I think I officially need to add my mom to the Contributors Page. She has helped me out so much with recipes, and even made this next one I’ll be sharing with you today. It has become a weekly tradition to get together and have dinner and dessert. She makes the main dish, and I make the dessert and I always photograph what she’s made. It’s been so fun collaborating and figuring out our Tuesday meal together and it’s something I’m REALLY going to miss when we move out of state next month. In the meantime, I’m going to try and enjoy these last few weeks we have together. 🙂
Today’s recipe is called Cheesy Tortellini Spinach Bake. It comes from Our Best Bites (love those girls!) It turned out great and was barely modified. I hope you guys know that I really only share the recipes we try out that we consider a success, and this one was just that!
For video instructions on how to make this delicious Tortellini Bake, watch the video below:
Here is the printable recipe:
- 1 12 oz. cheese or cheese and spinach tortellini
- 4 strips bacon
- 3 tsp. minced garlic
- 2 TB flour
- 2 cups milk
- ¾ tsp. salt
- ⅛ tsp. black pepper
- 1 tsp. dried basil
- 2 cups chopped, fresh spinach
- ¾ cup grated mozzarella cheese
- ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tsp. lemon juice
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil. Add tortellini and cook as directed on the package.
- Cook bacon and cut up. Reserve bacon fat from pan. Add garlic and cook for a minute or two. Add flour to the pan and whisk for a minute. Add milk and mix until smooth. Add salt, pepper, lemon juice and basil and bring to a simmer.
- Drain tortellini and add back to the pot. Turn to low heat and add spinach and most of the mozzarella, Parmesan cheeses and bacon. Add sauce and stir until well combined.
- Add to an 8x8 or 9x9 dish. Top with the remaining mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese and bacon.
- Cover your dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 5 minutes.
- Serve and enjoy!
The combination of the Tortellini, Bacon and cheeses make this so delicious!! Can’t wait to have it again. 🙂
In case you’re looking for more Tortellini dishes, be sure to check out this soup that is a new family favorite:
And for more great Pasta dishes you’ll love for dinner, check out:
For all Dinner ideas go HERE.
For all recipes on the site go HERE.
And get weekly emails with monthly freebies by signing up for the Lil’ Luna newsletter. 🙂
For even more great ideas follow me on Facebook – Pinterest – Instagram – Twitter – Periscope – Snapchat.
Don’t miss a thing – Sign up for the Lil’ Luna Newsletter today!
ENJOY!
Need more recipes and creative ideas? Sign up and get a FREE copy of my latest ebook!
Latest posts by Lil' Luna (see all)
- Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars: - May 23, 2017
- Lemon Lime Poke Cake - May 22, 2017
- Weekly Menu Plan 101 - May 20, 2017
About Lil' Luna
This looks incredible. I have actually never had tortellini before, I’m going to pin this recipe to try later!
Tortellini is SO good!! Would love to know what you think of it once you’ve tried it. 🙂
Super delicious!! I love adding spinach to pasta dishes. It gives it color and great nutition! Can’t wait to try this! Thanks so much for the recipe!!
You’re welcome, Crystal! Thanks for stopping by. Have a great day!
I’m always taking pictures of my mom’s food too! Glad to hear someone else is doing it also! Looks fab once again 🙂
Julie @ Julie’s Eats & Treats recently posted..Speedy Southwestern Salad
My mom makes the best stuff, so I’d be silly if I didn’t take pictures!! Glad I’m not the only one. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, Julie!! XO
I HATE bacon! Do you think it will effect it much if I don’t cook the bacon (so no bacon grease)?
I really don’t think it will effect it that much at all. Let me know if you try it out without bacon so I can make a note in the recipe for others who don’t want to include it. 🙂
I love bacon and I didn’t care for it in this dish. I am making it again for my younger daughter when she gets home from Navy training next week without the bacon. I will let you know, but I’m sure it will still be delish!
I don’t like bacon. I use turkey Canadian bacon or turkey ham, and cut it in small pieces.. May need some pan pan spray.
Thanks for the yummy recipes mom!!
Amy mayen recently posted..Sewing Room Reveal
I’ll be sure to tell her! 😉
I love adding spinach to pasta dishes! This is a perfect quick and easy weeknight meal!
