Creamy Pesto-Piccata Chicken With Tortellini

Submitted by ANN N.

"An easy, satisfying dish that makes a great week night supper or an elegant company dish. This is a great way to use up leftover cooked chicken, or pick up a rotisserie chicken on the way home from work. Pair it with a green salad and some crusty bread and you have a simple yet heavenly meal."

 

• Ready In: 40mins
• Ingredients: 10
• Serves: 4

ingredients

• 3 cups cooked chicken, diced (I use boneless, skinless breasts or pick up a rotisserie)
• 1 (9 ounce) package cheese tortellini
• 2 medium shallots, sliced thin
• 2 -3 tablespoons capers
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard (to taste)
• 1 cup refrigerated pesto sauce (or you can use homemade)
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 lemon, juice of, fresh
• 3⁄4 cup shredded parmesan cheese

directions

1. Cook your chicken if not already done. (I usually will sauté or poach a couple of large boneless, skinless chicken breasts.) Remove from pan and set aside. (Or you can use a purchased rotisserie chicken.).

2. Cook tortellini according to package directions. While pasta is cooking:

3. Sauté sliced shallots over medium high heat until they start to brown, about 2-3 minutes. I just saute them with PAM cooking spray, but you can use whatever medium you prefer (oil, butter or even a little chicken broth). Add capers. Reduce heat to medium.
4. Return chicken to pan and continue cooking.
5. Add whipping cream and Dijon mustard; bring to a simmer and cook until it is slightly reduced; about 5 minutes. Add pesto sauce and mix well. Add lemon zest and juice. Reduce heat to low and continue to simmer uncovered about 5-7 minutes more.
6. Combine the chicken sauce with the tortellini. Gently toss to mix well. Add the freshly shredded parmesan cheese.
7. Serve with a tossed green salad and crusty bread.

Reviews

[Catta]

Wonderful dish. I always just get a rotisserie chicken for this to cut out the cooking chicken step. I don't like mustard, but I love this dish. Just be a bit conservative with the mustard if it's not your thing. My husband likes this too, and he doesn't like mustard or pesto. The combination really brings out the best in all of the ingredients.

 

[Shannon 7]

My 5 year old daughter ate it, which really says something. Super yummy, can't wait for hubby to get home from deployement so he can have good food again.

 

[KPD123]

yummy!!!!! i picked up a rotisserie chicken, used herbed chicken tortellini, added 4 garlic cloves and 2 serrano peppers to the shallots. other than that, i followed the recipe to a T. the 2 of us ate every bit of it!! very simple dish that is bursting with flavor! i will be adding this to my keepers!! thanks so much for sharing this awesome dish!!

 

[didyb]

So yummy! Restaurant quality flavor IMHO. I only used 1/4 cup Pesto-- and that, of course, affected the outcome... but I thought it was delish! Thanks!

 

[Midwest Maven]

We loved this recipe, very good flavor. The sauce was very rich and delicious. The only problem I had was that the shallots weren't listed in the ingredients, or how much of them to add either. So I didn't have one when I made it and added some minced garlic and chopped onions to it with great results. Thanks for the great recipe!