Bacon Tortellini Alfredo

Name: Bacon Tortellini Alfredo
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2 (9 ounce) packages refrigerated cheese tortellini; 6 strips bacon (cut into small pieces); 1 clove garlic (minced); 1/4 cup chicken broth; 1 cup heavy/whipping cream; 4 ounces cream cheese (1/2 block of Philly) (softened); 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese; Salt & pepper (to taste)

Published: Mar 3, 2023 / Updated: Mar 4, 2023 / 113 Comments

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This bacon Alfredo tortellini recipe has a tangy cream cheese sauce with crispy bacon and parmesan! It's fast, easy, and makes a fabulous main course or side dish.

If you can't get enough Alfredo sauce, try my Chicken Alfredo Lasagna Roll Ups or Easy Shrimp Alfredo next.

a bowl of cream cheese tortellini alfredo with a fork

Why you'll love it

Alfredo sauce is simple to make, but my favorite way to take it to the next level is with the slight tanginess of cream cheese. Add in bacon, and this cream cheese tortellini is a cozy weeknight treat. Readers even love it as a birthday meal!

Store-bought cheese pasta is taken from bland to grand in this creamy tortellini recipe, and a quick from-scratch sauce is just about as effortless as opening up a jar would be but tastes so much better and still has few ingredients.

What you'll need

Tortellini - we're using cheese tortellini that's found in the refrigerated pasta section
Bacon - it gives this dish an irresistible savory quality. Who doesn't love bacon?
Garlic - our tasty aromatic. Use even more if you're big into garlic.
Chicken broth - the base of the sauce. It gives another dimension of flavor.
Heavy cream - for that luxurious, rich quality in the sauce
Cream cheese - my top tip for improving Alfredo-style sauce and give a hint of tang. It also helps to thicken the sauce without needing flour or cornstarch! I used Philadelphia.
Parmesan - always use freshly grated for optimal taste, texture, and meltability

ingredients for bacon cream cheese tortellini in prep bowls and measuring cups

Tools for this recipe

Check out Natasha's favorite kitchen essentials, gadgets, and cookware!

Time-saving tools like kitchen shears for the bacon and a garlic press make this recipe go much smoother.
Don't have a reliable set of measuring cups yet for liquid measurements? Grab 'em now.
I like to grate the parmesan with my handy Microplane zester.

How to make bacon tortellini Alfredo

This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.

frying bacon in a skillet and draining tortellini in a sieve

Cut the bacon into small pieces, and fry in a skillet until crispy. Transfer to a paper towel lined plate, and drain most (but not all) of the fat. Boil a pot of salted water, and cook the tortellini once the bacon is done.

making sauce for alfredo tortellini and adding in bacon

Into the skillet add the garlic, chicken broth, cream, and cream cheese. Stir over medium heat until reduced and the sauce is smooth. Add in the bacon and parmesan.

tossing tortellini with creamy alfredo sauce in a skillet

Remove from the heat, and toss with the drained tortellini, reserving some of the pasta water if needed to thin the sauce. Season generously with salt & pepper, and enjoy!

Pro tip

We've only tested this recipe as written with the heavy cream. Yes, it's a treat meal, and that's totally okay! You could try using half-and-half, but the sauce will be thinner and less rich. I would not recommend using milk in this one as a substitution.

What to serve with bacon cream cheese tortellini

It's an awesome special occasion meal, so go all out and pair it with a big slice of Cheesy Garlic Bread if serving it as a main course.
A fresh side salad is a great complement. I recommend mixed greens with my Creamy Balsamic Dressing or this Super Simple Parmesan Arugula Salad.
This bacon tortellini recipe also makes a rich side dish to go along with my Crockpot Pork Tenderloin, simple Chicken Milanese, or Easy Meatloaf.

Leftovers and storage

This is one of those dishes that's best served fresh. If you have any leftovers, though, store in the fridge for a few days in an airtight container.
Reheat in a saucepan slowly and over a low heat so the sauce doesn't separate. Add more liquid if needed as leftovers may dry out.
I don't recommend freezing leftovers. This dish is very creamy, so the texture will definitely change when thawed.

More tortellini recipes

closeup of tortellini in creamy sauce with bacon

Leave a review of this simple tortellini recipe in the comments below! Feel free to ask any questions if the blog post didn't answer them. As always, I love to see your creations, so tag me #saltandlavender on Instagram.