Creamy Mediterranean tortellini bake
It’s multicooker time! I’ve had this gadget for around 8 months now, and I’m still really enjoying it. I often use my multicooker instead of my slow cooker these days, because you can fry up your veg beforehand without having to use a second pan – then just use the ‘stew’ setting to cook things slowly. Very handy.
This time I used my Redmond multicooker to make a super creamy, super cheesy, super garlicky tortellini bake – with sun-dried tomatoes, black olives, and basil pesto too. Utterly gorgeous, and very very naughty (but oh so worth it).
Honestly, I knew this tortellini bake would be good, but I don’t think I realised just how good until I took my first bite. The flavours of the garlic and tomatoes infuse into the creamy sauce, and the gooey mozzarella tops it all off wonderfully.
As with a lot of cheese-topped bakes, it looks a little uninspiring before it’s cooked…
… but as soon as the cheese gets nice and melty, and you dig the spoon into the creamy sauce, you’ll realise it’s something special!
And I haven’t even shown you the best bit yet.
Look. At. That.
The cheese on top may remain gooey, but underneath you get the most incredible golden brown, crispy cheese ever. And it’s spread under the entire thing. So, so good.
I have a bit of a bad habit of overcooking tortellini when I boil it in a pan – it literally only takes about 3 minutes, so it’s easy to overdo it, and soggy tortellini is no-one’s friend. Al dente is what we want – and when you bake your tortellini right in its sauce, it softens up beautifully without becoming even remotely soggy.
This tortellini bake is easy to make too, and requires very little effort. Throw an onion and some garlic into the multicooker, and let it do its thing on the ‘fry’ setting for a couple of minutes. Add some cream cheese, milk, and all those tasty Mediterranean mix-ins, and then just stir in your tortellini. Half an hour later (half an hour which you can spend in front of the telly, or in the bath, or sipping a glass of wine… or all three…), your creamy tortellini bake is ready. Pure luxury!
Creamy Mediterranean tortellini bake
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1 small onion, halved then thinly sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 5 tbsp cream cheese
- 4 tbsp milk
- 1 tbsp basil pesto
- 5 pieces large sun-dried tomatoes, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp sliced black olives
- Salt
- Black pepper
- 140 g grated mozzarella cheese (~ 1 cup), divided
- 400 g fresh tortellini (~ 4 cups) - I used cheese and tomato flavour
Instructions
- Add the oil, onion and garlic to a multicooker, and cook on the 'fry' setting for around 4 minutes, stirring once or twice, until soft and golden brown.
- Turn the machine off, and add the cream cheese, milk, pesto, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, olives, and salt and pepper. Add half of the grated mozzarella, and mix well until the residual heat in the pan has melted the cream cheese and created a sauce.
- Add the uncooked fresh tortellini, and mix well to combine. Top with the remaining mozzarella, and close the lid. Cook on the 'bake' setting for 30 minutes. Serve warm.
Note: nutritional information is approximate, and will depend on exactly what ingredients you choose.
I am practically drooling at this recipe. Talk about great comfort food. LOVE this recipe.
This looks amazing! I love a great pasta dish!
Ooey, gooey, deliciousness here! Looks fabulous!!
This looks super yummy! And that crust on the bottom from the multicooker… oh, swoon!
How fabulous and cheesy, this is when cheesy is a good thing. Loving this recipe.
My kids would love this!!
This is a wonderful recipe, Becca ! And I love the sundried-tomato you added !
Wow, your recipe for tortellini bake looks really yummy. I tend to over-cook pasta too, so this is a great new way of cooking it for me!
Oh god, this looks so good. I’m trying to stick to healthy meals only but you might have twisted my arm with this one! Can’t decide whether it’s the cheese or the pasta that makes me feel hungriest.
Haha I generally try to eat quite healthily too but every now and then inspiration strikes and I just have to give in ;)
Oh my goodness, this looks so good. I’ve never thought to try tortellini in a bake. I can always count on your posts for some inspiration and kitchen creativeness! K x
OMG! I need this multicooker! Where do I get one in Australia? Otherwise its a sink full of dishes for me :(
Ooh I don’t know! I’ll ask for you :)
So apparently you can buy online in Australia :) http://multicooker.com/au/
Thanks for the follow up!
Never thought of cooking tortellini in a sauce before, makes perfect sense though as it’s so easy to overdo them. Love the crispy cheesiness on the bottom, yum!
Now this is what you call comfort food. Look at all the cheesy deliciousness!
I need a Redmond Multicooker in my life right now, life is so crazy busy that cooking elaborate meals is killing me and I am trying hard to be good and eat healthy so gazing at that cheesy heaven isnt helping either! hehehe
Haha sorry! The butternut squash stew is much healthier if you want some more multicooker inspiration ;)
You are torturing me here Becca and i am so trying to be good today.
Oh by the way your share buttons aren’t working for me, but I have stumbled and pinned.
Haha sorry Jac ;) it’s worth it though!
And yes I know, I tried to swap to new sharing buttons a few days ago but haven’t been able to get them to work, and their support team haven’t been very helpful. Going to swap them back to the old ones I think, it’s on my to do list for today! :)
Can’t decide between tortellini and a baked lasagne? Hybridise them ;) Love the flavours in this bake and continue to be intrigued by the versatility of the Redmond multicooker!
This looks absolutely delicious and love creamy pasta! Pinned and shared!
It looks so so good! My fiance used to fry tortellini on the pan then sprinkle with cheese :) Super quick dish!
That sounds awesome – I love frying gnocchi but haven’t tried it with tortellini :)
sounds and looks absolutely delicious!
xx
Dominika
Wow! What a delicious recipe. This looks absolutely stunning, what beautiful photographs! I will definitely be making this for dinner, thank you so much for sharing! :)
What a fabulous kitchen gadget! That sounds like the perfect dish, creamy cheese bake with lots of crunchy crispy cheesy bits – mmmm!
Angela
Perfect comfort food. Looks like a great little cooker.
I’d never thought of baking tortellini before but this looks very tempting! Must try!
OMG! What is this magical device!?!? I need to research this magic multicooker! OMG and those crispy bottoms of your tortelinni are just fabulous!!!! LOVE THIS!
It’s great isn’t it!! It can do so much, even bake cakes and make yogurt :)
Oh my Becca! Pls pass over that plate to me .. Its so gooey and yummy even from the photos.. So yum yum!
Thanks Sangeetha, glad you like the look of it! :D
Sounds yummy, would it work to just make it in a dutch oven and then stick it in the oven for 30 mins?
I’m sure it would work :)