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    Meals » Recipes » Main Dishes

    Cheese Tortellini with Ham and Peas

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure for more information. Published: Apr 20, 2023 by Dee

    Cheese Tortellini with Ham and Peas is an easy recipe with leftover ham and tender tortellini in a delicious Parmesan cheese sauce. An easy weeknight meal the whole family will love that takes minutes to make! via @meamel

    Cheese Tortellini with Ham and Peas is an easy recipe with leftover ham and tender tortellini in a delicious Parmesan cheese sauce. An easy weeknight meal the whole family will love that takes minutes to make!

    Jump to Recipe -
    cheese tortellini with ham and peas in garlic parmesan cheese sauce on wooden spoon
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • How to Make Tortellini with Ham
    • How to Store and Reheat
    • Recipe Variations
    • Recipe
    • Reviews

    This easy tortellini recipe is a family favorite that literally takes minutes to make. With only a handful of ingredients and one skillet, this easy dinner recipe is perfect for busy weeknights.

    It's also a great way to use up leftover ham from Christmas dinner or Easter dinner. But, you can just as easily use thicker deli ham or a ham steak. It's one of my son's favorite dinners, so I make this often throughout the year.

    Try my leftover ham casserole or leftover ham sandwich recipe. Or, find more easy dinner recipes and tortellini recipes on my main dishes page.

    fresh tortellini, heavy cream, diced ha, butter, Parmesan cheese and seasonings

    Ingredients

    You only need a few simple ingredients to make ham tortellini in cheese sauce. They should be available in your local grocery store.

    • Ham -- 2 cups leftover cooked ham, diced or thickly sliced
    • Fresh Tortellini -- look for cheese-filled tortellini in the refrigerated section
    • Butter -- to make the cream sauce
    • Heavy cream -- to make the sauce
    • Parmesan cheese -- to flavor and thicken the sauce
    • Seasonings -- garlic powder, nutmeg and black pepper
    • Frozen peas -- thawed. optional, but very easy to add and makes it a complete meal

    How to Make Tortellini with Ham

    In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Then, stir in the heavy cream. This is just basically a simple Alfredo sauce -- very easy.

    heat butter and heavy cream in skillet and stir with wooden spoon

    Next, stir in the seasoning mixture. When the cream starts to bubble around the edges of the pan, add the tortellini.

    You may want to add a few pieces at a time so the cream sauce doesn't splash -- just saying.

    Stir the pasta so it's covered with the creamy sauce.

    stir tortellini in cream sauce with wooden spoon

    Cook the pasta uncovered until it is nice and tender. This takes about 2-3 minutes, depending on the brand. Use the package instructions as a guide.

    Next, stir in the Parmesan cheese until it melts. Then, add the ham and peas to the cheesy sauce.

    Continue cooking the tortellini ham mixture until the ham is heated through and the peas are done. This only takes 1-2 minutes.

    stir leftover ham into pasta and sauce

    I like to garnish the pasta with fresh parsley and additional Parmesan cheese. And that's all there is to this easy meal.

    Your dinner tonight is done, and it's time to dig into that cheesy goodness!

    tortellini pasta with ham and peas in skillet

    How to Store and Reheat

    Refrigerate leftover tortellini for up to 4 days in an airtight container. You can reheat individual portions in your microwave or on the stove top.

    Recipe Variations

    The peas are optional. You can leave them out or use a different veggie, like broccoli. Tortellini with spinach is a great combo!

    If you have an electric pressure cooker, try my Instant Pot Ham and cheese Tortellini recipe.

    For a thinner sauce, use half and half or milk. You may have to add more Parmesan cheese to thicken the sauce. If the sauce is too thick, thin it out with additional cream, milk or chicken broth.

    Since this is basically tortellini Alfredo, you can use a jar of Alfredo sauce instead of making your own. Instead of Parm, try Swiss cheese, cheddar cheese or Colby Jack.

    Recipe

    tortellini with ham and peas in creamy Parmesan cheese sauce on wooden spoon

    Cheese Tortellini with Ham and Peas

    Published by Dee
    Cheese Tortellini with Ham and Peas is an easy recipe with leftover ham and tender tortellini in a delicious Parmesan cheese sauce. An easy weeknight meal the whole family will love that takes minutes to make!
    5 from 5 votes
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    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 20 minutes mins
    Course Main
    Cuisine American
    Servings 7
    Calories 643 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 tablespoons butter
    • 1 ½ cups heavy cream
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
    • 24 oz cheese tortellini Kirklands fresh tortellini
    • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
    • 2 cups cooked ham diced
    • 1 cup frozen peas thawed

    Instructions
     

    • Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat
    • Stir in heavy cream, and heat until small bubbles appear along the sides of the pan
    • Stir in garlic powder, black pepper and nutmeg
    • Add the tortellini, and stir so that it is covered with sauce. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until tender
    • Stir in the cheese
    • Stir in the ham and thawed peas, and cook on low heat until heated through, bout 1-2 minutes
    • Garnish with additional Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley if desired

    Notes

    I used Kirkland's 5 cheese tortellini from Costco, but any fresh tortellini will work. You can use dried or frozen tortellini, but the cooking times will change. 
    If sauce is too thick, add more cream or thin sauce with milk, half and half or chicken broth.

    Nutrition information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 643kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 27gFat: 40gSaturated Fat: 21gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 148mgSodium: 1110mgPotassium: 174mgFiber: 4gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 1074IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 302mgIron: 3mg
    Tried this recipe? Please comment and rate it! Show me your dish on Instagram!Mention @meatloafandmelodrama or tag #meatloafandmelodrama!

    I hope you enjoy this cheesy ham tortellini as much as we do. This one pot meal is one of our favorite recipes on busy days. If you do try this 30-minute meal, please leave a star rating and/or comment.

    For more easy recipes, new recipes and delicious dinner ideas, sign up for the weekly newsletter and follow along on social media.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Irma says

      April 27, 2023 at 10:29 pm

      This was delicious! Everyone loved it!5 stars

      Reply
    2. Jim says

      April 25, 2023 at 10:47 am

      I made this for lunch and it was super tasty! Definitely making it again soon 🙂5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        April 25, 2023 at 4:03 pm

        So glad you liked the tortellini. Thank you for your review!

    3. Louis says

      April 25, 2023 at 9:24 am

      Wow! What flavor! Used store bought Tortellini and left over ham from Easter to make this this. Rich and creamy! This is a new favorite for me!5 stars

      Reply

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    I’m the blogger, chief cook, recipe developer and photographer behind Meatloaf and Melodrama. I absolutely love to create easy, budget-friendly, homemade meals and treats for my family. I also love to think of new ways to repurpose leftovers so that my family will actually eat them!

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