Chicken and Broccoli Tortellini
Three-cheese tortellini and tender broccoli tossed in a scratch-made alfredo with plenty of chicken — one of the most requested meals from my freezer meal business.
- Prep Time
- 20 min
- Cook Time
- 20 min
- Total Time
- 40 min
- Servings
- 10 servings
When I first started making freezer meals for my business back in 2017, this was one of the most popular dishes I made, and it's stayed a favorite in our own house ever since. It's the kind of meal that disappears from the freezer stock the moment it's listed.
There's a good balance going on here — tender chicken, three-cheese tortellini, and broccoli, all tossed together in a scratch-made alfredo and topped with a blanket of melted mozzarella. It reheats beautifully, which makes it one of the easiest "company's coming" dinners I know.
I like to keep a batch tucked away in the freezer at all times for the nights when cooking from scratch just isn't in the cards.
Ingredients
- 1 gallon half and half
- 2 pounds unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons minced garlic
- 8 oz. freshly grated parmesan
- 3 tablespoons kosher salt
- 3 pounds cheese tortellini
- 3 pounds cooked chicken, cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 1/2 pounds broccoli florets
- 1 lb. grated mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- 1Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat, then whisk in the flour. Slowly add the half and half and garlic, whisking and continuing to cook for another minute.
- 2Continue cooking over medium heat, whisking occasionally to break up any clumps, for about 12-15 minutes, until the sauce has thickened.
- 3Meanwhile, cook the tortellini according to package directions, pulling it a couple minutes short of done, then drain and rinse with cold water. Blanch the broccoli in boiling water for 3-4 minutes, then rinse with cold water.
- 4When the sauce has thickened, reduce heat to low and stir in the salt and parmesan. Remove from heat and stir in the chicken, tortellini, and broccoli. Serve immediately, or prepare as a freezer meal.
Storage & Reheating
Freezer meal instructions: distribute into foil containers, top with mozzarella, and cool completely before covering and freezing for up to 3 months. Bake from frozen at 350 degrees for 1 hour 15-30 minutes, or thaw in the fridge and bake at 350 for 55-65 minutes.
Love this recipe? You'll love Chef Erin's Freezer Pleasers
Over 90 make-ahead recipes that freeze beautifully — breakfast, chicken, beef, pork, seafood, soups, sides, and freezer-friendly desserts, built for batch cooking, meal trains, and stress-free weeknights.
