tortellini is a cozy weeknight treat. Readers even love it as a birthday meal!
Store-bought cheese pasta is taken from bland to grand in this creamy tortellini recipe, and a quick from-scratch sauce is just about as effortless as opening up a jar would be but tastes so much better and still has few ingredients.
What you’ll need
- Tortellini – we’re using cheese tortellini that’s found in the refrigerated pasta section
- Bacon – it gives this dish an irresistible savory quality. Who doesn’t love bacon?
- Garlic – our tasty aromatic. Use even more if you’re big into garlic.
- Chicken broth – the base of the sauce. It gives another dimension of flavor.
- Heavy cream – for that luxurious, rich quality in the sauce
- Cream cheese – my top tip for improving Alfredo-style sauce and give a hint of tang. It also helps to thicken the sauce without needing flour or cornstarch! I used Philadelphia.
- Parmesan – always use freshly grated for optimal taste, texture, and meltability
Tools for this recipe
Check out Natasha’s favorite kitchen essentials, gadgets, and cookware!
- Time-saving tools like kitchen shears for the bacon and a garlic press make this recipe go much smoother.
- Don’t have a reliable set of measuring cups yet for liquid measurements? Grab ’em now.
- I like to grate the parmesan with my handy Microplane zester.
How to make bacon tortellini Alfredo
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
Cut the bacon into small pieces, and fry in a skillet until crispy. Transfer to a paper towel lined plate, and drain most (but not all) of the fat. Boil a pot of salted water, and cook the tortellini once the bacon is done.
Into the skillet add the garlic, chicken broth, cream, and cream cheese. Stir over medium heat until reduced and the sauce is smooth. Add in the bacon and parmesan.
Remove from the heat, and toss with the drained tortellini, reserving some of the pasta water if needed to thin the sauce. Season generously with salt & pepper, and enjoy!
Pro tip
- We’ve only tested this recipe as written with the heavy cream. Yes, it’s a treat meal, and that’s totally okay! You could try using half-and-half, but the sauce will be thinner and less rich. I would not recommend using milk in this one as a substitution.
What to serve with bacon cream cheese tortellini
- It’s an awesome special occasion meal, so go all out and pair it with a big slice of Cheesy Garlic Bread if serving it as a main course.
- A fresh side salad is a great complement. I recommend mixed greens with my Creamy Balsamic Dressing or this Super Simple Parmesan Arugula Salad.
- This bacon tortellini recipe also makes a rich side dish to go along with my Crockpot Pork Tenderloin, simple Chicken Milanese, or Easy Meatloaf.
Leftovers and storage
- This is one of those dishes that’s best served fresh. If you have any leftovers, though, store in the fridge for a few days in an airtight container.
- Reheat in a saucepan slowly and over a low heat so the sauce doesn’t separate. Add more liquid if needed as leftovers may dry out.
- I don’t recommend freezing leftovers. This dish is very creamy, so the texture will definitely change when thawed.
Leave a review of this simple tortellini recipe in the comments below! Feel free to ask any questions if the blog post didn’t answer them. As always, I love to see your creations, so tag me #saltandlavender on Instagram.
Bacon Tortellini Alfredo
Ingredients
- 2 (9 ounce) packages refrigerated cheese tortellini
- 6 strips bacon cut into small pieces
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy/whipping cream
- 4 ounces cream cheese (1/2 block of Philly) softened
- 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Boil a large, salted pot of water for the tortellini. Start cooking the tortellini once the bacon is done (it'll only take a few minutes for the tortellini to cook).
- Cut the bacon into small pieces (I use kitchen shears to make the job easy). Fry it in a skillet over medium-high heat until crispy (about 10 minutes).
- Take the pan off the heat and remove the bacon to a paper towel lined plate. Drain most of the bacon fat from the pan (keep about 1 tablespoon in there).
- Stir in the garlic, chicken broth, cream, and cream cheese. Return the pan to the burner (medium heat), and stir until you've got a smooth sauce and it's reduced to your liking (about 5 minutes).
- Stir in the parmesan cheese and bacon. Take the pan off the heat and toss with the drained tortellini (but if the sauce is too thick, thin it with a few spoonfuls of the hot pasta water prior to draining it). Season with salt & pepper as needed.
Notes
- Take the cream cheese out of your fridge 30+ minutes prior to starting the recipe so it has a chance to soften up. Or, you can microwave it for about 30 seconds (microwaves vary so watch it closely) to soften it up.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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This recipe was originally published on January 19, 2020. It’s been updated with new photos and better instructions but is the same great recipe!
Can you make ahead and freeze in a vacuum sealed bag
Hi! I find that neither creamy sauces nor pasta (in general) thaw too well, but you could give it a try… maybe with leftovers in case it doesn’t work out?
Does this reheat well for meal prep?
Hi! Not really, unfortunately. Creamy sauces in general don’t reheat too great, I find, and cream cheese can get a bit dry/gloopy. You could always make it for dinner one day, though, and then reheat a small portion of leftovers to test.
I made this with a side salad and corn on the cob. It really worked well
Excellent!!
Made this last evening, everyone said was delicious. Super easy weeknight meal , thanks for sharing great recipes!
Fantastic!! You’re welcome. 😀
I’m wondering if I need to increase or add any additional ingredients if I want to add rotisserie chicken breast to your recipe?
Thank you in advance and for your help.
Hi Carmen! I believe others have done that and it’s worked out just fine. You could double the sauce if you want LOTS of sauce, however.
Very good. Will make again thanks for the recipe
You’re welcome! 😀
Hands down quick easy supper to make add salad meal done within 30 minutes
So glad to hear that, Katrina! Thank you! 🙂
I made this tonight for dinner and it was a huge hit with everyone. I made it exactly as you wrote it and it turned out perfect. I will definitely be making this again. Thanks for a great one pan recipe that tastes as if I slaved all day.
I’m thrilled to hear that!! 🙂 You’re very welcome, Ellen.
Delicious,family loved it.Will be a regular!
Fantastic!!!
Made this again tonight, our family LOVES it! Nice quick fix dinner when I get home from work late, too.
Wonderful!! So happy you all like it, Pam.