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Weeknight Card · rotisserie rescue

20-Minute Rotisserie Chicken Pesto Tortellini

Rotisserie chicken pesto tortellini with spinach and Parmesan

Refrigerated tortellini, rotisserie chicken, pesto, peas, and Parmesan turn five main ingredients into a fast one-pot dinner with almost no prep.

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🌙 Your Weeknight Card

  • Total time: 20 minutes
  • Active prep: 4 minutes
  • Cleanup: 1 pot
  • Cost tier: Moderate
  • Kid flexibility: Medium-high
  • Leftovers: Good · 2 days

Why it fits tonight: The chicken is already cooked, refrigerated tortellini cooks in minutes, and pesto handles nearly all of the seasoning work.

Why It Works Tonight

This is a useful change of pace when you have cooked chicken but want something warmer and more bowl-like than a handheld dinner. Refrigerated tortellini and prepared pesto keep the cooking work unusually small.

20-Minute Rotisserie Chicken Pesto Tortellini Recipe

Serves: 4  ·  Prep: 4 minutes  ·  Cook: about 16 minutes

5 Main Ingredients

  • 20 ounces refrigerated cheese tortellini
  • 2 cups shredded cooked rotisserie chicken
  • ⅓ cup prepared basil pesto
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan

Pantry basics: black pepper and a splash of reserved pasta water.

Instructions

  1. Cook the tortellini. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook tortellini according to the package directions. Add the frozen peas during the final 2 minutes.
  2. Save a little water. Scoop out ½ cup pasta water, then drain the tortellini and peas.
  3. Finish in the same pot. Return tortellini and peas to the warm pot. Add the rotisserie chicken, pesto, and Parmesan. Stir over low heat for 1 to 2 minutes, adding pasta water a tablespoon at a time until glossy and hot.
  4. Serve. Add black pepper at the table if wanted.

Safety note: Reheat the cooked chicken until steaming hot. Refrigerate leftovers promptly.

Make This Card Fit Your Night

Picky-Eater Move

Reserve a plain tortellini-and-chicken portion before adding pesto. Parmesan can be added separately at the table.

Lowest-Effort Shortcut

Use pre-shredded rotisserie chicken and refrigerated pesto. The only real job left is boiling water.

Use What You Have

Frozen chopped spinach can replace peas. A mild spinach pesto also works if basil pesto is too strong for the family.

Leftovers Tomorrow

Refrigerate for up to 2 days. Reheat gently with a tablespoon of water to loosen the pesto coating.

Try Next

Keep the shortcut dinner energy going with Rotisserie Chicken Quesadillas, BBQ Rotisserie Chicken Flatbreads, or Creamy Tomato Tortellini.

More Rotisserie Chicken Dinner Ideas

If you still have cooked chicken left, switch formats instead of repeating pasta. Browse all rotisserie chicken dinner ideas →