Creamy Tortellini with Shrimp

Creamy Tortellini with Shrimp is a creamy, cajun-style pasta dish with lots of cheese flavor and some spice. Can be easily made in under 30 minutes.

In addition to shrimp, there’s also sausage, onion, bell pepper, garlic, cajun seasoning, and cayenne pepper. Tons of flavor in this easy pasta dish. With lots of butter and heavy cream, this is a rich, indulgent dinner. I like to serve it with a side salad or steamed broccoli or asparagus.

What Kind Of Sausage To Use?

You can use any type of smoked sausage. Andouille sausage is great if you want added spice and the flavor of New Orleans. But I also really like to use kielbasa. It tends to be juicier than andouille and won’t add any extra heat.

How Spicy Is This Dish?

This pasta recipe has a medium amount of heat. For more, use a spicy smoked sausage, and/or double the amount of cayenne pepper. You can also serve it with TABASCO Sauce. If you don’t want it spicy, omit the cayenne and use kielbasa.

How To Store Creamy Tortellini With Shrimp

Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 days. The tortellini tends to soak up the sauce over time. You can add a little heavy cream or chicken broth when you reheat it.

Recipe Tip

Careful not to overcook the shrimp. They cook very quickly and will have a dry and rubbery texture if they are overcooked. You will cook them in oil at the beginning of the recipe. It’s best to remove them when they are still a little undercooked. They will cook a little more when you add them to the sauce.

Try These Other Creamy Pasta Recipes

• Slow Cooker Crack Chicken Pasta– full of cheese, bacon and ranch seasoning.
• Creamy Angel Hair Pasta With Bacon and Shrimp
• Creamy Cajun Sausage Pasta– lots of Italian sausage and a creamy sauce flavored with Parmesan.
• Cheesy Garlic Shrimp Alfredo

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Creamy Tortellini with Shrimp

Creamy Tortellini with shrimp is a creamy, cajun-style pasta dish with lots of smoked sausage and shrimp. Make in under 30 minutes.

Course Dinner, Main Dish

Cuisine Southern

Keyword cajun, pasta

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 14 minutes

Servings 5

Calories 861kcal

Ingredients

• 1 (16-ounce) package refrigerated cheese tortellini
• 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 1 1/2 pounds medium to large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 teaspoon cajun or creole seasoning
• 1/2 medium yellow or sweet onion, diced
• 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
• 8 ounces smoked sausage, sliced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 cup butter, I use salted
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook tortellini according to package directions.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp and sprinkle the cajun seasoning over them. Cook just until the shrimp turn pink and remove them from the pan.

  Note: The shrimp will cook a little more when you add them to the tortellini, so if anything you want them slightly undercooked when you remove them from the pan.
• Add the remaining olive oil to the skillet along with the onion, bell pepper and sausage and cook until the sausage is browned and the onion and bell pepper are soft, about 5 to 7 minutes.
• Add the garlic and cook 1 minute.
• Add the butter, heavy cream, and thyme. (If using, add the cayenne.) Simmer for about 5 minutes to thicken.
• Stir in the parmesan cheese and then add the shrimp.

  Check for seasoning and add salt and pepper to taste.
• Finally, stir in the tortellini and sprinkle with parsley.

Notes

For the smoked sausage, I like to use kielbasa. If you want additional spice, use andouille.

Nutrition

Calories: 861kcal

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