[email protected] recently posted..Cinnamon Chip Oatmeal Scones
I made your recipe today with some tweaks. I added 1 yellow onion, diced. Also, I cubed 1 lb of kielbasa sausage and pan fried it. Didn’t have any basil, parrmesan or lemon. Added extra spinach. I also used 1 bunch of diced fresh green onions to top it. I used 2% milk. My husband absolutely LOVED this dish. I asked him on a scale of 1 to 10, what would he give this dish? He said a 20! He sais this is the best pasta dish I’ve made so far. Oh, I mixed in mozzarella cheese into the sauce as well as topped the casserole with cheese, so it was pretty rich in cheese.
He scarfed this dish down quickly and got seconds. The dish is a rich,, heavy dish and definitely a remake. Maybe next time I will use a different green like kale or swiss chard. I like your addition of lemon as that probably cuts some of the richness some. I also might try a pesto tortillini instead next time.
Thanks for sharing this recipe with the world.
Pinned! Thanks for the awesome recipe 😉
Brenda @ChattingOverChocolate.blogspot.com recently posted..Saucilicious Slow Cooker Pork Chops
I saw this on Facebook and decided to make it for dinner tonight. It is VERY good! My daughter who doesn’t even like tortellini even likes it. Thanks for sharing the recipe with us 🙂
This definitely looks tempting! Will definitely give it a try! 🙂
Jenetta Penner recently posted..Top 10 Habits of Frugal People
This looks delicious! I will definitely be trying this tonight!
Only tip that I have is instead of cooking the bacon in the dish (I find that some bacon – depending on the brand, tend to get soft, soggy, and just taste weird – I almost always mix in my bacon at the end and top it off at the end. So just set it to the side until the end!
That way you still get that heavenly bacon taste.
Great tip! Thanks, Miranda!!
I cooked the tortellini-spinach-bake today for me and my family (also a husband and four kids), after I saw this recipe at Pinterest before a few days. And it was easy to make and delicious to eat. I just change the bacon into chicken. Thank you.
Maren recently posted..damals
Thanks for stopping by, Maren. SO glad you liked it!! I’ve never tried it with chicken before but will have to try that out – sounds like a great substitution. 😉
I’m making it tonight with chickem meatballs instead of bacon. Can’t wait
Oooh – sounds great! Let me know how it goes. 😉
Is that 2 tablespoons of flour
Yes. 🙂
Making this for dinner tonight. But I am not sure how many servings this makes. I have 3 teen age boys and a husband to feed. I need to make about 8 servings. Could you help me with this?
This was absolutely delicious!!! I add some tomatoes to mine as well. My family loved it. Thank you!
Thank you so much for letting me know!! Tomatoes are a great addition to this recipe!!
Have you ever tried putting it in the crock pot instead of baking it? I would like to try it just not sure how long it should cook for. I would not want it to turn to mush. Thanks
LOVE this!! Tried with cheese ravioli instead (my tortellini is sausage cheese). Easy to make, yummy to eat. What more can a busy mama ask for?? Definitely a winner
LOL!! Thanks so much!! That sounds delicious 🙂
Can you make this ahead of time and bake later?
Of course! Hope you like it!! Thanks so much for stopping by!
Going to make this tonight. How many people does this dish serve?
Being in an 8×8 dish, it won’t feed to many. If you have a family of 6 or more, I would maybe double and put in a 9×13. Hope that helps!! Thanks so much for giving it a try!!
Looks so creamy and comforting!
It is!! I hope you’ll give it a try!! Thanks for stopping by!
Can I use monterey jack cheese not mozzarella cheese?
I personally haven’t, but I’m sure it would be fine 🙂 Let me know what you think. Thanks so much!
Hi, I used mozzarella cheese I dint want to try to use monterey jack cheese and my husband loved it. Your recipe is wonderful and thank you so much.
I’m so glad you both liked it!! Mozzarella would be great 🙂 Thank you!!
I wish I could eat some but my baby allergy to dairy products through my milk so I will try others your recipe that I can eat ^_^
Could I use frozen spinach, and how much? I’m trying to clean out the freezer. ☺
Yes, you could. The small box would work. I don’t know off the top of my head the ounces, but equivalent to 2 cups. Just squeeze the water out. Good luck and hope you like it!
My whole family loved this recipe. Only thing I did different was up the garlic and add onion. Will definitely be making it again. Thanks for the recipe! And your pictures of it are beautiful! 😁
Oh, you are so sweet! Thank you for trying it and letting me know!
Will this be good with chopped prosciutto instead of bacon?
I haven’t tried, but I bet it would taste great. Let me know if you try it 🙂